ALI THOMPSON

Ali-Reza Bradley Thompson began learning chess at the age of 3. Growing up in a chess-loving household, he played chess as a creative medium. It was a fantastic escape from the monotony of childhood. His family played at dinner every night and used it for resolving sibling disputes.

After living in Ann Arbor for many years, where he attended the University of Michigan, Ali found his way to Virginia in 2014 and promptly started teaching chess in local schools, eventually becoming a fixture in the Maryland, Virginia, and DC chess scene, where he had run nearly 300 scholastic tournaments.

Now, he's thrilled to share his chess, showmanship, and insights in Charlotte. You can find Ali's chess story on our blog and the chess book he published (written by Curriculum Director for chess.com, NM Jeremy Kane), here.