Come network and meet all of the people who are involved in this event.
Below is a list of all the chess organizers, TDs, coaches and chess fans who are volunteering their time and effort to make this event a success and promote chess in the greater Houston area.
Below is a list of all the chess organizers, TDs, coaches and chess fans who are volunteering their time and effort to make this event a success and promote chess in the greater Houston area.
GM Joshua Ruiz Castillo
Grandmaster Joshua Daniel Ruiz Castillo was born in Columbia in 1997. His father taught him chess at age 6-½. When not playing chess, he writes chess books and enjoys bicycling and watching movies. He has enjoyed full chess scholarships and played on the UTRGV and UTD chess teams. He was awarded FIDE titles for Candidate Master (CM) in 2007, FIDE Master (FM) in 2009, International Master (IM) in 2012, and Grandmaster (GM) in 2019.
Clear Lake Chess Club
FM Chris Land from the Clear Lake area will be present as our emcee for the blindfold challenge!
Fort Bend Chess
The Fort Bend Chess Club has been hosting tournaments and teaching chess to children and adults since 1996. They will be available for beginner chess lessons at their booth. Come meet coach Chuck Hinkle.
UH Chess Club
The chess club at UH will introduce spectators to different variants of chess. We will have rubber ducks, a self playing chess board, and lots of fun for any skill or age. Come play the officers and members of the club!
USA Chess
NM Jeffrey "Coach Jeff" Reinberg has been teaching chess in Houston since 2006. He is self-taught and played his first tournament while in 10th grade; becoming a Master as an adult. His students have won state and national championships throughout the years and he's much more active as a coach than player nowadays.
Foundation Chess
National expert John Hendrick with Foundation Chess will be offering kids the opportunity to win prizes for correctly solving chess puzzles at his booth! Ages 18 and younger only please.
Prizes will vary depending on the difficulty level of the puzzle. John has been coaching kids in Houston and Katy area for the past 12 years.
Prizes will vary depending on the difficulty level of the puzzle. John has been coaching kids in Houston and Katy area for the past 12 years.
Franc Guadalupe
F&B Trophies will be the onsite chess supply vendor for this event. Come grab some playing equipment and other chess related supplies!
Master Chess Club
Adrian Patterson with Master Chess will be on-site helping in the casual chess area. He's officially rated a "Class A" chess player and has coached kids for over 9 years. He knows how to make chess fun for the kiddos.
We Play Chess LLC
David Bryant Crawford with We Play Chess will be available to coach newbies how to play chess. Come see him for fun tips and strategies on how to beat your dad at chess!
Strategem Chess Club
Jay Bhatt with Strategem will be on-site to help out at the "learn to play chess" area. Jay has been coaching and organizing tournaments in the Katy area for the past few years.
Other Volunteers
Peter Craney
Peter Craney is a retired IT Project Manager who has been a chess player all his life. He spends more time now organizing and running events for Houston area US CHESS affiliates than competing. He organizes the Knights of Cypress Chess Club weekly tournaments. He is a Senior Tournament Director and a FIDE National Arbiter.
Neelima Joshi
Started the "Young Buddies Club" in the Katy area which was active until 2017 with over 100 familes. Moved back to India but is now in Texas!
Charles Osenbaugh
Coaches for "ThinkChess" and is actively involved in various non-profit chess activities around town including the "Walnut Bend Chess" group.
Peter Craney is a retired IT Project Manager who has been a chess player all his life. He spends more time now organizing and running events for Houston area US CHESS affiliates than competing. He organizes the Knights of Cypress Chess Club weekly tournaments. He is a Senior Tournament Director and a FIDE National Arbiter.
Neelima Joshi
Started the "Young Buddies Club" in the Katy area which was active until 2017 with over 100 familes. Moved back to India but is now in Texas!
Charles Osenbaugh
Coaches for "ThinkChess" and is actively involved in various non-profit chess activities around town including the "Walnut Bend Chess" group.