Instructors

Gerald Stafford

Gerald joined Kid Chess in 2006. He majored in elementary education, and has worked with children in different capacities including youth minister, activities director, camp director, physical education teacher, and sports coach. Gerald’s aspiration is to teach children life skills and values through fun and innovative games. A father of three daughters, he encourages all children as if they were his own. Gerald brings an exuberant amount of energy to every class and interacts with the children in a relatable way. He aspires to be a role model and to show caring and a positive character at all times.

Dan Lucas

Dan came to Kid Chess in August 2024 after an 18-year career at the US Chess Federation. There, he had been the Senior Director of Strategic Communication and before that the editor of Chess Life and Chess Life Kids magazines. This is a homecoming of sorts for Dan, as he was working for Kid Chess when he took the US Chess job. His daughter Katie also worked at Kid Chess while she attended Kennesaw State University. He has played tournament chess for 30 years and currently carries a 1577 rating. In 2024, Dan was inducted into the Georgia Chess Association Hall of Fame for both his national and local chess journalism work.

Bella Belegradek

Bella Belegradek is a transformative figure in the history of Georgia scholastic chess, primarily through her long and highly successful tenure as a coach, most notably with the Kid Chess program at East Side Elementary School in Cobb County. Her record of success is exceptional: ● Scholastic Team Success: Bella has coached East Side Elementary teams to approximately 15 Georgia Scholastic Team Championship titles across various grade categories. She notes that there have been only two years where an East Side team did not win at least one championship title since she has been leading the program. By continuing to bring teams to these events over the years, she has shown unwavering commitment to the GCA. ● Dedication: She began coaching at Kid Chess, a metro Atlanta company founded in 1998, a few years after moving to Georgia in 2003, having first volunteered as a chess teacher for 2-3 years at a private school. Her motivation for coaching is deeply rooted: "I love to teach people the kids, particularly how to think, and chess is a very good field to teach people how to think, how to plan, and how to make decisions." ● Community Builder: She also contributed to other successful programs, including her work at Mount Bethel. ● Women’s Chess: For nearly two decades, she has been the exclusive tournament director for all Kid Chess women’s and girls’ events. Her leadership spans 10 rated tournaments and dozens of unrated events, fostering a dedicated community for female players in the state of Georgia. (See Appendix B) Chess Roots and Personal Achievements Bella's passion for chess originates from her upbringing in the then Soviet Union, where she was born in Novosibirsk, Siberia in 1969. ● Early Education: She was taught to play by her father and started formal, academically oriented chess training at the age of six. She notes the Soviet chess system provided an intensive learning environment for children, with two two-hour training sessions per week and tournament play. ● Best Individual Result: Her most significant playing achievement was winning the women’s individual section of an Inter-Collegiate Team Championship in the Soviet Union. ● Best Individual Result in Georgia: Her most significant playing achievement in the state of Georgia was as co-champion of the 2011 Georgia Women’s Open, tying for first with 2024 HOF member WIM Carolina Blanco. ● Top Rated Player: She is the second highest-rated female player in Georgia history, with a peak rating of 2107. (See Appendix A) ● Georgia Tournament Director: Beyond coaching, Bella is an active member of the chess community as a Local Tournament Director. (See Appendix B) ● Chess Mom: She taught her son Ilyusha, whose peak rating is 1761 and who participated in the Castle Chess Camp in Atlanta.

Brett Morrison

Coach Brett is a true veteran of the game, having first learned to play chess at the age of three. His coaching talent developed early as well; by age 13, he was already coaching elementary schoolers. Brett is a 2022 graduate of the University of Georgia. With over a decade of coaching experience already under his belt, he brings a unique perspective to the classroom, having navigated the transition from a young student to a seasoned instructor himself. Coach Brett stays active and competitive outside of the chess world. When he isn’t teaching strategy on the 64 squares, he is likely pursuing one of his favorite athletic hobbies, tennis, basketball, and disc golf.

Krystal Morgan

As the logistical powerhouse of our team, Krystal ensures every piece of the puzzle fits perfectly. As Director of Administatrion, she manages school partnerships, parent communications, and the complex scheduling of coaches across Metro Atlanta. From high-level coordination to the "hundred small details" in between, Krystal keeps our staff organized and our programs running seamlessly.

Matt Hardman

Coach Matt is also our IT Director. He has an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Alabama and a Master's in Education from UAB. He taught high school physics for 7 years and is passionate about education. He only picked up chess as a hobby in 2021, but has already had a peak rating of 2040 on chess.com. Away from the board, Matt also coaches Georgia Tech's Ultimate Frisbee program.

Michael Farris

Michael is originally from Park Forest, Illinois. He graduated from Morehouse College with a B.S. Psychology and is a certified English as a Second Language teacher. With over 15 years of teaching experience, Michael enjoys combining his love of teaching with his passion for chess. A casual player, he taught himself how to play at age 9 and continued to play on computers and at the Atlanta Chess Center. Michael believes that playing chess allows the mind a chance to relax, to explore ideas and share camaraderie with another mind, exploring the “truth” of a co-created story. In teaching chess, he enjoys seeing the excitement of building the understanding of the game and re-experiencing those discoveries. When not teaching chess, Michael’s hobbies include photography, poetry, and reading. A world traveler, he has taught students from more than 15 countries and one of his favorite experiences was flying over Cappadocia, Turkey in a hot-air balloon.

Myron Morgan

Myron was raised in a family of eight and is now married and the proud father of three young children. He attended Ball State University in early childhood education and has worked with children in a variety of areas, including Little League soccer and as a Sunday School teacher. He began to play chess at an early age and is excited to share his love of the game through Kid Chess.

Ratana Landry

Ratana joined the Kid Chess team as Director of Operations in June of 2004. Ratana has been a casual chess player since her college days, and "hopes some of the chess talent currently surrounding her rubs off". She is a graduate of the University of Southwestern Louisiana where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. She has an extensive background in Private Investigations having owned her own business in Louisiana. Ratana met our founder Justin Morrison when she first moved to Georgia in 1995 and has had the pleasure to work with him at various times over the last 20 years. When not engaged in the many facets of managing the Kid Chess operations, Ratana is likely out riding her Harley Davidson (fondly known as "Doux") or enjoying the outdoors camping with family, friends, and her "four-legged" kids Nick, Chloe, and Chee Chee (the infamous Chocolate Chihuahua and his two "feline" sisters).

Wendy Rones

Wendy is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education. She taught first grade for twelve years and working with children has always been her passion. She lives in Marietta with her husband and three sons. Wendy enjoys hiking, theater, movies, travel and spending time with her family. She loves teaching chess and seeing her students grow and flourish from all of the wonderful benefits chess provides.

Agif Mammadov

At the age of 16, Coach Agif became a candidate for a master of sports in chess in his birth coutntry of Azerbaijan. He was a member of the Azerbaijan youth chess team and is a repeated champion of republican and all-union chess competitions in the former USSR. For over 15 years, he worked as a chess coach at the Dynamo Sports club. His love of chess is expressed through his teaching and skillfully instills this love of chess to his students.

Akiva Blaut

Following graduation from The Weber School, Akiva earned an associate degree in psychology from Georgia Perimeter College, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Georgia State University. His prior work experience includes being a teacher’s assistant, teaching a Microsoft Excel class, and tutoring students in math and science. Akiva’s family lives in Atlanta, Seattle, and he has two sisters and one brother who live in Israel. As a child, he was taught to play chess by his mother and plays weekly with the chess club at Georgia State. Akiva finds the game is not only a great mental exercise but also a terrific way to meet people and get to know them. Chess is only one of the many games he enjoys. Akiva also plays video games and many other board games, especially those that make you think. He also likes to draw and write.

Al Horton

Chess came into Al’s life at a fairly young age; however, he did not take the game seriously until his science teacher asked him to play on the school chess team at Boys High School (now Boys and Girls High School) in Brooklyn, New York. With his guidance and coaching, Al eventually lead the team as captain for two years. Al joined the Kingsmen Chess Club and rose to junior champion in local tournaments. He participated at both local and national levels including three World Open tournaments, and, as a member of the Armed Services Chess Team, he represented the Marine Corps during the Sea Services Chess Tournament. Al is currently rated as an “A”player and a member of the United States Chess Federation. He has been a chess teacher for several years and enjoys sharing his experience with children of all ages.

Alex Aversa

Alex first discovered chess in middle school and has been an active student of the game since his interest was reignited in 2020. An avid online player with a 1240 Rapid rating, he enjoys the strategic pressure of 10-minute time controls. With a professional background in supervising large groups of children at LA Fitness, Alex excels at creating organized, engaging environments for young learners. He is currently focused on continuing his growth as a competitive player and mentor.

Grandmaster Alonso Zapata

Alonso is a Grand Master and FIDE Senior Trainer (currently one of only 52 people with that designation). He is a published chess author with extensive expertise as a presenter at conferences, lectures, and FIDE seminars. Alonso has trained many top players and was both the trainer and captain of several teams at Chess Olympiads. He obtained second place in the World Junior Chess Championship in Innsbruck, Austria in 1977 and has been ranked as one of the 50 best players worldwide numerous times since. He competed in several cycles for the World Chess Championship and competed 12 times at the World Chess Olympiad. He has been the Colombian National Champion 8 times.

Bhavna Roy

Coach Bhavna enjoys using chess to help children develop strategic thinking skills, focus, and confidence. She has completed the Management Essentials program from Harvard Business School Online. She is also a professional actor with a strong interest in music. Fun fact: I have a strong interest in music and also a professional actor.

Brian Meyer

Brian has been a Kid Chess coach for many years now.

Carlo Kenner

Coach Carlo views chess as much more than a series of moves on a board; for him, it is a gateway to the "flow state". He finds that the game requires a level of total concentration that allows the rest of the world to fade away, providing a sense of total peace and a welcome escape from daily stresses. In the classroom, Carlo’s goal is to ignite a spark in his students. He is most passionate about the moments when a student masters a new concept and their natural curiosity takes over, driving them to dive even deeper into the game. When he isn’t guiding the next generation of chess players, Carlo enjoys immersing himself in epic stories and intricate challenges: He is a big fan of the immersive worlds of Star Wars and Avatar, and you can often find him piecing together complex jigsaw puzzles or getting lost in a classic novel.

Chance Phillips

Chance’s chess story began at home, learning the ropes from his mom, granddad, and brother. He is a proud graduate of Ocee Elementary and a former Ocee Kid Chess student! During his time as a student, he was inspired by his own mentors, Coach Rene and Coach Tom (who is still a Kid Chess coach!). “They were a big inspiration to me because they showed that they believed in me through their actions.” He carried that passion through the Alpharetta High School Chess Club and continued to play regularly while studying at the University of Alabama. Roll Tide and Checkmate! For Chance, chess is about more than just moving pieces; it’s a toolkit for life. He’s dedicated to helping students develop: Critical Thinking: Learning to see three steps ahead. Work Ethic: Understanding that mastery comes from practice. Community: Building lasting friendships, just as he did starting out. When he isn’t analyzing a middle-game strategy, Chance stays active with Tennis and Running. He also enjoys the ancient strategy game of Go, though he admits chess will always be his “Number One.”

Chris Edler

Coach Chris is a highly accomplished player and instructor, with a peak US Chess rating of 1948 and a peak Bullet rating of 2500 on Chess.com. His journey began in the first grade and progressed through scholastic and national tournaments, ultimately leading him to become a two-time Georgia high school state champion with Chamblee High School. As a coach, Chris focuses on fundamentals, confidence-building, and practical decision-making, drawing from his experience in various formats like classical, rapid, and Bughouse. He finds great joy in working with children, appreciating the unique personalities and perspectives each student brings to the board. Chris is dedicated to helping students develop their problem-solving skills and self-confidence, finding fulfillment as they recognize their own potential. For Chris, teaching is a reflective process that reminds him of his own time as a student, motivating him to continuously improve as both a mentor and a player.

Christie McGowan

For Coach Christie, Kid Chess is a family tradition: Both her sister and brother-in-law have worked for Kid Chess in the past!

Connor Clifton

Connor first learned chess in the first grade as a part of the Kid Chess program. He taught his sister to play chess and has always enjoyed teaching the game to others. He is pursuing a degree from Kennesaw State University in Theatre and Performance Studies and is an aspiring film director and comic book writer.

David Barfield

Dean Bowler

Dean was born in Roswell, Georgia. He completed an associate’s degree in computer science and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree at Georgia State University. Before he joined Kid Chess, Dean researched at the Rochester Institute of Technology for the National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Dean studies chess seriously and it shows! His ratings are 1865 USCF classical, 2180 and 2300 rapid chess.com and lichess.org, respectively. His goal is to achieve Expert (2000 USCF rating). Dean is a head coach at several schools. It puts a smile on his face to make a difference in kid’s lives and to see how they are improving. He loves playing and teaching chess because of the virtues and skills it teaches us, such as patience, humility, humbleness, community, and how to achieve our goals.

Doug Cox

Doug is a Georgia native; he moved to Atlanta in 1992 for college. He has a B.A. from Georgia State University, majoring in computer information systems. He has worked as a consultant as a lead developer, data architect and analyst for over twenty years, most recently with Microsoft. Doug started playing chess in earnest in 2003; he plays four to six USCF tournaments a year and has also played FIDE-rated tournaments in other countries, most recently in Bangkok and Medellin. He is currently rated 1892 by USCF. Doug enjoys teaching and playing chess because he feels it is one of the few subjects where different ideas and approaches can be applied with unbiased feedback. After all, checkmate is not subjective! Chess assists in the development of critical thinking, intellectual and emotional intelligence, and rewards rationality and patience. He loves that kids act like enthusiastic sponges when learning chess and especially enjoys seeing their improvement and watching their development. Doug enjoys many things besides chess: playing piano, sports and sports analytics, gardening, spending time with his wife and two dogs, reading philosophy and science fiction and travel. Doug has been a vegetarian since 2011.

Faith Lindbom

Coach Faith learned how to play chess from her father, and tries to get in a few games with him whenever she visits. She has spent many years working with kids in all kinds of extracurricular activities, and loves to see their excitement for games and new challenges. When not teaching chess, Coach Faith creates and sells art, and has just taken up sculpting.

Francis Lisasi

A veteran of the Kid Chess team since 2019, Coach Francis brings a sophisticated, strategic perspective to the board. As a "positional" player, Francis focuses on the long game—teaching students how to build a solid foundation and wait for the perfect moment to strike. With decades of playing experience, Francis finds his greatest joy in building new players by teaching tactics and the art of the sacrifice. However, his true specialty lies in his ability to connect with students who feel intimidated by the game. Francis has a proven track record of helping kids move from "I can't do this" to a high level of play in a remarkably short period of time.

Garima Saini

In addition to her Kid Chess coaching duties, Garima holds an MBA in Marketing and Human Resources and works as a realtor.

Greg Barnum

Greg has been playing chess since he was 11 years old. He has played in several chess clubs in both Florida and Georgia. He is a Vietnam veteran and a graduate of the University of Florida with graduate hours in Humanities from Penn State University. Greg has had several vocations; he has been a community college instructor, a sales rep and a realtor. He has played the French horn in several orchestras as well as refereeing soccer and instructing junior golf players. Greg is a security guard for the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta and also finds time to volunteer for child advocacy. He has recently taken up oil and acrylic painting. He enjoys cooking and wine and playing chess.

Guadalupe Ibara Tinoco

A co-founder of his middle school chess club and a veteran of Caribbean tournament play, Lupe knows firsthand the game’s power to build community. His background in math tutoring and youth library programming makes him a natural mentor who excels at engaging young minds. Today, Lupe balances a professional career with a lifelong passion for the board, focusing on the social connections and strategy that chess fosters.

Gus Jasinskas

Gus learned chess through Kid Chess in elementary school and returned to the game during COVID. He set and reached a goal of achieving a 1000 rating on Chess.com.

Herman Jones

Herman Jones is a Sprayberry High School graduate with work experience in the fields of customer service, music production, and childcare. He began playing chess when he was 8 years old and likes to play with friends and online. Teaching children to play chess allows Herman to help them take each concept to the next level where there is always something new to discover. His hobbies include playing basketball, soccer, piano, trombone, singing, and songwriting. Herman has perfect pitch and auditioned twice for NBC’s The Voice.

Herman McGhee

Coach Herman believes mastering chess translates into mastering life skills and is passionate about sharing the game’s growth potential with others.

Jack Shivertaker

Coach Jack’s journey with Kid Chess has officially come full circle. After first learning to play as a student in the Kid Chess program himself, he has returned to share his lifelong passion for the game with the next generation. A graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in Sports Journalism, Jack has spent the last four years as a sports writer for the Marietta Daily Journal. His background in journalism makes him an exceptional communicator who excels at breaking down complex strategies for his students. When he’s not at the chessboard or reporting on local sports, Jack is an avid traveler and outdoorsman who enjoys diving into a wide variety of card and board games.

Jared Radin

Jared has been playing chess for approximately 45 years. In the 70’s he was one of the top players in Georgia and won the State Championship in 1973. Jared is a former President of the Georgia Chess Association, and he has also directed and organized many chess tournaments. Jared is a computer programmer by trade and he created KCEasyChess and the interactive chess puzzles in the “fun house” section of the Kid Chess website.

Jeff Martinez

Originally from Queens, New York, Jeff earned an Associates in Engineering at Queens Borough Community College and a Diploma in Programming from Chattahoochee Technical College. He is also a Georgia certified interpreter; English-Spanish. Jeff’s work experience includes property management, computer technology, and junior web development. He enjoys chess since it is a game of skill and tactical prowess and plays about twice a week with a chess club. In his spare time, he enjoys HTML tutoring, computer technology, and sports forecasting.

Juan Ramos

Junie Gruskin

Coach Junie began playing chess nearly ten years ago in a Kid Chess program at her elementary school. She loves being able to teach kids because of their excitement and interest in chess. When she's not in school or teaching chess she loves to run.

Justin Mattick

Justin has extensive teaching and club experience, having run a middle school chess club where he taught fundamentals and strategy.

Karlton Widenmeyer

In addition to his chess coaching, Karlton is a Grandmaster in the game League of Legends.

Kat Cuneo

Kyle Hagen

Coach Kyle enjoys solving chess puzzles and sharing that curiosity with kids. "Young students inspire me to be my best and motivate me to help everyone around me experience joy through learning and play," Kyle says. In addition to chess, he has worked with children as a swim coach and martial arts instructor, bringing patience, discipline, and encouragement to everything he does.

Lakshmi Thirunavukkarasu

Lakshmi is originally from India and moved to the U.S. in 1998. She has been playing chess since elementary school and primarily played against friends and siblings as a child. Lakshmi also enjoys the intricate strategy that chess offers, as well as its focus on adaptation for both players. She has a bachelor‘s degree in Computer Science and worked as an assistant teacher in a Montessori school. She loves working with children - teaching them and creating an environment for children to share their passions. Lakshmi loves traveling, drawing, and crocheting.

Laura Mauter

Laura is originally from Addison, Illinois. She attended Southern New Hampshire University and received a BA in Creative Writing. She nannied children of all ages for eight years before transitioning to being a coach for Kid Chess. While she considers herself a casual player, she loves learning more and more about the game every day. In addition to chess, she loves running, writing, and playing video games.

Leo Carter

Coach Carter brings a wealth of educational leadership and mentorship experience to the Kid Chess team. His career spans the New York City and San Diego County school systems, where he developed a deep understanding of student growth and development. While in New York, he held key leadership roles as an Administrator On Duty and Director of Pastoral Services. Throughout his time in both New York and Atlanta, Coach Carter has remained dedicated to supporting and empowering at-risk youth. Now, he is thrilled to bring his passion for mentorship and the "royal game" to our students here in Georgia.

Leslie Nicodemus

Leslie hails from Baltimore, Maryland, though she spent most of her adult life in Florida and California before settling in Cobb County in early 2014. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland in Elementary Education. Leslie taught third grade for more than 20 years and then switched gears and became an Instructional Technology Specialist for fourth through eighth grade. She has presented at more than a dozen conferences on such subjects as how to engage students in learning and how children can learn to think and ask questions, rather than memorizing facts. Kid Chess is a natural extension to these skills, as chess playing has been scientifically proven to help build cognitive skills. Leslie has two grown children and lives in Marietta with her Lhasa Apso, Harpo. She considers herself a casual chess player and enjoys reading, traveling, movies and developing her chess skills on line and with family and friends. Working with kids is entertaining and satisfying. There is nothing quite like the “Eureka” moment when a child makes a discovery or learns something new. She enjoys the challenge of chess.

Louis Alderman

Louis works in our office as well as being a chess coach. He was a member of the Milton High School Chess Club and president of the club from 2003 to 2005. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Southern Polytechnic State University. In his spare time, he also works with students of all ages at a martial arts school having earned his black belt in 2019. He also volunteered with Georgia BEST robotics in 2008 and 2009.

Lucas Hernandez

Coach Lucas is an active tournament player.

Maha Sikkander

Maha is originally from India and it was there, when she was twelve years old, that her cousin taught her to play chess. Initially a casual player, Maha played a game that changed her perspective. Her queen was captured and Maha made the assumption that she would also lose the game. However, she won that game with two rooks! This experience increased Maha’s passion for chess. She now considers chess to be an art as it stimulates both concentration and imagination. Maha plays frequently with friends and family, including her husband and daughter, as well as online. Maha has a Master’s degree in English Literature and a software testing certificate. Her work experience is in this field, including database analysis, development, and testing. In her spare time, Maha enjoys learning new languages (she speaks three different Indian languages), cooking, and volunteering for the Girl Scouts.

Malcolm Johnson

Coach Malcolm is also a studio audio engineer who has worked with a number of well-known recording artists.

Mark Cercone

Mark Nunnally

Coach Mark loves the life lessons chess gives to kids. He was part of a group that started the Morehouse College Chess Team. He was a military kid and so was well-travelled as a youth. His wife is a Master Chef.

Matthew Jeffords

Coach Matthew has been playing chess since his grandfather taught him when he was young. He especially likes teaching kids tactics, and his favorite chess movie is Searching for Bobby Fischer.

Mazie Engbrecht

Mel Byer

Meredith Smiles

Meredith attended the University of Alabama and the University of South Carolina where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Management. She went on to receive her MBA from Kennesaw State University and then worked in the management field for several companies, most recently as a human resources/business consultant. She and her husband have two children. In her spare time, she loves to play tennis and read. She learned to play chess in elementary school and considers herself a casual chess player. She enjoys sharing the strategy of chess and seeing the children have fun while learning the game.

Michael Savage

Michael Savage is a vital member of our administrative team at the Roswell, GA office. A devoted family man, Michael is a proud father to a young son and is married to a dedicated Cobb County Elementary Special Education teacher. While Michael is a chess player—frequently outmaneuvering his family on the board—he is most at home behind a computer. His precision with spreadsheets and data management ensures that the "behind-the-scenes" of Kid Chess runs with the same strategy and care as a chess player's opening.

Michael Anthony Sanchez

Coach Michael competed in the Illinois state high school tournament and regularly plays online. He is currently in a Digital Financial Technology MBA program at Kennesaw State University.

Nalini Iyer

Natalie Anderson

Coach Natalie played actively in school chess clubs, including tournaments where she placed well enough to make the local newspaper. At Kid Chess, she blends her teaching passion with chess.

Natalie Rondon

Coach Natalie grew up playing chess influenced by her father, an experienced player, and her grandfather. She enjoys creative checkmating patterns.

Olivia Potts

Coach Olivia has been playing chess since elementary school, when she first began competing as a member of her school's chess team. Olivia’s favorite part of coaching is seeing the game through the eyes of her students; she finds that the creativity of children always manages to surprise her, bringing fresh energy to every lesson. When she isn't at the chess board, Olivia enjoys practicing yoga.

Parthiv Chaudhry

Patrick Davenport

Coach Patrick brings a unique blend of analytical precision and lifelong passion to the chessboard. A Software Engineering graduate from Arizona State University, Patrick currently serves as a full-stack engineer on our app development team, applying the same logic to coding as he does to his opening theory. His chess journey began at age five, sparked by weekend matches with his stepfather, and eventually led him to win “Top Unrated” at the 2014 Virginia Open as a self-taught player. Since then, he has refined his expertise alongside world-class players such as GM Ben Finegold, IM John Bartholomew, and Christof Sielecki, reaching a peak LiChess rapid rating of 2185. As a mentor, Patrick is dedicated to student growth; his private students have secured first and second-place finishes in Kid Chess tournaments, with many achieving gains of over 500 Elo points within a single year of his guidance.

Pierce Vacheron

Rajat Ravi

Coach Rajat is a former Kid Chess student!

Rufus Natawidjaja

Rufus was born in Indonesia. He has an associate of art degree in business administration as well as certificates in automotive technology. He began playing chess in elementary school and now plays occasionally with friends. He likes playing because it is a challenging game, helping with decision making and problem solving. Rufus finds working with kids rewarding, and he enjoys sharing his knowledge with them to help the kids become better chess players.

Ryan Darling

Ryan has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He co-owned a family landscaping business with his dad for ten years in Chattanooga before moving to Atlanta in the winter of 2023. He worked in marketing and online outreach for 8 years with the lawn business and with independent comedy show production. His hobbies include writing music, playing in a band, telling jokes, playing chess, and running. Ryan’s grandpa taught him to play chess at the age of 6. He likes playing chess because there’s always something to learn. Ryan is a lifelong student and no matter how often he plays chess, he always feels like he’s learning something new each time he plays. He is currently an unrated player but plans to change that as an adult improver. Ryan likes working with kids because they are hilarious and give you real reactions. “They can’t really hide how they are feeling, so you know exactly where you stand with them,” he says. “They make him laugh a lot and it’s exciting to see their eyes light up when they finally understand what you have been trying to teach them.” Fun fact: Ryan appeared on Star Search on Netflix in 2026!

Sam Crompton

Coach Sam started playing chess 50 years ago--He’s old enough to remember the famous Boris Spassky vs. Bobby Fischer World Championship match ! He loves the kids and the variety of schools in which he coaches.

Sanjay Sen

Sanjay is a full-time working professional, who has a Master's degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor's degree in Bioinformatics. He's an adult chess learner and enthusiast, who has a US Chess rating of 1100. He enjoys working with children, and more importantly it inspires and motivates him to teach his own son. Outside of his professional life, he is a car enthusiast, soccer player, painter, percussionist, and an avid outdoorsman who once camped on the crater of Mt. Longonot in Kenya.

Sarak Pak

Selina Lam

Coach Selina believes that every child learns best when curiosity leads the way. With years of experience working with children across a wide range of disciplines—including chess, robotics, math, music, and language—she brings a uniquely well-rounded and creative approach to every class she teaches.

Snigdha Ratnakara

Coach Snigdha attends Georgia State University and plans to attend law school.

Tamari Cole

In addition to chess, Coach Tamari likes guitar, skateboarding, music, gaming, hiking, and traveling.

TJ Bergquist

T.J. majored in Modern Language and Culture at Kennesaw State University and enjoys all things that deal with philosophy, wellbeing, and aesthetics. Though he enjoys pursuing artistic paths, whether digital art, music composition, or script writing, his guilty pleasure is playing video games and watching movies with his buddies. When T.J. is not coaching chess, he does academic as well as Spanish and English coaching.

Tom Kayma

Tom has been playing competitive chess for 47 years. He learned the game after Bobby Fischer won the World Championship in 1972. He is ranked as a National Master with the US Chess Federation and was also featured in the March 2022 Chess Life Magazine monthly feature article “My Best Move”. He is currently rated in the Top 20 chess players in Georgia. He is an M&A advisor representing middle market companies in the sale of their business. His chess experience has definitely helped his business career in negotiations, as anticipating your counterpart’s next move and being prepared for it is a critical business skill. Tom firmly believes that chess provides critical thinking skills for children and also prepares them for the challenges of life by learning how to lose and bounce back from setbacks and to never give up even when things look bleak. Chess also teaches children the consequences of their decisions and to think before making choices.

Travis Richards

Trina Jackson

As a child, Trina was inspired to learn chess after years of watching her dad play with his military friends. She was a quick study and began to play in tournaments. Trina played scholastically in grades 6-12 and then collegiately. She received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/English from Florida A&M University and went on to earn a BS in Hospitality Management/Travel & Tourism from Johnson & Wales University Miami and an MBA in Entrepreneurship from Nova Southeastern. She is currently studying computer science in the pursuit of her Ph.D. In her spare time, she enjoys playing chess online with friends, reading a good book, watching superhero movies, or just relaxing. Her favorite things are NFL football, Mickey Mouse, and all things Disney. Sharing her love of chess with others is one of her greatest passions!

Ty Dangerfield

Usama Ali

Valentina Rutten

Coach Valentina has been part of the chess world for several years and loves how the game combines strategy, creativity, and problem solving. Her favorite part of teaching is helping kids build confidence while learning to think ahead and stay focused. Her favorite chess piece is the knight because it always shows up when you least expect it. She loves road trips and is always up for a good playlist.

Zac DeCuir

Coach Zac discovered his love for chess in an unexpected setting: the waiting room of a fencing gym. While accompanying a friend to practice, Zac was fascinated by the fencing coach’s requirement that the athletes play chess as a mental warm-up. By observing the team and teaching himself the nuances of the game, a lifelong passion was born. For Zac, the true heart of coaching lies in the meaningful relationships he develops with his students. He prioritizes getting to know each child as an individual, believing that a strong personal connection is the best foundation for improving their skills on the board. When he isn’t analyzing a match, you’ll almost certainly find him with a coffee in hand. A dedicated coffee enthusiast, Zac is always fueled by his favorite brews—specifically an Iced Caramel Macchiato or a Caramel Frappuccino—no matter the time of day.