GET TO KNOW PALS CHESS ACADEMY

Kevin’s chess journey began when a cute, precocious 4-year-old Griffin asked him to teach him how to play chess. One year later Griffin was playing in his 1st scholastic chess tournament where he won 1st place and…he was hooked. As Griffin started playing regularly in chess tournaments, his little brother Sully was chomping at the bit to compete as well. Both boys started studying chess at home and when Kevin found out that a 6-year-old Sully, was letting his dad win, because he felt sorry for him, it was time to get a coach. One year later, Sully won his first of 8 state chess championship titles. At this time, Griffin and Sullivan were about the same strength but Griffin’s health battles allowed Sullivan to overtake his older brother. Griffin was diagnosed with Epilepsy when he was only 5 and unfortunately, the seizures were unrelenting and ended up requiring brain surgery. Moira was born in 2010 and almost immediately after her birth Griffin was diagnosed. Moira’s unique humor and bigger-than-life personality were instrumental in helping our family get through those tough times!

In 2013, Griffin underwent a functional left-hemispherectomy, an operation that required the removal of his left hemisphere and would leave him temporarily paralyzed on the right half of his body. He had to learn to walk and talk all over again and chess was put on hold for the better part of 6 months. Griffin continued to get better and better after his surgeries and finally made National Master when he was 17, collecting along the way, 3 state chess championship titles of his own.

During Griffin’s rehab, Sullivan continued to study and play and at age 12 became a National Master, tying a Colorado State record. When he was 13, he tied another Colorado State record by being the youngest Colorado Closed chess champion. Sullivan is continuing to travel to, and compete in, chess tournaments around the country in his quest to become a FIDE Master and ultimately a Grandmaster.

Both boys have been teaching privately and in schools for the past 6 years and will serve as PALS quality control. Beginning in September, they will be teaching two classes a week to all of the PALS chess coaches. They will also serve as head coaches at some of PALS’ biggest chess schools and continue to develop new lessons and curriculum for the after-school programs and chess camps.

Kori McConnell is the new operations manager for PALS and will see that it runs like a well-oiled machine and Kevin McConnell will serve as the new director of PALS and will take care of coordination with schools, hiring and ongoing training of chess coaches and positioning PALS for new opportunities and growth.