Founder

My name is Samuel Mirsepahi and I am a high school senior based in New York City. I’ve been playing chess since I can remember. When I was younger, every time I would see my grandma we would play. She had been playing chess since she was a child, with her many siblings, and it was an easy way for us to connect. 

I started playing competitively six years ago; at school, online, and with friends and family. I have always found chess to be a meditative game, and one of continuous improvement, growth and learning. 

However, I’ve also found that a lot of people are intimidated by chess, and put off by how complicated it appears to be at first glance. But there’s an easy fix to this – when my school purchased just a few chess boards last year, it seemed like everybody started playing! 

I founded Chess Exchange because I believe that all young people should have access to chess. We donate boards to schools, and teach people how to play – for free – as well as highlighting research backing chess as a brain-building, anxiety-fighting, creative problem solving hobby that anyone and everyone should be able to enjoy.

Samuel Mirsepahi