Meet Our Coaches!

Epiphany is from Nashville Tennessee. Her parents taught her chess when she was a girl, and she started playing in tournaments when she was six years old. She has won the Japan Women's Championship and the Michigan Women's Championship (3 times). She is also a chess streamer and has been teaching the game for many years. Outside of chess, her favorite activities are hiking and playing the piano. 

   

WCM Savetha CH was taught how to play chess by her parents at the age of 4. Savetha grew up in India and lives in NYC with her husband and their daughter. As a certified FIDE Instructor, Savetha has taught chess to children and adults of all ages and levels since 2016 and has won numerous National and International medals as a professional chess player.

 

Will Osborne

USCF 1897

Will Osborne has been playing chess since he joined his elementary school’s chess club at age 5. After rediscovering a love for the game in college, he started playing in tournaments at every opportunity and has been active in many chess clubs around the US. Will loves chess because of the community, the timelessness of the game, and the fact that we can always improve but never truly master it. When he is not playing or teaching chess, Will enjoys skiing, hiking, and playing guitar.

 

Luke Everett

USCF 1895

Luke Everett was taught how to play chess when he was six years old. Learning about pins and forks from an Australian neighbor created an enduring fascination for the game. Unfortunately, "real life" interfered with Luke's chess ambition for decades and he only started playing in tournaments after immigrating to the USA in 1996. Luke joined MCA (then Silver Knights) after seeing how much his daughter enjoyed the after-school programs and tournament training clubs. 

 

Laila (Lily) Faerman

USCF 1893

 Laila Faerman (Aka Lily Faerman) is a National Expert and has been teaching chess for 19 years now. She began her tournament playing in Moscow Russia where she was born. Laila has taught kids and adults of all ages. As a child she was the 2nd highest rated girl in her age group (U-14) in the US and represented USA at the Youth World Championship in 1996. Laila also was a high school champion of New York State in 1996. In 1998 Laila finished 3rd in the NYS woman’s championship. She loves working with kids, helping them to develop and manifest their talents. She is also a singer and an ultra runner.

 

 Cole Markham

USCF 1732

Cole Markham has played chess since he joined his elementary school chess club at 6. He was the president of his high school chess club for all 4 years and his college chess club for 3. Chess has allowed Cole to make lifelong friends and memories while playing at tournaments and at his clubs.

 

WCM Rachelle-Mari Voges

FIDE 1583

With two of her brothers playing chess competitively, Rachelle practically grew up next to a chessboard. She played in her first official tournament at the age of five years old and fell in love with the power that chess has to teach valuable life skills in a dynamic and fun way. Rachelle has represented South Africa, her home country, at several World Youth games and in the Common Wealth, and she played for the South African University Team. She is an admitted attorney, owns her own café, and has been teaching chess (her favorite job!) to students for the last 10 years. 

 

Bryan Quick

USCF 1663

Bryan Quick began teaching chess many years ago in New York City. In 2015, he was hired to lead the famed Marshall Chess Club as its executive director. In that role he significantly expanded the Club's educational offerings—introducing adult, senior, and a variety of scholastic courses—while overseeing a group of talented coaches. He is a FIDE certified instructor and arbiter. 

 

Alexander Morton

USCF 1650

Alexander Morton has been playing chess since he was in middle school. Since 2016, Alexander has been working as a 7th grade US History teacher and was recently awarded recognition as Teacher of the Year! Alexander has been teaching chess for a number of years both in-person and online. 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.

 

 

James Bougher

USCF 1547

 

James Bougher 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 MCA since 2017. When he's not playing or teaching chess he likes snowboarding, playing the piano and studying Japanese.

 

Rachael Smith

USCF 1037

 Rachael's dad taught her how to play chess when she was 6 years old. She competed in her first scholastic chess tournament when she was 9. Her favorite thing about chess is the fact that anyone can be your opponent and they may very well beat you! It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old - it’s a game for everyone.

 

Kristine Totanes-Wereb

Kristine Totanes-Wereb learned how to play chess when she was 17 years old. Since then, she has played in several tournaments in her area, taught English as a Second Language to students from all over the world, and served as a behavioral therapist for children with autism. As someone currently pursuing her Master of Science degree in Educational Psychology at the University of Southern Maine, Kristine aspires not only to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA), but also to use chess to help children with autism improve important life skills, such as social skills, concentration, and critical thinking skills. Kristine lives in Maryland with her husband, son, and two cats.

   

Emily Maxwell

Emily worked as a touring musician, music journalist, and substitute teacher before joining MCA as a beginner and intermediate coach in September 2021. Her favorite thing about coaching is helping her students learn how to practice good sportsmanship and ways to handle their losses. Outside of class, she spends her time watching Formula 1, writing novels, and studying social sciences.