GRANT OEN

Grant Oen grew up near Princeton, New Jersey, and learned chess at the age of 10 from his father.  He soon became interested in all aspects of the game: playing, teaching, directing, and organizing. 

As a high school student, he co-founded Central Jersey Chess, and later continued this passion when he attended Emory University and founded Southeast Chess, which hosted large tournaments in Atlanta, Georgia.

At Emory, besides studying political science and business, Grant was active on the Atlanta chess scene, organizing dozens of open and scholastic tournaments.  He was the president of the Emory University Chess Club, wrote for Georgia Chess News magazine, won two Georgia Collegiate Chess Championships, and scored 5-0 on the 2015 US Amateur Team South Championship team.

Grant is one of the youngest National Tournament Directors (highest level of certification) in US Chess and has been the most active National TD in the country in 2020 and 2021. He has directed hundreds of tournaments including the U.S. Championship, U.S. Women’s Championship, Champions Showdown (featuring Magnus Carlsen and Garry Kasparov), U.S. Collegiate Rapid and Blitz, Pan-American Intercollegiate, U.S. Masters, U.S. G/10, G/30, G/60 Championships, North American Junior, World Open, Millionaire Chess Open, SuperNationals, Kasparov Chess Foundation University Cup, North American Corporate Chess League, CCC’s GM/IM Norm Invitationals, and the NC Open, Closed, and K-12 State Championships.

Grant is one of the youngest International Arbiters (highest FIDE tournament director title) in the world and is also an International Organizer and FIDE Instructor.  He has been the US Chess Federation representative at FIDE Congresses, Chess Olympiads, and World Youth Championships in China, Turkey, Spain, Greece, and the Republic of Georgia.  In addition to his work as the Leagues Administrator for Chess.com, Grant volunteers his time as a Castle Chess Camp board member, NC Chess Association Scholastic VP, and Councillor on FIDE’s Technical Commission.

After graduating from Emory (B.A., Political Science), Grant moved to Charlotte in August 2016 to accept the role of CCC’s Assistant Director and Events Manager.  He is a Candidate Master/Expert with a USCF rating over 2100 and FIDE rating over 2000.

Grant also enjoys poker, ping pong, and traveling.