Knights Coaches

 Meet our coaches! 

Pawns    Knights   Bishops    Rooks    Queens    Kings

COACH BIJAL!

Bijal has been teaching Math and Social Studies to school kids for more than 10 years, and has been playing chess since she was a kid. Teaching her daughter how to play chess inspired her to teach other kids as well and led her to join Silver Knights. She makes learning chess a fun experience and is very passionate about her job. When she's not playing chess, she also enjoys art and surrounding herself with nature.

COACH BOB! 

Bob...

 

Coach Alexander!

Alexander (USCF: 1650) has been playing chess since he was in middle school and was inspired to teach the wonderful game of 64 squares as a private chess coach and as an after-school chess instructor. Since 2016, Alexander has been working at Nottoway Middle School as a 7th grade US History teacher. He was recently awarded recognition as Teacher of the Year for the middle school during the 2020-2021 school year in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexander has also been invited to teach chess at the Longwood University Talented and Gifted Summer Camps two years in the running. Alexander continues to grow stronger as a player and as a coach, and he hopes to one day become a chess master within his own right. If you want to follow him, please reach out at  https://chesswithmrmorton.weebly.com/.

Coach Gloria!

Gloria started playing chess when she was in elementary school, and really started to enjoy it after attending one of the summer Silver Knights camps. She likes how chess is an activity that she can fully immerse her mind in and is something she can enjoy as a hobby for the rest of her life. Her favorite thing about teaching Silver Knights students is being able to visibly see them improve. Seeing their faces light up when they get a concept, tactic, or problem they previously had trouble on is among my best experiences teaching. Gloria is a second-year student at the University of Virginia, majoring in Computer Science. She plays chess competitively with her university team at multiple tournaments. She also enjoys dancing and coding in her free time!

Coach Christian!

Coach Christian is 30 years of age, living in the state of Georgia. He first learned Chess when he was playing "speed checkers" competitively in his hometown Wheaton, Maryland. He's been playing the game of Chess and teaching it for 5 years now. Fun Fact: Him and his wife were boxing coaches! What he loves about the game of Chess is the endless possibilities, the unique strategy it requires, and how gameplay can relate to real life!

Coach James!

James (USCF 1533) learned chess at age 6 has been playing ever since. He loves that chess is a strategy game of perfect information, and that any that any two people can meet and play on even terms. James has been teaching with Silver Knights since 2017. When he's not playing or teaching chess he likes snowboarding, playing the piano and studying Japanese.