05/10/2026
Please see the important announcement below from Brian regarding Brian's Chess Club - Gum Spring Library and its transition. This notice is also posted on the website.
The last chess club meeting will be on Monday, May 18, 2026.
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May 9, 2026
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT BRIAN’S CHESS CLUB
When I founded Brian's Chess Club over three years ago, the mission was simple: create a welcoming space where kids could gather to learn and play chess. Having grown up playing chess competitively since elementary school, this was my way of giving back what chess has given me over the past decade. At the time, there were no public chess clubs specifically for kids in the county, so launching one required building key partnerships with Capital Area Chess, ChessKid.com, and the Gum Spring Library, which graciously provided our meeting space.
The response on day one was overwhelming: about 50 kids showed up, far exceeding my expectations.
Over time, I watched chess become a bridge between kids of different ages and skill levels. The club grew into a hub of learning, friendship, and community. We even had kids whose parents were surprised to discover a newfound passion for the game once they walked through our doors.
A few highlights:
• The club has served the Dulles South community for over three years, since its founding on February 6, 2023
• More than 450 families have registered, with 20 to 40 kids attending each week
• Several members have gone on to compete in local, state, and national tournaments, earning notable accomplishments along the way
I would also like to thank Joy Zhang, an accomplished chess player whom many of you know, who helped coach our students last year at the club before she and her family relocated. Her contributions to the club made a real difference, and I'm grateful for the time and dedication she gave.
As a senior graduating next month from both Freedom High School and the Academies of Loudoun (ACL), I'll be heading to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) this fall to study Computer Engineering.
That said, the club isn't ending. I’ll be passing it on to Ananya Ananth, a friend I've known since elementary school who has been playing competitive chess just as long as I have. Ananya is a Women's FIDE Master (WFM), an accomplished titled player, a member of the ACL Chess Team, and a fellow Freedom and ACL student.
I'm deeply grateful for her commitment to carrying this work forward, and I'm confident the club is in excellent hands. Ananya will relaunch the club toward the start of the new school year. It will likely be rebranded into a new name and website. Once the details are in place, I'll share updates on the club's page and my chess website:
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianchessclub
• Website: https://www.briantaychess.com/brians-chess-club.html
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share the joy of chess with you and your children. It has been a true honor.
Best regards,
National Master (NM) Brian Tay
