First Movers · Chessington

Welcome to Chessington

People call it Chess for short.

Some people think chess was created about 1,500 years ago. It was actually created much longer ago, in a land called Chessington. One night a shooting star landed in town. When the light faded, the pieces had come to life, and they have been playing ever since.

Meet the friends

Every piece has a personality and a special way of moving. Learn their ways and help them grow stronger.

Pawnaby

The little dreamer. People call him Pawn for short. Keeps moving forward no matter what. If he keeps going, he can become anything he wants.

Knightington

The most athletic hopper in the land. People call him Knight for short. One of a kind. No one else moves like him.

Bishop

Super speed. The fastest in all the land. She skips the straight path and takes the angles instead. That is how she stays so fast.

Rook

Super strength. Straight focus. He only charges in a line, never the long way around. He rarely smiles. He is not angry, he is just focused and determined. He takes protecting the King very seriously.

Queen

Magical powers. The most free and powerful. Will go almost anywhere to protect the King!

King

The Brave Leader. The most beloved in Chessington. He believes in careful, cautious moves. His team will do anything to protect him.

How they learn

No lectures. Children move the pieces, collect trophies, and the rules start to feel like play.

Trophies and powers

Each friend has seven trophies. Finish their tasks, unlock Energy Auras, and grow into legend form.

Chessington Adventures

Exciting stories from the world of Chessington. Our virtual comic book style is a unique experience. The first one is Pawnaby's Promotion, a bedtime story about never giving up.

The Bad Lands

Catch the Blockers trains memory. Capture Mode shows how pieces take each other, using only real moves.

Parent Mode

For grown-ups who want a quieter challenge: Mate in 1 and Mate in 2 puzzles, still in Chessington.

Why this exists

Built by a dad who refused to accept “they’re too young.”

I made First Movers because people kept saying my son was too young for chess. He was 3 when I started building it. He’s 4 now and can’t get enough of it. He plays every night before bed.

Little children learn with their eyes, their hands, and their imagination. They do not learn from lectures. So the pieces had to feel like friends. Each one has a personality and a special way of moving. Play comes first. The rules sneak in.

This is not a full chess engine. It is the first step. Plant the seed early, and let the skills grow from play.

First Movers is just the beginning. We want to keep making apps that teach useful skills to young children in a fun way. More adventures are in the works.