Speaker: Daniel Weissbarth

Daniel Weissbarth USA Сo-owner, Silver Knights Chess Academy A co-owner at Silver Knights Chess Academy, Daniel has overseen the company’s growth from 10 locations and a few hundred students in 2009 to more than 350 sites and 15,000+ students each year in after school programs, summer camps, and tournaments.  In addition, he spearheaded the launch […]

Speaker: Mikkel Nørgaard

Mikkel Nørgaard Denmark Chief Learning Officer, Danish Scholastic Chess Federation / Co-developer of the Federation’s educational programs and initiatives Mikkel Nørgaard is the Chief Learning Officer at the Danish Scholastic Chess Federation and co-developer of the Federation’s educational programs and initiatives, such as KAS – professional development for scholastic chess teachers® (with the A.P. Møller […]

Speaker: Tyrone Davis III

Tyrone Davis III USA Co-founder, Miyagi Labs / Co-founder & Board Member, The Gift of Chess / US National Chess Master / Former President, MIT Chess Club Tyrone Davis III is the Co-Founder and CEO of Miyagi Labs, an education technology company that uses AI to transform content into interactive courses. He is also the […]

Speaker: Arpine Lputyan

Arpine Lputyan Armenia Ambassador of the Chess in Schools program in Armenia / Founder and CEO, Chess Educators Academy Arpine Lputyan has been involved in the management and development of Armenia’s pioneering Chess in Schools program for over a decade, contributing to its curriculum and implementation. With a background in education technology, she focuses on […]

Speaker: Niki Riga

Niki Riga Greece Social Media Strategist / Photographer / Social Media Manager, Norway Chess / Former Head of Social Media, FIDE Niki Riga is a Social Media Strategist who started her career in content creation as a photographer and has expanded her skills into video editing, design, and storytelling. A lifelong chess player, she creates […]

Speaker: Steinar Sæthre

Steinar Sæthre Norway Advisor in Sports, Physical Activity and Recreation, the Savings Bank Foundation DNB Steinar Sæthre works at the Savings Bank Foundation DNB, which is the largest philantropical foundation in Norway. He specializes in sports, physical activites and the development of playful arenas for youth. The foundation supports a number of activity programs for […]

Speaker: Priyadharshan Kannappan

Priyadharshan Kannappan India Founder, Chess Gaja Private Limited / Grandmaster (GM) / Chess Coach Priyadharshan Kannappan Grandmaster, Educator, and Founder of Chess Gaja Private Limited. Grandmaster Priyadharshan Kannappan is an esteemed international chess figure from India, with over 25 years of experience as a player, coach, educator, and entrepreneur. Renowned for his deep understanding of […]

Speaker: Abhyudaya Ram S J

Abhyudaya Ram S J India Creative Head / ChessBase India Abhyudaya Ram is the Creative Head at ChessBase India, where he has spent the past five years reshaping how chess is perceived and consumed online. A computer science engineering graduate and a non-chess player turned storyteller, Abhyudaya brings a unique outsider’s lens to the game. […]

Speaker: Geert van der Velde

Geert van der Velde Netherlands Ex-CEO / Chessable / Entrepreneur / Musician Geert van der Velde began his career as a full-time musician, touring internationally and recording albums as a singer-songwriter, including vocal duties for American metal/hardcore band Shai Hulud and Dutch indie folk group The Black Atlantic. In his mid-thirties, van der Velde, a […]

Speaker: Rochelle Balantyne

Rochelle Balantyne USA Litigation Associate / Chess Advocate and Education Equity Activist Rochelle Ballantyne is a litigation associate that doubles as an expert-ranked chess player. She grew up in Brooklyn, New York with her mom and three younger siblings. Rochelle is best known for her appearance in the Emmy-nominated documentary Brooklyn Castle, which followed the […]