What role would you hope to play on the Board?

I would hope to contribute new ideas for the improvement of the club, and work with other Board members to refine existing ideas. I could also help with financial analysis. I currently oversee the cashiering operations for all of NYC Criminal Court, and reconcile all of their bank accounts.

What experiences qualify you to serve as a Board member?

I love playing chess, and I have always loved coming to the Marshall Chess Club. I get along well with most of the members, and I would be able to help address any concerns the members have. I also have the ability to think outside of the box, which may help in coming up with unique solutions for problems.

What would you hope to achieve as a Board member?

I really want to bridge the gap between the Board members and the members of the club. Over the years, it seems like there was some distance created between the Board members and club members. I would hope to bring the club back to a time when Board members regularly socialized with club members and listened to any concerns.

Recently the current location of the club has become a significant topic of discussion— how do you see the future of the club?

This is a very delicate topic and one that has evoked strong emotions. I truly hope that the Marshall Chess Club always has a permanent home (i.e. the club should be owned and not rented). I am currently against the sale of the club, due to its rich history. But I know I do not have all of the details. I do not wish to be dogmatic, so if strong enough arguments for a new location are presented, I could possibly be swayed. However, I would need to know that no board member will financially benefit in any way in order to even consider the proposal to change locations. That means no financial gains to any Board members from the sale or purchase of the club in any way. No association with realtors, brokers, or any new location being considered. This should also include family members of the Board to ensure that such a huge decision is completely unbiased.

---

What role would you hope to play on the Board?

I’d like to help the club continue growing its digital footprint (stronger social media presence, more frequent streaming, collabs with chess content creators, etc). As a globally respected institution, the Marshall already has a strong organic growth funnel. With membership at all-time highs, there is a unique opportunity to channel that momentum into broader awareness.

I’m also a big believer in Freestyle Chess (or Fischer-random, Chess960, whatever you prefer to call it) and want to explore adding regular events to the club calendar. To my knowledge, no major chess clubs currently offer consistent Freestyle events. Magnus Carlsen’s Freestyle Chess Tour and the excitement around his extraordinary 9-0 performance at Grenke suggest that the variant’s popularity will continue to rise. If this occurs, by offering these events to members now, the Marshall will emerge as an early leader in this new, innovative space.

What experiences qualify you to serve as a Board member?

I have been playing USCF rated chess my entire life, earning the NM title in 2017, and continue to compete as an active member of the club while balancing the responsibilities of new parenthood.

In both high school and college, I led my schools’ chess clubs. At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, I helped our team reach two Final Fours during my four years, even while competing against powerhouse, full-GM lineups from schools like Webster, St Louis University, and UT Dallas. Our top board at the time, Eric Rosen, was an FM, which speaks to the strength and camaraderie of our program.

During the pandemic, I was an active streamer, growing one of the largest Lichess-focused communities. I still occasionally do commentary and continue to receive positive reviews whenever I do.

Professionally, I co-founded a venture-backed startup in the drug discovery space, where I experienced firsthand the challenges of building and scaling an organization. This perspective has given me a deep appreciation for strategic planning, responsible governance, and team culture.

What would you hope to achieve as a Board member?

In the short term, I believe the Board needs to gain clarity around the proposal to sell the club building. This includes more transparent communication to members given the issue’s importance. I hope to play a role in improving the Board’s communication.

Thinking further ahead, I would like to help fuel the growth of the club. This includes expanding the club’s current offerings and growing revenue without raising membership dues. The chess boom isn’t dying anytime soon, and the Marshall continues to remain best equipped to service the NYC chess community.

Finally, I am eager to learn on the Board. I love our club and remain invested in its long-term future. Understanding how the Club and its various legal entities operate from the perspective of a Board member will better inform me about what we should work on next.

Recently the current location of the club has become a significant topic of discussion–how do you see the future of the club?

While I acknowledge the practical limitations of our club building, I am currently against selling and encourage all voters to examine my stance in more detail at MCC Building Sale Feedback.

---

I am the club’s treasurer. I wish to continue in my board role as a reasonable voice with deep knowledge of the Marshall’s operations, culture and history.

After more than 30 years, I’ve served the longest of any current governor, about twice as long as the governor who ranks second. During that time the Marshall has had 10 presidents and countless challenges to overcome. Happily, the club has never been stronger than now. We have more members and a larger budget than in any previous year, and our finances have never been better. Our paid staff has never been more skilled. Our bookkeeping has never been more detailed or up to date.

As a financial journalist, now retired after four decades at The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News, I am skilled at dealing with information and seeking clarity in complex situations. As a still-active tournament competitor, I play dozens of games every year. I’m also a member of the club’s finance, ethics and tournament committees, helping to determine our tournament formats, prizes and rules of conduct. As treasurer, I produce accurate and timely reports for the board. That is what should always happen, of course, but some previous treasurers did no such thing. Two failed to sound the alarm when a crisis was at hand. Today, I believe the board as whole has been functioning well and doesn’t require a shakeup.

Candidates were asked how we see the future, given that ‘’the current location of the club has been a significant topic of discussion.’’ Crucial questions about a potential move are yet to be answered. President Sarathi Ray wrote in an April email that selling our building ‘’should be an option of last resort.’’ Evidently he sees no need now to exercise an option of last resort. I heartily agree.

---

My name is Keith Espinosa, I'm a former board member, longtime member, expert chess player, and FIDE International Organizer. I am opposed to selling the building and the recent initiative to sell inspired my candidacy.

---

What role would you hope to play on the Board?

For the last 6 years, I have been very engaged in the many discussions and decisions the Board must address. Many of the issues are very complex. I try to be objective and break things down into pros and cons and be part of the decision making process. I also try to be aware of the rapidly changing chess world especially online chess and possible impact on the club. This became very evident during Covid.

What experiences qualify you to serve as a Board member?

I was elected to the club’s Board in June 2019. I have been a Governor ever since. During the last 6 years, I have been the Chair of the Tournament Committee, the Education Committee and the Events Committee. I was a Vice-President of the club. I am a Governor on the Marshall Chess Club Foundation Board as well as being the current President of the Foundation. I feel that my performance and experiences on the two Marshall Chess Boards qualify me to serve as a Board member for another 3 years. Additionally, I have decades of playing and teaching experience in the chess world and I try to share that understanding during Board meetings. I’m a two-time champion of the Marshall. In 1973 as the Marshall Chess Club Champion, I played a televised match hosted by Shelby Lyman against George Kramer, the then champion of the Manhattan Chess Club. I also played first board during those years in matches against other NY chess clubs.

What would you hope to achieve as a Board member?

I’d like to be part of the process of the Board trying to navigate the current challenge of the limitations of the physical space and the greatly increased membership. One of my concerns is that the club should be more than a tournament venue. I like the fact that the club hosts events. These events, such as book signings, simuls, lectures, discussions of chess topics etc., contribute to the feeling of the Marshall being a “club” where members gather to learn about the chess world and interact with experts on various topics. I’d like to continue to work on the Board to expand these non-tournament events.

Recently the current location of the club has become a significant topic of discussion— how do you see the future of the club?

Of course, this is an extremely important and emotional topic. The whole notion of considering relocating is the result of the Marshall’s membership rolls being 3-4 times higher than in the past. At the same time, the space has not increased. I think it is incumbent on the Board to explore the pros and cons of staying or relocating and to think ahead to where we want to be in 5, 10 and 20 years. I think the Marshall Chess Club is not a specific physical location but should be a space that is comfortable and serves the chess and social desires of the members. This would include events, tournaments, classes, casual play (skittles rooms), streaming our tournaments, etc. The Board needs to do the work and come to the membership with an analysis, a plan, and a proposal of how to move forward. I would like to be part of the decision making process.

---

1. What role would you hope to play on the board?

I hope to serve as a bridge between different parts of the club—scholastic families, adult tournament players, longtime members, and newer enthusiasts—so the Marshall can continue to grow without compromising its identity. The club’s expanding scholastic base is a strength, not a threat, and with thoughtful structure and communication, it can benefit the entire membership. Over the past year, I:

• Served on the education, finance, and membership committees (as the only non-board, non-staff member).
• Helped transition scholastic camps in-house, increasing revenue and quality through direct parent outreach.
• Supported the growth of offsite quad tournaments that generated new income and improved tournament access.

If elected, I would:

• Propose a scholastic advisory committee (chaired by a regular member-parent) to help the board proactively engage with families.
• Promote clearer communication to ensure that policies affecting all members are transparent and inclusive.
• Encourage solutions that balance growth with tradition, making the club more welcoming to new members while preserving what long-time members value.
• Work to ensure that scholastic participation enhances—not detracts from—the experience of serious adult players, casual members, and distinguished guests or visitors alike.

2. What experiences qualify you to serve as a Board member?

I’ve spent the past year deeply engaged with the Marshall’s operations. Despite not being elected in 2024, I was invited to join the finance, education, and membership committees—serving as the only non-board and non-staff member on any of them. I was particularly active on the education committee, where my outreach helped transition scholastic programming from third-party vendors to in-house camps that brought in substantial new revenue. I also contributed to the success of our large offsite quad tournaments, which generated income and expanded our visibility.

Professionally, I co-founded and ran a hedge fund for over a decade and continue to advise on compensation strategy, management, and vendor relationships. I’ve served on the board of Chess in the Schools and spearheaded a major annual fundraiser that exceeded targets and brought in new sponsors. I’ve built trust with the current board through my committee work and know how to collaborate effectively while contributing independent ideas. I want to continue serving in a leadership role for the benefit of the whole club.

3. What would you hope to achieve as a Board member?

I would focus on initiatives that address both near-term challenges and long-term planning:

1. Create a Scholastic Membership Advisory Committee: Chaired by a member-parent and open to non-member parents, giving a structured channel for input from families.
2. Improve Communication Around Major Decisions: Especially regarding the possible sale of the club's building. The board should share a detailed, public analysis outlining financials, risks, and alternatives—akin to a "candidate move" breakdown in chess.
3. Support a Membership Referendum: If a building sale is proposed, it should not proceed without a full membership vote.
4. Strengthen the Club’s Financial Base: Through expanded programming, strategic outreach, and sponsorships.

I believe the Marshall can continue to thrive as both a historic institution and a center for the next generation of players.

4. Recently the current location of the club has become a significant topic of discussion— how do you see the future of the club?

Looking ahead, I believe the future of the club must be shaped by open, informed dialogue. The question of whether to sell our building is understandably emotional for many members—most of whom I’ve spoken with are opposed, but some adamantly see it as an opportunity. Any decision of that magnitude should be made only after members have access to clear and complete information, shared through a structured and participatory process. Like a pawn move in chess, such a decision is irreversible and should not be rushed.

That said, the conversation has become urgent because the club’s financial growth, while real, is being outpaced by the mounting costs associated with maintaining our historic building. The current situation is not as stable as many assume. Any viable plan to remain will likely require trade-offs—whether through increased dues, tournament fees, or major fundraising. Simply saying “don’t sell” is not enough; members deserve to see realistic scenarios for both options, with financials and risks clearly outlined.

More broadly, I believe we should hold a club-wide discussion about growth itself. Expanding programs and membership may seem like obvious goals, but the implications—for space, experience, and relationships—should be considered thoughtfully. The Marshall is not a traditional business; it’s a community and a piece of chess history. Like in chess, its future requires thoughtful planning and analysis.

---

Assistant Principal, NYC Department of Education
Duke University Alum 2001

What role would you hope to play on the Board?

I am currently on the board and I hope to continue as an active, engaged, and forward-thinking board member—one who bridges the gap between strategic oversight and hands-on involvement. Through my current work on the Membership and Finance committees, I’ve learned the value of clear communication and proactive problem-solving. I plan to continue being a conduit between our club’s members and the board, advocating for ideas that enhance our community while ensuring that we maintain strong, sustainable governance.

What experiences qualify you to serve as a Board member?

My diverse background uniquely qualifies me to serve as a Board member by combining extensive leadership, organizational governance, and community engagement skills.

I have been employed by the Department of Education for 13 years and I currently serve as an Assistant Principal, where I leverage my two master’s degrees—in education and educational administration—to drive effective leadership and management. Years ago, 2007-2009, I served as a founding board member of Coney Island Prep and received board training through Building Excellent Schools.

Additionally, with over 12 years of involvement in tournament chess and my ongoing contributions to the membership and finance committees have given me a solid grasp of both the operational and cultural dimensions of the Marshall Chess Club community. Holding an undergraduate degree from Duke University and being an active part of New York City's vibrant chess scene—with Marshall Chess Club and Bryant Park serving as familiar and cherished community hubs—I bring not only professional expertise but also a genuine passion for the game and its people.

What would you hope to achieve as a Board member?

I plan to build on our club’s strengths by actively listening to our members and transforming their feedback into actionable improvements. I’m proud of initiatives like implementing text message updates for game results and featuring our most active members in the Marshall Spectator newsletter, and I see further opportunities to integrate technology and innovative programming that enhance our members’ experiences. My goal is to ensure that our strategic decisions reflect both the rich traditions of the club and the dynamic needs of our evolving community—driving growth, community engagement, and promoting chess education and improvement.

Recently the current location of the club has become a significant topic of discussion—how do you see the future of the club?

I believe that our current location is a vital part of our identity and should be preserved. While discussions about selling the building have brought many ideas to the table, I advocate for exploring alternative solutions to our increased demand. Instead of selling, we can look to manage this demand by fostering partnerships with local schools and corporations for off-site tournaments and events. This approach not only safeguards our cherished home but also creates opportunities to extend our reach and energize our chess community in new and innovative ways. We can continue to build our capital to ensure the continued maintenance of the building.

---