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The CCL Chess School

Chess, Community and Learning

 

Chess lessons and more, for players of all strengths and ages.

Student Spotlight

“Dae San Kim’s inspiring journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, passion, and community support. From overcoming early setbacks to achieving remarkable milestones in chess, academics, leadership, and service, he has shown how dedication and a growth mindset can unlock incredible opportunities. His story reflects the heart of CCL’s mission: developing not just champions on the board, but well-rounded, compassionate leaders ready to make a positive impact in the world.” ~ Jeff Shen,  Head of CCL Chess School

Student Spotlight: Dae San Kim

Today, CCL is proud to celebrate the extraordinary journey of Dae San Kim, our 30th program graduate, whose remarkable achievements both on and off the chessboard have inspired us all. This fall, he will join the Stanford University Class of 2029.

Dae San’s love for chess began in kindergarten, sparked by his father and brother. Like many young players, he faced early setbacks; he recalls going 0/5 in his second tournament and wondering if he should ever play again. But instead of giving up, Dae San persevered, steadily improving and eventually joining CCL eight years ago. Through hard work, resilience, and the guidance of our amazing coaches GM Vlatko Bogdanovski and IM Atanas Kizov, he achieved his childhood goal of surpassing a 2000 Elo rating. Along the way, he captured the Ohio K-3 Championship, won five Ohio Grade Level Championships, the U2100 section of the Ohio Chess Congress, and earned many other top finishes. In high school, he also gave back by founding an after-school chess program for a low-income school in Cleveland.

Beyond the 64 squares, Dae San’s accomplishments are equally remarkable. At school, his leadership and initiative shine through his roles as co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, captain of Science Olympiad and math competition teams, NHS president, and co-president of the Asian-American Society.

Dae San completed four NASA internships, participated in environmental policy research, and even launched a climate tech start-up through the NASA SEES program, winning national prizes and an invitation to present at the prestigious AGU Bright STaRS conference. His list of service projects is equally inspiring, including tutoring, youth hospital council service, and caring for the homeless in Cleveland.

An accomplished musician, he studied electric guitar since third grade, toured with the School of Rock Headliners house band, played in his school’s jazz orchestra, and formed three rock bands that performed paid gigs around Cleveland.

His academic excellence is further reflected in a 1580 SAT (800 math), National Merit Finalist status, two-time AIME qualifier, and a US Presidential Scholar semifinalist honor.

This past spring, Dae San graduated with the highest GPA in his class and won his school’s top math prize. This fall, Dae San will head to Stanford University, where he hopes to study astrophysics, aerospace or mechanical engineering, computer science, or premed, following in the footsteps of his older brother, also a former Ohio chess champion.

Through it all, Dae San credits chess, his family, and the CCL community for giving him the resilience, confidence, and perspective to thrive. As he shared, “I’m incredibly grateful for the community at CCL and how they have supported me as a person and in becoming a better chess player.”

Dae San, your story reminds all of us of the power of perseverance, curiosity, and service. We could not be prouder of you, and we wish you the very best of luck as you embark on this exciting new chapter at Stanford and beyond. Keep reaching for the stars. We know you will continue to shine!

With warmest congratulations,
The entire CCL community

 

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Introduction to Our Community Chess Instructional Program

Welcome to CCL, a community-driven chess instructional initiative designed to bring timeless chess to learners of all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re a beginner taking your first steps on the board or an experienced player seeking to sharpen your strategies, our program offers something for everyone.

Chess is more than just a game—it fosters critical thinking, patience, and problem-solving skills. Our program is built around the belief that chess can unite people, challenge minds, and create opportunities for personal growth and community connection. To supplement the chess side of individual enrichment, we recently opened a prodigious activities wing to CCL, managed by renowned mathematician and prodigy Dr. Harvey Friedman.

Why Join Us?

Our program is driven by a passionate community of chess lovers dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive, and educational environment. For details on how the community fosters the program, please go to the menu option The Community. By participating, you’ll have the opportunity to:

  • Learn at your own pace with flexible instruction formats.
  • Join a vibrant chess community and make new friends who share your interests.
  • Enhance your cognitive skills, such as strategic thinking and decision-making.
  • Compete in local tournaments and represent our community.
  • Work with renowned mathematician and prodigy Dr. Harvey Friedman in other prodigious activities.

Let’s make chess an engaging and enriching part of our community. Join us today and start your chess journey! Together, we can grow our community and inspire a love for this incredible game.

The Coaches

  • alancasden2
    National Master Alan Casden
  • International Master Atanas Kizov -- CCL Head Coach --
  • Walker
    Life Master Walker Griggs
  • GM VLATKO BOGDANOVSKI
    Grand Master Vlatko Bogdanovski
  • Zoran
    International Master Zoran Arsovic
  • NM Vladimir Kizov
    National Master Vladimir Kizov
    Head of Pre-CCL
  • Jacob Eismann
    Jacob Eismann

The Rest of the Team

  • Jeff
    Jeff Shen
    Business Manager
  • Adai
    Adai Adaikappan
    Community Laison
  • Courtenay
    Courtenay James
    Organizer
  • Shiv
    Shivkumar Kurulekar
    IT System Admin
  • Jagdish Patel
    Jagdish Patel
    Newsletter Editor
  • Harvey
    Dr. Harvey Friedman - Head of Prodigious Activites

Recent Posts

  • CCL Chess Stars Score Big at the Cleveland Open! June 16, 2025
  • CCL Chess Students Shine on the Podium at SuperNationals VIII in Orlando, FL May 12, 2025
  • NEWSLETTER OF THE MOTCF April 15, 2025
  • CCL March Chess Camps February 25, 2025
  • CCL Graduates February 2, 2025
  • Making our 2025 MOTCF Teams January 23, 2025
  • Welcome Jacob ! January 21, 2025
  • Jeff Shen is taking over the lead role at CCL December 26, 2024
  • Simul Stuff December 23, 2024
  • CCL Alumni/Student Chess GetTogether December 13, 2024
  • 2024 State Grade Levels November 27, 2024
  • Life Master Walker Griggs is giving lessons! October 29, 2024
  • Chess Math is here! October 27, 2024
  • An Evening with Atanas October 23, 2024
  • March CCL Chess Camps October 17, 2024
  • Maxwell again! Good Gosh September 16, 2024
  • Louis Zhang becomes the 36th CCL Graduate July 30, 2024
  • Major Changes in CCL June 6, 2024
  • Catch Up Time May 17, 2024
  • Cole Braun wins Ohio Middle School Championship February 27, 2024
  • CCL Chess Camp 4/20-21/2024 February 17, 2024
  • Rohan Padhye win Cardinal Open while CCL finishes very strong January 19, 2024
  • Mehmet is a National Champion December 19, 2023
  • CCL wins most of the grades at the Ohio Grade Levels November 25, 2023
  • Justin Storn wins State Championship while CCL soars September 5, 2023
  • Matt Wang becomes the 35th CCL Graduate May 23, 2023
  • 2023 MOTCF March 29, 2023
  • 2023 Queen City Classic March 29, 2023
  • Kevin Xu February 25, 2023
  • Minghao Gu becomes the 34th CCL Graduate February 6, 2023

© 2025 CCL | the very best in chess instruction