The All-in-One LMS Built For Chess
Coaches, With Chess Coaches

Screenshot of the ChessPlay.io application dashboard

Project Overview:

ChessPlay.io was born out of a need to streamline how chess coaches and academies manage lessons, track progress, and engage students. Traditional methods like WhatsApp, spreadsheets, and disconnected platforms made it difficult to scale or deliver a unified learning experience.

WeCodeThat set out to build a dedicated, all-in-one coaching solution that would cater specifically to the needs of chess instructors, students, and academy managers—complete with live lessons, tracking, assessments, and analytics.

Objectives:

  • Centralize all chess coaching tools into one intuitive platform
  • Enable lesson delivery, attendance tracking, homework, and live gameplay
  • Provide rich student performance insights and engagement tools
  • Design with scalability for both solo coaches and large academies
  • Ensure seamless cross-device (mobile & desktop) usage

Challenges:

  • Coaches using fragmented tools (Zoom, Google Sheets, PDFs)
  • Lack of structured progress tracking or performance feedback
  • No white-label or branding options for academies
  • Need for real-time multiplayer boards with classroom controls
  • Varying tech-literacy across user base (kids, parents, coaches)

Our Approach:

To address user diversity and complexity, we took a product-led, feedback-driven development route.

  • Conducted interviews with over 25 coaches from 5+ countries
  • Prototyped lesson flows and student journeys using Figma
  • Built with scalability in mind — from 1-on-1 lessons to 100+ student batches
  • Used modular architecture to roll out features rapidly based on usage feedback

The Solution:

For Coaches:

  • Live Classroom with PGN/FEN board, timers, and leaderboards
  • Lesson planner with pre-built curriculum and homework
  • Quiz builder with auto-grading
  • Attendance and performance analytics dashboard
  • In-class engagement tools (polls, interactive moves)

For Students:

  • Personalized dashboard with lesson history and upcoming sessions
  • Homework with progress tracking
  • Play with Computer (built-in engine)
  • Gamified elements like points, badges, and rankings

Platform Features:

  • Web & mobile responsive dashboard
  • Custom branding and subdomains for academies
  • Multi-language support
  • Role-based access (Coach, Admin, Parent, Student)
  • Secure video class integration (Zoom/Jitsi APIs)

What Our Users Say:

“We finally stopped juggling tools. ChessPlay.io gave us everything we needed to teach better, track growth, and focus on what matters our students.”
— Lakshmanan Arumugam, Head Coach, Achievers Chess Academy

Tech Stack:

  • Next.js (Frontend)
  • Node.js + Express (Backend API)
  • PostgreSQL (Database)
  • Redis (Session caching)
  • WebSocket (Real-time gameplay)
  • Figma (UI/UX)
  • Firebase (Notifications & Authentication)

Ongoing Development:

  • AI-based feedback on games and lessons
  • Parent Portal with fee tracking and attendance reports
  • Android & iOS apps in roadmap
  • Multi-coach session support and class recordings
  • API for LMS integrations