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Our Team

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Andrew Schley

Co-Owner | Head Coach

Andrew Schley after a scholastic chess career including state & national championships he sought for a way to give back to a game that has given him so much. Growing the game and coaching the next generation. 

 

Starting to coach & organize chess events all the way back in 2011 has helped several schools & clubs succeed to:

  • Several Individual & Team Elementary State Champions

  • Several Individual & Team Middle School State Champions

  • Several Individual State Champions

  • Biggest Team Upset at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Championships

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Andrew's gotten to work with and learn from some of the absolute best in the industry. After earning a degree in Elementary Education he's followed his passion of the game through:

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  • The International Academy of Chess (Milwaukee, WI): 2014-2019 Head Coach, Owner 2017-2019

  • Bay Area Chess (San Jose, CA): 2019-2022 Lead Coach

  • Mechanics' Institute (San Francisco, CA): 2019-2022 Head Scholastic Coach

  • Chess.com (Online): 2022-2023 Coach & Club Liaison

 

Andrew is ready to get back into the classroom. Now having a decade plus of experience Andrew has planted roots here in Madison and is dedicated to growing chess for everyone, regardless of skill, in the Greater Madison Area. 

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Alex Schwartz

Co-Owner | Business Executive

Alex grew up playing chess against his dad before eventually learning how the pieces actually work at the age of 10 and it’s been an uphill trajectory ever since. During his scholastic career, Alex served as a top board for his high school and multiple victories in conference as well as state/national tournaments including:

  • Top 20% finish at 2006 Nationals, Top 10% finish at 2008 Nationals

  • Top board victories at State Scholastic Tournament

  • Highest rating for SMCA conference in 2008

  • Expert blitz player having been victorious against various IMs and GMs

 

His passion for teaching extends all the way back to 2004 running volunteer chess programs at his local library and has operated as a coach since then through private lessons, International Academy of Chess (IAC) coach and the WSCF.

 

Alex serves as the business head for Growth Chess and assists with core operations including marketing and administration as well as coaching/training. As an experienced business owner Alex strives to bring chess to high prominence in the greater Madison area through best-in-class operations with Growth Chess.  

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Growing up in Minnesota, Tyler played basketball and soccer, and ran cross country and track. In high school, he was captain of both the cross country team and the track team. Once COVID hit, Tyler picked up playing chess and since then has had a competitive drive to get better. Combining this newfound love for chess with past jobs in child daycare and as a soccer referee, coaching chess was a natural fit. Outside of chess, Tyler is a senior at UW-Madison studying biomedical engineering.

Tyler Anderson

Coach

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Ben grew up near Minneapolis and first picked up chess in middle school. As part of the Eastview high school chess team, he helped his team win a state championship while finishing as high as 4th individually. Ben is now studying computer science at UW Madison, where he continues to study and teach chess. Outside of chess, Ben enjoys piano, table tennis, pickleball, and watching Vikings games.

Ben Vanorny

Coach

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Kipras Brazauskas

Coach

Kipras started playing in chess tournaments at the age of 10. A former student of Andrew, Kipras has excelled throughout his scholastic chess career by being a cornerstone of multiple state championships for Burleigh Elementary and Pilgrim Park Middle School in Brookfield, WI. While being a leader on the team he and his classmates almost pulled off the trifecta by making it to the high school state championship finals twice, falling just short. While my playing days are far from over, I've found a great joy in coaching. Starting in 2022 I collaborated with Power of Pawns, contributing his efforts to help children in the greater Milwaukee Area learn and explore the boundless possibilities of chess. 

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Kipras is currently studying computer science and finance here at UW Madison.

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Peter Ranchero

Coach

I've always had a strategic mind, thanks to countless chess games since I was a kid. While I loved plotting my next chess move, I was equally keen on sprinting down the football field or taking a hit in rugby. Fast forward, and here I am at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, deep-diving into Computer Science and Economics. It's an exciting blend – from the disciplined strategies of chess to the dynamic worlds of tech and economics. I keep it serious in the classroom, but outside? I'm just a guy still figuring out his next best move, be it on a board, a field, or in code. Life's a game, and I'm playing it with passion and a hint of chill.

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