Because it builds more than skill—it builds confidence, competition and community.

Backyard Chess Club was founded on a simple belief: kids learn best through fun and friendly competition.

I didn’t grow up playing chess. I discovered the game in 2017, prompted by some playful trash talk from a friend’s dad who kept beating me. Determined to improve, I joined the UCF Chess Club, but was met with an unwelcoming atmosphere. However, a member invited me to coach at a local school. Though new to the game, my love for working with kids, shaped by years of community service, shone through.

That first opportunity led to many more. I was quickly noticed by Stephen Crookston, owner of Board One Chess Academy, who invited me to assist at multiple schools. Within a year, I was leading programs at five schools and mentoring private students. My love for teaching chess deepened and as I poured into my students, my own game began to sharpen—I was falling in love with the game as a coach and a player.

In 2019, I returned to UCF Chess Club and discovered a new chess community—welcoming, competitive and growth-oriented. Joined by new club friends, I competed in my first rated tournament, the 2019 U.S. Open, placing 2nd and earning an 1100 USCF rating.

Then came the pandemic. With in-person chess on hold, I adapted to virtual lessons—teaching several lessons a day. As schools reopened, I knew I needed a better way to reach students. Remembering a backyard chess club Stephen hosted in Tampa, I reimagined it with intention.

This spark was the foundation for my next move.