CM Stephane Lam Kin Cheung

Hello! My name is Stephane Lam, and I am a Candidate Master (CM) from Mauritius. Chess is one of my greatest passions.

I am a chess player, instructor and content creator behind SLK CHESS on YouTube. I hold the FIDE qualifications of Lead School Instructor (LSI) and National Arbiter (NA).

My ambition is to continue improving as a player while helping others discover and develop their passion for chess.

I have participated in numerous national and international chess tournaments.

My main achievements include:

Candidate Master (CM)

Mauritius Blitz Champion (2024)

3-time Mauritius U18 Chess Champion.

Represented Mauritius at the 2024 and 2026 Chess Olympiads.

Winner of the 1st Online Indian Ocean Chess Tournament.

My long-term ambition is to become an International Master (IM) and eventually a Grandmaster (GM).

I hold the FIDE Lead School Instructor (LSI) qualification, reflecting my training in chess instruction.

I am also the creator of the Chessable course "Mastering Chess: Tactics, Strategies and Triumphs", which won Best Beginner Course 2023 on Chessable.

Through SLK CHESS, I create educational chess content to help players understand tactics, strategies and improve their overall game.

Besides playing and teaching chess, I am a chess content creator on YouTube under the name SLK CHESS.

I have also:

Won Best French Chess Stream at the CCT Streamers Competition.

Participated in chess streaming and online chess events.

Served as Head of Delegation for Mauritius at the 2022 Chess Olympiad in Chennai.

Worked as a National Arbiter (NA).

Created educational chess videos and tournament recaps.

My main strengths include:

Chess tactics and pattern recognition.

Positional understanding and strategic planning.

Defensive skills and resourcefulness.

Middlegame planning and manoeuvring.

Endgame fundamentals.

Analysing games and identifying mistakes.

I particularly enjoy explaining complicated chess concepts in a simple and practical way.

My teaching approach focuses on understanding each student's strengths, weaknesses and individual goals.

My lessons generally focus on:

Game analysis: Reviewing students' games to identify recurring mistakes and areas for improvement.

Tactics: Developing tactical awareness and pattern recognition.

Opening preparation: Building a solid opening repertoire based on the student's preferences.

Positional understanding: Learning how to create plans, improve piece placement and evaluate positions.

Defence: Improving defensive techniques, resourcefulness and the ability to find practical solutions.

Endgames: Understanding essential theoretical and practical endgames.

I encourage students to understand WHY a move is good rather than simply memorising what to play.

I aim to follow up on students' progress, review their games and adapt future lessons according to their development.

My ultimate goal is to help every student become a stronger, more confident and independent chess player.