I've played chess competitively for most of my life. It shaped how I think about competition, improvement, psychology, and myself. Today, I still play seriously and selectively coach players I believe I can help.
My dad taught me how to play in 1st grade. I spent the next four years obsessively playing every week in the Elementary School Chess Club. I didn't lose a game in 5th grade (one draw though). My hobby turned more serious at the end of elementary school, when a friend of mine recommended I play at our local chess club on Fridays.
I'll never forget my first real tournament when I was 10yo. I came in with as much hubris as one could, wanting to play in the highest section, and feeling disrespected when I got forced to play in Intermediate. I proceeded to lose all four games and cry my eyes out during the whole ride home. From then on, until college, I felt motivated to train extensively. 5+ coaches, 5+ out-of-state tournaments every year, a few invitational chess camps, and many lifelong friendships came as a result. Without really knowing it, chess became a core part of my personality, and a key differentiator when it came time to apply for jobs/college.
I still loved chess, but other parts of my life had to take precedent when I got to college. Still, I became active in our UT Austin chess club every year, when it was time to prepare for the annual Intercollegiate tournament. I was playing more out of joy for the game than for my rating, and I realized quickly how much better this approach was, for both my quality of play and mental health. I ended up captaining the UT Austin team which outright won the u1800 section in 2023.
I coached a bit in college just because I couldn't help myself, but started truly coaching post-grad. Some notables: - Coached a UT Austin Football player as part of an initiative with Chess.com, and he won the UT Football x Chess.com blitz tournament! - I taught a pair of 4yo and 5yo sisters how to play from the ground up in < 2 months - I now coach clients age 4-80, with a max rating of 1700.
Ever since I started training seriously at ~10yo, I started to notice how chess impacted my mental and emotional approach to real world challenges. The way I teach emphasizes extensibility far more than any coach I've ever had or witnessed in action.
Chess is cruel at its core. As an individual sport, every mistake is your own. You can't cheat the game, and, moreover, you can't cheat training. I aim to squeeze the proverbial lemon, every lesson, with every student, and I prep before and after each lesson to ensure this. I only work with those who I feel are willing to put forth similar levels of effort (be ready for homework).
My biggest advantage as a coach is my EQ, so developing chemistry with students is usually not a challenge. But I have a responsibility to value your time as much as my own, and if I don't feel like I'm the best fit, I'll let you know (and likely refer you to someone I feel is a better fit).
Nothing brings me more joy in life than using my expertise to make a positive impact on the lives of others. I'm selfishly selfless about this mantra.
