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
Ambassadors
Elliot Miller
I’m a junior attending King School in Stamford Connecticut, and currently narrowing my studies to STEM.
Student athlete (Varsity soccer)
Member of 5+ clubs; Investment Club, Sports Business, King 5k (community service), King Oat Journal Club (president elect), Environmental Science Club.
I have developed a penchant for chess, and I am hooked by the uplifting effects the game provides.
Director
Oliver Mirsepahi
My name is Oliver Mirsepahi, and I am a high school senior at Riverdale Country School in The Bronx, NY. Chess has sharpened my focus and pushed my limits. I first started playing with family, where the game served as a way for us to bond and learn from one another. Since then, it has grown into so much more.
Over the years, I’ve found that chess isn’t just a solitary pursuit; it’s extremely effective for bringing people together! From learning chess from mentors to teaching chess to students of all ages, I’ve seen firsthand how the game fosters community and inspires a sense of shared accomplishment.
As the director of Chess Exchange, I am committed to expanding access to chess. We provide resources, mentorship, and interactive learning opportunities to ensure that anyone, regardless of background or experience, can discover the power of chess. We’re helping to redefine what chess means for young minds.
Board
Mr. Ma is the founder of Xanadu Properties and Xanadu Management, which oversees a portfolio of domestic commercial and multifamily real estate. Mr. Ma graduated Vanderbilt University with a bachelor of science and has a master of arts from Duke University.
Michael Ma
Mr. Giugliano is a real estate agent who grew up in Southampton. He recently starred in Netflix’s Million Dollar Beach House, which follows young Hamptons agents as they navigate the area’s competitive real estate market. He graduated from the SUNY at Potsdam as a business major.