Sloan Setiadikurnia
FOUNDER AND COACH
Sloan was born and raised in the greater Seattle area. He was introduced to competitive chess in his 10th grade year at high school and has been hooked ever since. Before becoming a coach, he was the captain of his high school chess club and former president of the USC Chess Club. Sloan also has a degree in Chemical Engineering.
As a player, Sloan has earned an expert rating over the board and continues to train and play every day. He follows several of the top-level tournaments and regularly reads new books/articles to improve his own chess knowledge. He believes that staying stagnant is falling behind.
Over the past eight years, Coach Sloan has coached all levels of scholastic chess ranging from beginners to state and national champions. He engages students through various stories and encourages active learning. He has coached students through private lessons, school chess clubs, group classes, and dedicated training programs. He also regularly visits local tournaments to support his students.
Gelareh Golanbar
DIRECTOR AND COACH
Before being involved in the chess community, Gelareh worked full time in pharmacy. Gelareh was formerly the President of the Medina Chess Club, which is the largest school chess club in Washington State. She has experience organizing large tournaments and managing the logistics of several different classes. In the Grand Knights Chess Academy, her primary role is to manage the day to day operation.
Gelareh also has coaching experience working with beginner level chess players. She exhibits a very warm personality to students that makes them feel safe and comfortable to express themselves. This gives the young beginners the confidence to dive into the complicated game of chess without feeling overwhelmed.
Gregory Serper
Grand Master
Grand Master Gregory Serper leads our advanced students with the same passion and mastery that have defined his remarkable chess career.
Grand Master Gregory Serper leads our advanced students with the same passion and mastery that have defined his remarkable chess career. Invited in 1985 to join the prestigious Botvinnik–Kasparov chess school, Serper quickly rose to prominence, earning third place in the 1988 World Junior Chess Championship alongside future elite grandmasters. He later helped the Uzbek team secure victory at the 1992 Chess Olympiad and went on to win the 1999 World Open.
In addition to his competitive achievements, Serper is a respected author whose Chess.com articles are widely read for their clear instruction and deep strategic insight. Truly dedicated to the sport, he has guided numerous state and national champions, and at Grand Knights Chess Academy he brings this expertise to our advanced students, preparing them for high-level competition with exceptional skill and care.
Elshan Moradiabadi
Grand Master
Elshan is a chess grandmaster, coach, author, and advocate.
Most recently he co-won the 2022 US Open, plus the 2022 Chess Journalist of the Year award for his contributions to Chess Life Magazine and other publications. He is also the co-author of Sherlock’s Method, a popular chess book for players aiming to increase their rating from around 1700 OTB to 2300+.
He most frequently coaches kids, adults, and other master-level players. Elshan became the Iranian Champion at 15 years old and still plays competitively to this day.
Joseph Levine
International Master
International Master Joseph Levine has over ten years of experience playing and studying chess.
He won the 2025 High School National Championship and currently studies math and computer science at the University of Virginia, where he serves as President of the Chess Club.
At Grand Knights, he leads our master-led Summer Camps, bringing high-level competitive experience to our students.
William Schill
FIDE Master
FIDE Master William “Coach Bill” Schill is a lifelong competitor and dedicated mentor whose passion for teaching has inspired generations of young chess players. A product of the Kirkland community, he attended local schools—including Juanita High School—before studying at the University of Washington.
His chess journey accelerated in the late 1970s when he won the Washington Junior Chess Championship and earned the National Master title. A gifted strategist beyond the chessboard, Bill also achieved distinction as a backgammon and poker player, placing second at the Tropicana World Backgammon Championship and winning a Washington State Hold ’em title.
Yet chess has always been his first love. After returning to competitive play in 1999, he won the Washington State Championship in both 2000 and 2001, and his strong national performances—highlighted by outstanding results at the National Open—earned him the FIDE Master title in 2002.
While committed to full-time coaching, he continues to compete, winning the Washington Senior Chess Championship and capturing the 2015 West Coast Championship with an exceptional performance against titled players.
Today, Coach Bill brings his deep experience, enthusiasm, and proven training methods to Grand Knights Chess Academy, where he equips students with the skills and confidence to excel in scholastic competition and beyond.
Matt Wilbur
National Master
Matt is a National Master with over 20 years of chess playing experience. He’s played online blitz for as long as he can remember, and recently returned to classical chess competition in 2024, a few years after moving to Seattle.
Since then, he has won several local and state tournaments, including the 2024 Seattle Chess Classic. He believes that anyone can become a strong chess player with the right kind of practice and self-reflection. He hopes to share the strategies that helped him improve so he can help others strengthen their game and appreciate chess’ incredible complexity.
Outside of chess, Matt is a machine learning engineer who works on algorithms that improve mental healthcare outcomes. He has a cat named Stormy and enjoys rock climbing on weekends when the weather is nice.
You can reach him by email at mattwilber94 [at] gmail [dot] com.
Andrew Fletcher
NATIONAL MASTER
Coach Andrew is a USCF National Master and accomplished tournament competitor with a passion for helping students reach their full potential. He earned the National Master title after winning the 2025 North Carolina Open, a milestone that reflects years of disciplined study, competitive success, and continuous improvement.
Andrew has been deeply involved in the chess community both as a player and leader. He served as President of the Seattle University Chess Club, helping grow the club’s competitive presence, and directed the Seattle University Chess Classic, a large-scale regional tournament that brought together players from across the Pacific Northwest.
Andrew brings both elite competitive experience and proven leadership to Grand Knights Chess Academy, where he is committed to helping students build confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the depth and creativity of chess.
Michael Hosford
COACH
Michael Hosford is a dedicated chess coach with more than 30+ years experience, known for his patient teaching style, strategic insight, and commitment to helping students grow both intellectually and competitively.
With years of experience working with young players, he excels at breaking down complex concepts into clear, achievable steps that build confidence and tournament-ready skills.
Michael’s passion for mentoring has contributed to the development of numerous scholastic players, and his ability to create a supportive, motivating learning environment makes him a valued member of the Grand Knights Chess Academy coaching team.
William Dann
COACH
Coach William was born and raised in the Seattle area and developed a deep interest in chess during high school. He has a strong passion for the game and enjoys sharing it with his students. He spends much of his free time studying chess games to learn new ideas and strategies.
In tournament competition, Coach William has defeated several 2000+ rated players and has won numerous prizes for high placements.
Coach William holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science from Lake Washington Tech and consistently works on technical projects. You can find his work here.
In addition to chess and coding, he enjoys playing the guitar and composing music.
Cedric Davies
COACH
Coach Cedric was born and raised by the Atlantic coast of Nova Scotia, Canada, where his love for chess began at age eight during a family road trip when his father first taught him the game.
By sixteen he had joined the Bluenose Chess Club and soon earned impressive results, including second place at the 1997 Maritime Open, the 1998 Maritime Junior Championship title, and the Nova Scotia Most Improved Player award after gaining an extraordinary 279 rating points in a single year.
After a 20-year break, his passion was reignited by his son’s growing enthusiasm—leading Cedric to run the school chess club and coach his son to a perfect-score victory at the 2023 Susan Polgar Tournament; today, father and son proudly compete side by side in adult events.
Believing strongly in the balance of study and practice, Cedric guides students from impulsive play toward strategic understanding and cherishes the “aha!” moments when concepts finally click. He is deeply committed to sharing the joy of chess with learners of all ages and abilities, bringing patience and empathy shaped by his experience teaching young students, including his autistic son, and showing that chess can be a meaningful and empowering activity for every child.
Sam Maurer
COACH
Coach Sam became extremely passionate about chess in middle school. He loves exploring openings that are off-beat and not well studied to surprise his more classically prepared opponents. He loves educating his students about the deeper meaning behind each move rather than simply the face value.
Through immense personal passion and dedication, Sam has improved to become a serious contender in Washington High School state chess. He has won against many players with ratings over 2000 and finished in 2nd place at the WA High School State Championship in 2023.
Aayan Hetamsaria
COACH
Coach Aayan has been playing competitive chess for over seven years and brings five years of coaching experience working with developing scholastic players. He earned the All‑Star Award at the Washington High School State Chess Championship and has wins against many players rated above 1800 USCF.
As a Coach at Grand Knights Chess Academy, Aayan is dedicated to teaching, motivating, and inspiring young players. He leads with kindness, patience, and confidence, serving as a positive role model both on and off the board. His leadership style helps students feel supported, encouraged, and excited to grow.
Aayan focuses on building strong pattern recognition and tactical awareness through positions that reinforce key ideas repeatedly. He believes that too much memorization can take the joy out of learning, so his lessons emphasize clear understanding, active thinking, and making chess genuinely fun while students improve.
Salyh Saryyev
COACH
Coach Salyh developed a passion for chess at the age of 7 and began playing competitively in Turkmenistan. He later continued his chess journey in Georgia and eventually in the United States, gaining experience in different chess communities, tournaments, and playing styles along the way. Through years of competition and training, Salyh built a strong understanding of both the strategic and educational aspects of chess.
In addition to competing, Salyh enjoys helping young players improve their skills and confidence through the game. He is passionate about creating a positive and encouraging environment where students feel comfortable learning, asking questions, and expressing themselves. His patient and supportive personality helps beginners enjoy the learning process while developing important skills such as focus, discipline, critical thinking, and decision-making.
Iris Zhang
COACH
Coach Iris has been playing chess in the WA State chess scene since she was seven years old. She has an electric enthusiasm for the chess game that she spreads to others. She loves spending her free time studying new chess games to improve herself. She also cares deeply about developing her students’ love of the game.
Coach Iris has been one of the top ranked girls in the state for many years, winning several trophies and awards for her accomplishments. She recently won a scholarship to Webster University for being the top high school finisher at the 2023 Susan Polgar National Championship.
