Erick Zhao
Head Coach
International Master
IM Erick is an professional chess player with a strong background in both competitive play and coaching. He is passionate about helping students develop their chess skills, strategic thinking, and confidence at the board. Erick's teaching style emphasizes understanding core concepts and enjoying the learning process.
Michael Wang
Coach
National Master
National Master Michael Lei Wang has been playing competitive chess for around 15 years. His expertise is in middlegame planning and the psychology of practical play. He is eager to share his passion for chess through teaching and mentoring others, often taking the time to help players improve their understanding of the game.
Sarthak Gattani
Coach
National Master
Sarthak is a National Master and coach who emphasizes understanding core principles and enjoying the learning process. He is committed to helping students reach their full potential in chess.
Drew Martin
Coach
USCF Candidate Master
Drew is a USCF Candidate Master with a strong background in competitive play and coaching. He is dedicated to helping students improve their chess skills and strategic thinking, and is known for his patient and encouraging teaching style.
Justin Lee
Coach
USCF Candidate Master
Justin Lee has been a competitive chess player for 11 years and currently holds the USCF Candidate Master title. In July 2024, he ranked among the Top 50 players in the country for his age group and went on to win the High School State Grades Championship the same year. With one year of coaching experience, he is eager to share his knowledge and passion for the game, helping students grow their skills and deepen their understanding of chess.
Harishkumar Karthikeyan
Coach
Expert Player
Uscf Expert Harishkumar has been playing competitive chess for 6 years. His strengths are in good intuition and tactics. He is happy to share his love for chess through teaching others and is committed to mentoring chess players and fostering a love for the game.
Matthew James
Coach
Expert Player
Matthew is a part of the multiple-time State Champion ACP Chess Team. Through his experiences as an expert chess player who enjoys sharing his passion for chess with students, he focuses on building a strong foundation and helping players develop confidence and creativity in their games.
Michael Zhang
Coach
Expert Player
Michael is passionate about teaching chess and guiding students to reach their full potential.
Jacob
Coach
Expert Player
Jacob is an expert-strength player ranked in the top 100 18-year-olds nationally. He has been teaching chess for over 2 years, and is a certified tournament director. A great believer in the power of hard work, Jacob helps his students develop a simple and personalized study plan that they can execute on their own.
Gabriel Cumming
Coach
Expert Player
Gabriel helps students improve their chess skills and confidence through engaging lessons.
Saurav Skanda
Coach
Advanced Player
Saurav is an advanced chess player with a USCF rating of 1851 and a peak of 1923. He learned chess at the age of 5 and began playing competitively three years ago. Though still gaining experience as a coach, his deep passion and enthusiasm for the game and strong grasp of competitive play make him a promising and dedicated mentor. His strengths as a coach include identifying key mistakes in games and helping players build a solid foundation to grow from.
Ronak Potnis
Coach
Ryan Elementary Head Coach
Ronak is an expert in endgame strategies and has played chess for over 10 years. His unique insights help players refine their closing tactics and secure wins in critical matches.
Vedant Dhingra
Coach
Intermediate Player
Vedant is an experienced chess player with a strong passion for teaching and mentoring. He has competed in numerous tournaments and enjoys helping students develop their chess skills, strategic thinking, and love for the game. Vedant's approach focuses on building a solid foundation and encouraging students to challenge themselves while having fun.
Harshitha Raghuraman
Coach
Advanced Player
Harshitha is a coordinated, organized and passionate chess player who has been playing chess competitively for 2 years with a rating of over 1700, however her chess journey started 10 years ago. She has helped coach chess camps and classes for many students and has helped them understand core principles and concepts crucial for chess players. Her dedication as a mentor will help students see not just the fundamentals that chess consists of but also of the skills, knowledge and sportsmanship all players must definitely have. She will strive to help others improve from their weaknesses and to learn from their mistakes while maintaining a fun and dynamic learning environment.
Aishwarya Ganapathy
Coach
Advanced Player
Aishwarya has been playing chess for the past 6 years. She ranks among the top girls in the nation and has qualified to represent Arizona at the 2024 Haring and the 2024 and 2025 Susan Polgar Invitationals, placing in the top 10. She enjoys endgames and tactics, and is excited for the opportunity to share her passion for chess with others.
Kasyap Avancha
Coach
Advanced Player
Kasyap is an advanced chess player and experienced coach who has competed in many tournaments. He is passionate about teaching chess and helping students develop strategic thinking and a love for the game. Kasyap's approach emphasizes building a strong foundation and encouraging students to challenge themselves.