The goal of the Chess Club at the Ohio State is to create a chess community where everyone feels welcome, consistently engage club members through various events, and provide OSU students, faculty and alumni with opportunities through chess. Meet the people who make this happen!
Sean Fitzsimmons – President
My name is Sean Fitzsimmons, and I am the president of the Chess Club at the Ohio State! I grew up in Denville, New Jersey, which is about a 45 minute drive from New York City. I am a third year student studying Zoology and Neuroscience, hoping to attend a graduate veterinary program starting in Fall of 2024. Outside of my position with the Chess Club, I am also a Biology TA, and part of an Ecology research lab. In my free time, aside from chess, I like to read, listen to music, and play baseball/softball. I learned to play chess when I was very young (probably around 6 years old), but I didn’t get serious about playing until March/April of my first year at college. I became invested in the 2021 Candidates Tournament, revived from the 2020 session that was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. During my second year at college, I asked the former president if I could get more involved in the club, and the rest is history!
Favorite Openings – Scotch Game (w/ White) & Leningrad Dutch (w/ Black)
Xianrui Zhu – Vice President
Hello! My name is Xianrui Zhu (I also go by Ray), and I am the vice president of the Chess Club at the Ohio State! I’m from Qingdao, a coastal city in China. It’s OK if you never heard of it – it’s located somewhere between Beijing and Shanghai. I am a third year student majoring in Chemistry, with a minor in Math. I plan on going to graduate school after my four years at OSU. Outside of my position with the Chess Club, I am also a Chemistry TA, and I work in an organic chemistry lab. In my free time, I like cycling and playing card games. I learned to play chess when I was 5, and I played until I was 12 when I got busy with my schoolwork. In 2019, I was selected to be a part of an exchange program to the state of Washington. During my exchange year there, I realized that chess was not all about competition, but more about socialization and meeting new people. That was the time when I started playing chess in a more improvisational way, playing the openings that seem to be the most “interesting.”
Favorite Openings – Ruy Lopez (w/ White) & King’s Indian Defense (w/ Black)
Richard Karp – Treasurer
Hi everyone, my name is Richard Karp. I am a freshman and the Treasurer of the Ohio State University chess club. I grew up in Manhattan, New York, and I currently study Economics with a minor in Real Estate. Besides the chess club, I am involved in various student organizations in the Fisher College of Business. My hobbies include going out with friends, working out at the gym, and listening to music. Chess has always been a part of my life, but I started to play more competitively in middle school with my school’s club. During high school, the scene was more inactive, so I went to play in the famous Marshall’s Chess Club. I occasionally played a game in the park with someone, which taught me the power of chess and its ability to bring people together. Since coming to OSU, I have invested more time into chess, improving my online rating, bringing new players into the game, and performing well in tournaments. I believe that chess is for everyone and would encourage new players to join the club as the benefits you will see (in terms of thinking ability and the friends you will make) are definitely worth your time.
Favorite Openings – Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack (w/ White) & Owen’s Defense (w/ Black)
Gabriel Sanchez – Media Chair
Howdy! My name is Gabriel Sanchez, and I’m the Coordinator for the Chess Club at the Ohio State University. I am a 3rd year student majoring in Natural Resources Management. I am from Willard, Ohio, which is somewhere in the middle of Cleveland and Toledo. My list of experiences with chess is relatively short… I have been playing chess for less than a year! I joined the club at the start of the Autumn 2022 semester, at which point I expressed my interest in helping with the social media/design aspect of the club. Very shortly after, I was brought on to the executive board. I’m grateful to have gained a special interest, as it has introduced me to a new group of close friends and a fun pass time that I enjoy!
Favorite Openings – London System (w/ White) & French Defense (w/ Black)
William Xiong – Secretary
Hello! My name is William Xiong, and I am the secretary of the Chess Club at the Ohio State. I was born and grew up in Wuhan, China. I’m a first year student at the Ohio State University majoring in International Studies (specializing in Latin America). I’m interested in discussing third-world politics and development, exchanging cultures, and talking about languages. Working out is also part of my daily schedule. I started playing chess at the end of high school, around February 2022, when a teacher of mine invited me to join his newly formed chess club. I fell in love with it immediately after playing several games with my teacher. I hopped online and started practicing every day, and soon surpassed all of my peers, and even the teacher! I feel so lucky that I went to the involvement fair in my first semester, where I found the chess club. I participated in almost every club meeting since then, and proudly joined the eboard at the end of last semester.
Favorite Openings – London System (w/ White) & Icelandic Gambit (w/ Black)