Bentleigh · Sundays · First Week Free

A local chess class for Bentleigh kids — just up the road in Highett

Momentum Chess runs weekly Sunday chess classes for kids aged 5-12 at 2 Livingston St, Highett — about 6-7 minutes' drive from Bentleigh via Jasper Rd and Highett Rd. Four level-based groups, small classes, and your child's first week is free, then just $25 a lesson. No membership, no lock-in.

Rated 5 stars on Google (20+ reviews) · Over 70 local kids so far · WWCC coach

One of our true heartlands — 13 Bentleigh families and counting

Bentleigh has no open-enrolment weekly kids' chess class of its own — school-run clubs aside — so local families have quietly made ours their own: 13 Bentleigh families are already in the program — one of the largest suburb groups we have. The trip is genuinely easy, too: about 6-7 minutes' drive down Jasper Rd and along Highett Rd to 2 Livingston St, Highett, just off Highett Rd near the station, with street parking on and around Livingston St. Drop-off takes under a minute, and because classes are drop-off format, you're free for the hour — coffee, errands, or the rest of the family's Sunday.

The Sunday afternoon timetable is a big part of why it sticks. Saturday sport and the weekend market run stay untouched, and with four level-based groups between 12:00 and 4:45pm there's a slot for every stage — siblings at different levels each get their own hour. Groups are kept small (around ten kids), everything is provided — boards, pieces, puzzles — and every session is run by the coach, Gabriel Rips: a top-0.2% ranked player on Chess.com with 5+ years of tutoring experience and a Working With Children Check. Over 70 kids have come through the program so far, and it holds a 5.0-star rating on Google from more than 20 parent reviews.

Sunday class times at 2 Livingston St

Every child joins the group for their level — new players learn the moves from scratch, stronger players sharpen real tactics. Next intake starts Sunday 26 July 2026, and kids can join any week.

New to Chess

12:00 – 1:00pm

Still learning the rules. Ages ~5-8.

Beginner (Prep – Grade 2)

1:15 – 2:15pm

Knows the rules, ready to improve.

Beginner (Grade 3+)

2:30 – 3:30pm

Older beginners building real skills.

Intermediate

3:45 – 4:45pm

Comfortable playing full games.

What parents say

Gabriel is such an excellent instructor. Professional, engaging and approachable. My son is loving every chess class. Highly recommend.

— Amruta K.

This was incredible. My 6yo had his first session and is now in love with chess. Thank you Gabriel for bringing this joy into his life.

— Jaime H.

Bentleigh questions, answered

How long is the drive over?

About 6-7 minutes' drive via Jasper Rd and Highett Rd. Classes run at 2 Livingston St, Highett — just off Highett Rd, a short walk from Highett station on the Frankston line — and there's street parking on and around Livingston St for drop-off and pick-up. It's a drop-off class, so you don't need to stay — and the Highett Rd shops are a short walk away if you'd rather wait close by.

How much do the classes cost?

First week free, then $25 a lesson — no membership fees, no lock-in. See the full pricing FAQ for how that compares across Melbourne.

Is this the closest weekly chess class to Bentleigh?

For an open-enrolment weekly class, it's the closest we know of — school-run clubs aside — and 13 local families already make the short trip over. If your child is at Bentleigh West Primary or St Paul's Primary, we're only a few minutes up the road — and because kids can join any week, there's no waiting for a new term. Register, come along on a Sunday, and the first week is free.