“I’m the CEO of World Chess, the company behind chessarena.com, the platform bringing chess to life online. We also open chess clubs that double as bars—feel free to reach out if you’d like to bring one to your city—manufacture the official chess sets for championship matches, and push the boundaries of what makes chess not just cool, but iconic.

By training, I’m a professional economist, but my work blends economics, marketing, and a strong design sensibility to reimagine the chess experience.

Beyond chess, I’m passionate about creating city-focused souvenirs like the literature maps I developed with my creative partners, and exploring event merchandising—chess even snagged a Cannes Lions for it! I’m also intrigued by niche financial indicators, like an index tracking companies whose CEOs are regular chess players. Imagine that as a measure of strategic thinking.”