Terms of Service

Effective date: 2026-02-17

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) govern your access to and use of the White Knight Academy website and platform (the “Platform”) and any related services, including our chess analytics landing pages and dashboard available on our subdomains (including analytics.whiteknight.academy and analytics.whiteknight.academy/dashboard), online chess lessons, subscriptions, learning tools, coaching-related features, optional integrations, and AI-assisted features (collectively, the “Services”).

Service Provider / Operator (EU/Poland): TheBroda sp. z o.o.
KRS 0000677402, NIP 5242831345, REGON 367267919
ul. Wierna 12, 03-890 Warszawa, Poland
Contact: contact@whiteknight.academy

By creating an account, starting a trial, purchasing a subscription, booking lessons, applying as a coach, connecting integrations, or otherwise using the Services, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, do not use the Services.

1. Definitions

Consumer means a natural person acting outside their trade, business, craft, or profession (EU/Poland).
Business Customer means an individual or entity using the Services for professional/business purposes.
Account Owner means the person who registers an account and controls payments and settings.
Child means a person under 18 participating under a Parent/Guardian account (see Section 3).
Coach means an independent chess coach/tutor who may provide lessons or coaching-related services via or in connection with the Platform.
Coach Matching means features that help users find or get matched with a Coach based on goals, language, timezone, availability, level, and other preferences.
Analytics Dashboard means our chess analytics interface and reports, including game analysis, statistics, improvement plans, exports, and related features.
Report means a generated analytics output (e.g., deep dive analysis, mistakes breakdowns, opening performance, time trouble trends, recommendations).
Biometrics / Wearables Data means optional metrics from connected apps/devices (e.g., sleep, HRV, resting HR, stress score) used for correlation insights (see Section 2 and Section 14).
Content includes lesson materials, exercises, analysis, text, audio, video, reports, and other materials made available through the Services.
Third-Party Services are services not operated by us (e.g., payment processors, video meeting tools, analytics/ad tools, wearable integrations, external chess platforms/APIs).

2. The Services

White Knight Academy provides online chess learning and chess analytics, which may include:

Live lessons (primarily via Google Meet; Zoom may be used as backup).
Group and/or individual sessions (depending on your plan and availability).
Chess analytics features (game analysis, statistics, improvement plans, opponent prep, exports, and reports).
Interactive chess tools (boards, exercises, puzzles, analysis features).
Progress tracking and recommendations (including AI-assisted features).
Coach Matching and coaching-related workflows (optional).
Biometrics / wearables integrations (optional, in development): correlation insights between wellness metrics and chess performance (see Section 14).

We may update, modify, add, or remove features and Content from time to time.

3. Eligibility, Child Participation, and Parental Responsibility

Accounts are intended for adults. To create an account, start a trial, purchase Services, or apply as a Coach, you must be at least 18 years old (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction).

Children participate under a Parent/Guardian account. A Parent/Guardian (the Account Owner) may allow a Child to attend lessons under the Parent/Guardian’s account. The Parent/Guardian is responsible for:

the Child’s participation and supervision as appropriate,
ensuring the Child complies with these Terms,
providing any legally required consents (including, where applicable in the USA, verifiable parental consent for children under 13).

If we believe we cannot lawfully provide Services in a specific situation (e.g., required consents are missing), we may restrict, suspend, or terminate access.

4. Account Security

You must provide accurate information and keep it updated.
You are responsible for all activity on your account, including activity by a Child using your account.
You must keep your login credentials confidential and notify us of unauthorized access.

5. Trials, Plans, Subscriptions, Renewals, and Payments

5.1 Trials (Lessons and/or Subscription Trials)

We may offer trials (“Trial”), including (a) a trial/first lesson and/or (b) a subscription free trial for certain plans. Trial terms (price, duration, what is included, limitations) will be shown at checkout or on the relevant plan page and may change at any time.

Subscription free trials (example): We may offer a 14-day free trial where you pay €0 today, then your subscription starts at the displayed monthly price (e.g., €15/month) unless you cancel before the trial ends. A payment method may be required to start a free trial. Your bank or payment provider may place a temporary authorization hold.

Trial refunds: If a paid Trial is canceled before the Trial lesson begins, we will refund the Trial fee. If the Trial lesson has been delivered, the Trial fee is non-refundable, unless mandatory law requires otherwise.

5.2 Prices and Taxes

Prices and plan details are displayed on the Platform at the time of purchase. Displayed prices are subject to change and the price shown at checkout applies. Taxes may apply depending on your location and applicable law. Currency conversion and payment processing are handled by the payment providers.

5.3 Payment Processors (Stripe and PayPal)

We use third-party payment processors, including Stripe and PayPal. Payment details are handled by these providers under their own terms and privacy policies. We do not store full payment card details on our servers.

5.4 Subscription Types and Renewal

Monthly subscriptions: may renew automatically each billing cycle unless canceled before renewal.
Annual subscriptions: may renew automatically only if explicitly stated at checkout (and you opt in); otherwise, they may require manual renewal.

Exact renewal behavior and billing details will be displayed in your account and/or at checkout.

5.5 Cancellation (Effective end of billing period)

You may cancel a subscription at any time in your account settings (or by contacting us). Unless mandatory law requires otherwise:

Your cancellation takes effect at the end of your current billing period (including the end of a free trial if canceled during the trial).
You will not be charged for subsequent billing periods after cancellation is effective.
We do not provide prorated refunds for unused time within an already paid billing period.

5.6 Minimum Commitment (First paid billing period)

Unless stated otherwise at checkout, after any Trial, your first paid billing period is a minimum commitment period. This means that after your first paid period begins, fees for that period are generally non-refundable, except where mandatory consumer law requires a refund or partial refund.

5.7 EU/Poland Consumer Right of Withdrawal (Distance Contracts)

If you are an EU/EEA Consumer, you generally have a statutory right to withdraw from a distance contract within 14 days. For services, the withdrawal period is typically 14 days from the day the contract is concluded.

Important: If you request that we begin providing services (or digital content/services) during the withdrawal period, you may lose your right of withdrawal once performance begins, if you provided the legally required express consent and acknowledgment. Where required by law, we will present the relevant checkboxes/notices at checkout.

6. Lessons: Scheduling, Attendance, Rescheduling (Flexible Policy)

6.1 Scheduling and Time Zones

Lesson schedules and availability are shown on the Platform. Group placement may depend on skill level, age group, language, and availability.

6.2 Missed Lessons (No-Show)

If you (or your Child) miss a scheduled lesson without timely notice, the lesson is considered delivered and is not refundable.

6.3 Rescheduling (Flexible approach)

We aim to be fair while keeping group schedules stable. Unless stated otherwise for a specific plan/product:

Standard rule: requests made at least 24 hours before the lesson start time are eligible for rescheduling or a make-up option, subject to availability.
Short-notice option: once per billing cycle, you may request a reschedule with shorter notice (down to 6 hours before start), subject to availability. Additional short-notice requests are not guaranteed.
Under 6 hours: rescheduling is generally not available (except at our sole discretion for emergencies).
Group lessons: make-up options may be limited due to fixed group schedules.

6.4 Our Changes / Tutor Unavailability

If we must cancel or reschedule due to tutor unavailability or technical issues on our side, we will offer (at our discretion) a rescheduled session or account credit.

7. Language of Instruction

We currently offer instruction in English (EN), Ukrainian (UA), and Polish (PL). Availability depends on tutor schedules.

8. Recordings, Photos, and Promotional Content

Lessons are not recorded by default. Recording, photography, or promotional content involving a Child will occur only with explicit Parent/Guardian consent (e.g., checkbox/consent form/email confirmation) and as permitted by law.

9. Acceptable Use

You agree not to misuse the Services. Prohibited activities include:

Harassment, hate speech, bullying, or abusive conduct toward tutors, staff, Coaches, or other users.
Uploading malware or attempting unauthorized access to the Platform or its systems.
Using the Services to violate laws, third-party rights, or platform rules.
Infringing intellectual property (see Section 12).
Scraping, crawling, or systematically extracting Content or analytics data except as expressly allowed by us.
Reverse engineering or attempting to derive source code, models, or protected logic from the Services, except where permitted by law.

We may moderate content and interactions to protect users (including Children) and maintain a safe environment.

10. Third-Party Services, Open-Source Tools, and Chess Technology

The Services may rely on Third-Party Services. Those services are not operated by us and may have their own terms and policies.

Chess.com and Lichess APIs: We may connect to Chess.com and Lichess via their APIs to support certain features. We are not affiliated with these platforms. Availability may depend on their API limits, outages, or policy changes. You must comply with their terms and have the right to connect and share the data you authorize.
Chessboard UI: We use the open-source project react-chessboard.
Chess engine: We use Stockfish for analysis features. Engine evaluations are educational and may be imperfect.
Video tools: Lessons may be delivered via Google Meet and/or Zoom.
Payments: Stripe and PayPal process payments.
Wearables / biometrics integrations (optional): If enabled, integrations may involve Apple (Apple Watch / Apple Health), Google Fit, or other providers. These features may be in development and subject to change.

Your use of Third-Party Services is subject to their terms. We are not responsible for third-party outages, policy changes, or actions.

11. Privacy, Cookies, and Marketing

Our Privacy Policy explains how we process personal data, cookies, consent, and international transfers: Privacy Policy.

Tutors/Coaches: we may share necessary student/user information with tutors/coaches under contract or platform rules, only to provide lessons, coaching, matching, and scheduling for the relevant users.
Marketing emails: we may send newsletters/updates if you have provided consent (you can opt out anytime).
Advertising & remarketing: we may use consent-based tools to create custom audiences and run retargeting/remarketing where permitted by law and based on your consent choices.
Biometrics / wearables: if you choose to connect wearable data, you can disconnect at any time. These insights are informational only and are not medical advice.

For California users (and where applicable), see: Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information.

12. Intellectual Property

We (or our licensors) own the Services and Content, including branding, lesson materials, analytics dashboards and reports, and platform design, except where stated otherwise. You receive a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to use the Services for personal, non-commercial learning purposes.

You may not copy, redistribute, publicly display, sell, sublicense, reverse engineer, or create derivative works from our Content, except where expressly permitted by law or by us in writing.

Open-source components (including chessboard UI and engine) are governed by their respective licenses; nothing in these Terms limits your rights under those licenses.

13. User Content and Game Data

You may provide content such as messages, feedback, game annotations, PGN uploads, connected account identifiers, and other submissions (“User Content”). You retain ownership of your User Content, subject to the licenses below.

You grant us a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, host, store, reproduce, analyze, modify (for formatting/processing), and display User Content solely to operate, provide, support, secure, and improve the Services, including generating Reports and analytics outputs for you.

You represent that you have the rights necessary to provide User Content (including chess game data) and that it does not violate laws or third-party rights.

14. Analytics, AI-Assisted Features, and Biometrics (Optional)

We may use AI-assisted tools and analytics to support the Services, including search, recommendations, Coach Matching support, quality monitoring, and progress reporting. AI assists; humans make final decisions (for example, in coach application review).

AI outputs and analytics insights may be inaccurate or incomplete and are provided for educational/support purposes only. We do not guarantee specific chess outcomes, ratings, tournament results, or educational progress.

Biometrics / Wearables (optional, in development): If you choose to connect wearable/health apps (e.g., Apple Watch / Apple Health, Google Fit), we may generate correlation insights (e.g., how stress/sleep/HRV may relate to time trouble, accuracy, or blunder rate). These insights are informational only and are not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should consult a qualified professional for medical questions.

15. Sponsored Seats, Scholarships, and Programs via Foundations

We may offer free or discounted access to lessons through sponsored programs, grants, partnerships, or foundations (“Sponsored Programs”). Sponsored Programs may be limited by availability and may require eligibility review and moderation.

Sponsored access may be provided as free seats, coupons, or credits and generally has no cash value and is non-transferable.
We may require a brief eligibility explanation and contact details. We aim to minimize sensitive documentation unless required by the sponsor or by law.
If a Sponsored participant stops attending without notice, we may reassign the seat to another applicant.
Sponsored Programs may be administered together with a foundation or partner; additional terms may apply and will be provided where relevant.

16. Partnerships (Federations, Schools, and Other Organizations)

We may cooperate with chess federations (e.g., Poland, Ukraine, Canada), international organizations (including FIDE), schools, clubs, and other partners. Such cooperation may include discounted access, coupons, joint events, educational programs, or recognition of achievements.

Unless explicitly stated, partnerships do not mean that any federation or organization endorses or controls the Platform. Use of names/logos will occur only when authorized.

17. Service Availability and Maintenance

We strive to keep the Services available, but we do not guarantee uninterrupted access. Maintenance and outages may occur. You are responsible for your internet connection and compatible devices.

18. Suspension and Termination

We may suspend or terminate access if you breach these Terms, misuse the Services, fail to pay, or if required for safety/legal reasons. We may also remove content or restrict features as needed to protect users and the Platform.

19. Complaints and Consumer Dispute Resolution

If you have a complaint, contact us at contact@whiteknight.academy. We will try to resolve issues promptly.

EU note: The European Commission’s Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) platform has been discontinued as of 20 July 2025.

20. Disclaimers

The Services are provided “as is” and “as available”, to the maximum extent permitted by law. We do not guarantee uninterrupted service or specific outcomes.

Chess engine evaluations, analytics Reports, Coach Matching suggestions, and biometrics correlation insights are for informational/educational purposes and may be imperfect. Nothing in these Terms limits mandatory consumer rights under applicable law.

21. Limitation of Liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages, or for lost profits, revenues, data, or goodwill.

Where liability cannot be excluded (including for Consumers under EU/Poland mandatory law), our liability is limited to the extent permitted by law and, in any event, to the amount paid for the Services in the 3 months preceding the event giving rise to the claim (unless mandatory law requires otherwise).

22. Business Customers (B2B) and Invoices

If you use the Services as a Business Customer, certain consumer protections (including withdrawal rights) may not apply, except where mandatory law extends consumer-like protections to specific business users (e.g., sole traders in certain circumstances).

Business Customers may request invoices and may be subject to additional verification, billing, or contractual terms for organizational programs, schools, federations, or foundations.

23. International Use

The Services are operated from Poland but may be accessed internationally (including Canada and the USA during initial pilots). You are responsible for complying with local laws applicable to your use. Mandatory consumer protections in your jurisdiction may still apply.

24. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms are governed by the laws of Poland. If you are a Consumer in the EEA/UK, you also benefit from mandatory protections under the laws of your country of residence and may bring claims in your local courts where required by consumer law.

25. Changes to the Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. If changes are material, we will provide reasonable notice (e.g., posting on the Platform or emailing the Account Owner). Continued use after the effective date means you accept the updated Terms.

26. Contact

TheBroda sp. z o.o., ul. Wierna 12, 03-890 Warszawa, Poland
Email: contact@whiteknight.academy

Optional Annex: EU Consumer Withdrawal (Template Notice)

If you wish to withdraw from a distance contract (where applicable), you may send an unequivocal statement to: contact@whiteknight.academy.

Sample text:
“I hereby give notice that I withdraw from my contract for the provision of White Knight Academy / White Knight Analytics services. Account email: [your email]. Date: [date]. Name: [name].”