Background & CV

My first exposure to a serious chess community was as a high school student with the Williamsport Chess Club.

Everyone was friendly, accepted challenges freely, and played on tournament size sets with clocks. I was hooked.  I quickly became a regular member, attending sunday meetings,  weekend-long tournaments such as the Susquehanna Valley Open, and playing in a match our chess club played against another club from State College.

By the time I was deciding on a university, chess was already a major factor in my choice.  I arrived to Fordham University (Bronx, NYC) ready to visit the historic Marshall Chess Club, as well as get some games in  blitz spots (both well-known and hidden) around the city. 

 Between the chess club at my university, NYC's already established chess culture, and the upcoming Carlsen - Karjakin  match set for November 2016 in Manhattan, no academic schedule could keep my attention away from chess. I dove in and began gaining experience, both as a player and as a teacher. 

Now, I'm in Charlotte - a city with an important, growing chess culture of its own. My hope is to contribute to and benefit from this growth both as a coach and as a tournament player.