The Chess Effect is dedicated to the mission of making chess accessible to all, regardless of background or socioeconomic status. Through our initiatives of fundraiser tournaments and free lessons, we aim to break down barriers and create a community where everyone can enjoy and benefit from this enriching game. Our mission is rooted in the conviction that chess can have a profound and positive effect on individuals and communities, and we are committed to spreading this effect as widely as possible.

Our Founder

International Master Sandeep Sethuraman founded The Chess Effect and started our website in May 2020. Sandeep is a two time member of the All-America Chess team, a 4 time National Chess Champion, 4 time Arizona State Chess Champion, has represented Arizona 4 times at the Denker and Barber Tournaments of State Champions, and has represented the United States of America at the World Cadet Chess Championships 3 times. Sandeep also has experience teaching as he is the instructor of the BASIS Chandler Chess Club and the captain of the BASIS Chandler AIA team. He was the first Chess Effect Coach, and still coaches for the advanced level and recruits like-minded players to join the Chess Effect Coaching Team. He writes articles for Chess Life Magazine, the most widely read chess publication in the world, and has been featured along with The Chess Effect on local news stations such as Fox 10 and Channel 12 News. Learn more at https://chesseffect.org/media/.

Our Development

Since being founded in May 2020, we have expanded from just one coach to more than twenty active volunteer coaches, and a new chapter in Texas. To date our team of coaches has taught hundreds of hours of free lessons, and our students have showcased great improvement, with 2 nearing the expert level and others showing greater than 400 point rating gains. We have also held 4 fundraiser tournaments with all proceeds being donated to The Foster Alliance (formerly Arizona Helping Hands).

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International Master Sandeep Sethuraman

Sandeep’s USChess profile: http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlMain.php?15472832

Sandeep’s FIDE profile: https://ratings.fide.com/profile/30941091