our Board DirectorS
Zoey Tang
Zoey Tang is the Founder and the President of Puddletown Chess. She has the titles of Woman International Master and FIDE Master. Zoey is the 2023 Oregon State Champion (first female state champion in Oregonian history, and possibly the youngest). As of June 2023, Zoey is the highest rated girl for her age in the world. She is also the twelfth highest-rated player for her age regardless of gender in the US.
Ishaan Kodarapu
Ishaan Kodarapu is the Founder and Co-President of Puddletown Chess. I am currently an 8th grader at Stoller Middle School. My current USCF rating is around 1970 and my FIDE rating is around 1650.
I began playing chess in kindergarten and have played chess competitively ever since.
Austin Tang
Austin Tang is the Founder and Co-President of Puddletown Chess. Austin is currently an USCF expert, which he earned in the Oregon Open 2021. Austin enjoys traveling to different states and countries and meeting new people all around the world. Austin is excited to teach new players of all ages this beautiful game. When he isn’t studying chess, he enjoys doing things like basketball, piano, tennis, and reading
Wilson Gibbins
Wilson has been playing tournament chess for over 50 years. He is a three-time Oregon Senior Champion, a 3-time Minnesota Senior Champion, and a three time West Virginia High School Champion. He has never played in the Denker Tournament of High School State Champions, but he has played Arnold Denker. He is the current president of the Oregon Chess Federation.
Ethan Zhang
Ethan Zhang is currently a 10th grader at Westview High School. He has been playing chess for many years since elementary school; he has been a top player in the state for his grade and has won awards at the OSCF State Championship at Seaside. He has also participated in and won awards at other tournaments, such as the Oregon Open or the Oregon High School Chess Tournament Association 2023 State Championship.
our Board advisors
Carl Haessler
Carl Haessler is a USCF Life Master since 1989 and 5-time Oregon Champion.
Chad Lykins
Chad is President of Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation and Oregon’s Scholastic Coordinator to the United States Chess Federation. He is a USCF Local Tournament Director and club-strength chess player with peak ratings of USCF 1650 and Lichess Rapid 2110. He teaches beginner and intermediate students up to USCF/NWSRS 1200. Chad started chess coaching as a volunteer for Chess for Success at Hayhurst Elementary School in 2016, where all three of his children played on the school’s award-winning chess team. Chad holds a PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy and has published research on out-of-school learning.