Current - April 29, 2025
2025 UMB Bank Open Championship — May 16‑18 • $4,200 in prizes • Register now →
$100 / one-hour lesson $800 / 10 one-hour lessons Buy 10-pack here
I started playing chess around the age of 9 and received a starting FIDE rating of 1548 in Jan 2010. In less than five years, I approached the Grandmaster rating of 2500 FIDE and was officially awarded the Grandmaster title in 2016. I was also the 2015 US Junior Champion, 2015 US National High School Champion, 2013 US SuperNational K-9 Champion, and hold the distinction of being the only player to have achieved sole first in the two top US Collegiate Open tournaments – the University of Texas at Dallas Fall Fide Open and the Webster University SPICE Cup. After finishing high school, I moved to Saint Louis to play chess professionally for 2 years. Thereafter, I began higher education at Saint Louis University, where I completed a Bachelor’s in Computer Science and a Master’s in Philosophy.
I am more middlegame and endgame-oriented. My main interest lies in positional play, in particular, learning to recognize positional motifs and ideas. Understanding how to attack and play more dynamically is also important, and so we would work on tactics and calculation as well.
I am highly motivated to work with young players who have a passion for the game. My goal is to help improve their understanding of chess and develop their talent by keeping things engaging and accessible.
I’ve been an active tournament player for around 14 years. Some of my best results include:
Before we meet for the first class, I ask the student to send me a compilation of their recent tournament games, with annotations. That gives me a better idea of their playing style and thought process, and allows me to gauge strengths and weaknesses. I then tailor the lessons based on these observations. Homework is regularly assigned for students to work on between classes, and I am available to chat via text outside of class time.
