Silver Knights Chess Academy
Frying Pan Park, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA 20171
About
Silver Knights Chess Academy offers an Online Chess Academy, online classes, school-based chess clubs, in person clubs, chess camps, tournaments, and online camps and workshops. The program also runs in person summer camps, in person school break camps, online summer camps, and online school break camps and workshops, and families can start with a trial chess class. For advanced players, Silver Knights Chess Academy offers an Elite Academy program.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: 150 week-long chess camps
• Price: $5 trial chess class; Try a Class for $5
Silver Knights Chess Academy was founded in 2006 by Adam Weissbarth, shortly after he earned his National Master title. In the 2006–2007 school year, he taught chess in 16 schools and community centers, and in 2008 he was joined by his brother Daniel. Later in 2008, two of their students won national championships, and over the next few years the chess program grew to serve more than 10,000 students every year at more than 300 elementary schools. In 2020 the program added online chess classes. From 2021–2024 it was part of Magnus Carlsen’s Play Magnus Group of Companies and later part of chess.com, and the name became Magnus Chess Academy during that partnership. In October of 2024, ownership and operations transitioned back to Adam and Daniel, and in March of 2025 the company name changed back to Silver Knights. Over the years, the program has taught chess to more than 100,000 children in classes and camps and has now worked with students from all 50 states and more than 40 countries on 6 continents.
The program’s mission statement is “More than a game - chess builds skills kids carry for life.” Silver Knights Chess Academy runs school-based chess clubs in 350 elementary schools and offers in-person chess programs for kids, along with tournaments for players of all skill levels. It also offers an Online Chess Academy for kids all over the world. The program has a need-based scholarship program that gives out more than $50,000 of free and discounted classes each year.
The United States Chess Federation has chosen Silver Knights Chess Academy as the recipient of its Scholastic Service award. More than 50 of its students have become state or national champions. In 2023, the program created an Elite Academy for students rated over 1400, which now features three Grandmaster coaches and has produced many scholastic state champions in states around the country, including Amelia (Virginia State Primary Champion and Virginia State K-3 Champion), Gustav (Rhode Island State Middle School Champion), and Sachit (Illinois State Elementary Champion). The program describes itself as the United States’ leading chess academy program for tournament players, serving students in all 50 states and producing 11 scholastic state champions around the country in 2025. The online Academy program serves as a home for children of all skill levels who love chess and want to improve.
Adam Weissbarth is the founder, and in October of 2024 ownership and operations transitioned back to Adam and Daniel. The program now features three Grandmaster coaches.
Parents describe a range of experiences with Silver Knights Chess Academy. One parent, Meghan Mchone, shared that her daughter started as a newcomer to chess, learned enough to get checkmate once in the first season of classes, and that she received weekly status updates on what was covered and who managed to get a checkmate. Another parent, Kathleen Scofield, said her kids have done the after school programs and the online academy and that their chess skills improved much further than expected. A parent named Chau M reported that her son had an “amazing experience” at a chess summer camp, enjoyed both learning and practicing with other campers, and that Coach Brandan regularly updated parents on progress throughout the day. Jamie Snyder said Silver Knights Chess Academy has instilled a “life-long love of chess” in her son over two years and praised communication with coaches. Parent Mary Yuan shared that her son has been in the academy for around 3–4 years and that his online rating went from 1400 to almost 2000. Another parent, Stefanie Ali, said her daughter attended chess camp for her first time playing chess, felt welcome, and came home each day talking about what she learned.
Last updated January 19, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
• Schedule: 150 week-long chess camps
• Price: $5 trial chess class; Try a Class for $5
Silver Knights Chess Academy was founded in 2006 by Adam Weissbarth, shortly after he earned his National Master title. In the 2006–2007 school year, he taught chess in 16 schools and community centers, and in 2008 he was joined by his brother Daniel. Later in 2008, two of their students won national championships, and over the next few years the chess program grew to serve more than 10,000 students every year at more than 300 elementary schools. In 2020 the program added online chess classes. From 2021–2024 it was part of Magnus Carlsen’s Play Magnus Group of Companies and later part of chess.com, and the name became Magnus Chess Academy during that partnership. In October of 2024, ownership and operations transitioned back to Adam and Daniel, and in March of 2025 the company name changed back to Silver Knights. Over the years, the program has taught chess to more than 100,000 children in classes and camps and has now worked with students from all 50 states and more than 40 countries on 6 continents.
The program’s mission statement is “More than a game - chess builds skills kids carry for life.” Silver Knights Chess Academy runs school-based chess clubs in 350 elementary schools and offers in-person chess programs for kids, along with tournaments for players of all skill levels. It also offers an Online Chess Academy for kids all over the world. The program has a need-based scholarship program that gives out more than $50,000 of free and discounted classes each year.
The United States Chess Federation has chosen Silver Knights Chess Academy as the recipient of its Scholastic Service award. More than 50 of its students have become state or national champions. In 2023, the program created an Elite Academy for students rated over 1400, which now features three Grandmaster coaches and has produced many scholastic state champions in states around the country, including Amelia (Virginia State Primary Champion and Virginia State K-3 Champion), Gustav (Rhode Island State Middle School Champion), and Sachit (Illinois State Elementary Champion). The program describes itself as the United States’ leading chess academy program for tournament players, serving students in all 50 states and producing 11 scholastic state champions around the country in 2025. The online Academy program serves as a home for children of all skill levels who love chess and want to improve.
Adam Weissbarth is the founder, and in October of 2024 ownership and operations transitioned back to Adam and Daniel. The program now features three Grandmaster coaches.
Parents describe a range of experiences with Silver Knights Chess Academy. One parent, Meghan Mchone, shared that her daughter started as a newcomer to chess, learned enough to get checkmate once in the first season of classes, and that she received weekly status updates on what was covered and who managed to get a checkmate. Another parent, Kathleen Scofield, said her kids have done the after school programs and the online academy and that their chess skills improved much further than expected. A parent named Chau M reported that her son had an “amazing experience” at a chess summer camp, enjoyed both learning and practicing with other campers, and that Coach Brandan regularly updated parents on progress throughout the day. Jamie Snyder said Silver Knights Chess Academy has instilled a “life-long love of chess” in her son over two years and praised communication with coaches. Parent Mary Yuan shared that her son has been in the academy for around 3–4 years and that his online rating went from 1400 to almost 2000. Another parent, Stefanie Ali, said her daughter attended chess camp for her first time playing chess, felt welcome, and came home each day talking about what she learned.
Last updated January 19, 2026.
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