Texas Chess Center

♟️ About Texas Chess Center

Texas Chess Center (TCC) is a multi-location chess education and tournament organization serving players across Dallas–Fort Worth and Houston, Texas. Founded in November 2021 by Jarred Tetzlaff and David Gaston, TCC combines chess instruction, scholastic programs, private coaching, community play, camps, and an extensive schedule of US Chess- and FIDE-rated tournaments. The organization is currently led by Jarred Tetzlaff, CEO & Co-Founder, and David Gaston, President, Co-Founder & Houston Division Manager. NM Christopher Toolin serves as Senior Instructor & Co-Owner. The wider staff includes division supervisors, instructors, program associates, operations personnel, and titled chess professionals. Texas Chess Center operates four permanent chess locations in Plano, Frisco, Irving, and Bellaire/Houston. Together, these centers provide year-round training, open play, weekly rated tournaments, scholastic competition, FIDE events, camps, and private lessons.

🏆 Tournaments & Competitive Chess

Tournament organization is one of the largest parts of Texas Chess Center’s activity. TCC reports that it hosts more than 500 rated tournaments per year, ranging from weekly local Swiss events to multi-day FIDE-rated competitions and norm tournaments. Each location maintains its own regular tournament schedule. Plano hosts weekly Friday, Saturday, and Sunday competitions, while Frisco runs Quick, Beginner Swiss, and regular Swiss events. Irving and Bellaire also maintain recurring weekly tournaments alongside larger weekend events. TCC’s larger classical calendar includes recurring DFW FIDE, North Texas FIDE, Houston FIDE, Gulf Coast FIDE, Lone Star FIDE, Winter FIDE, and other seasonal competitions. Championship and U1800 sections are commonly FIDE-rated, while additional lower-rated sections remain US Chess-rated. These tournaments usually offer five classical rounds with flexible two- or three-day schedules. TCC also provides boards, sets, clocks, notation materials, live pairings, and tournament administration through its dedicated event infrastructure. In October 2025, Texas Chess Center reached another competitive milestone by hosting its first norm tournament at the Bellaire location. The organization has continued developing FIDE and norm-related competition as part of its higher-level tournament program.

🌱 Chess Education & Scholastic Development

Chess education is equally central to TCC’s mission. The organization offers group classes, private lessons, school programs, seasonal camps, open play, simuls, lectures, and private events for players at different ages and skill levels. Texas Chess Center reports that its instructors and programs have taught more than 25,000 students. It also works with more than 75 schools, including independent schools and public school districts in the Dallas–Fort Worth area. School partnerships include programs connected with institutions such as Alcuin School, Greenhill School, Wesley Prep, Lamplighter, and districts including Coppell, McKinney, Plano, Prosper, and Lovejoy ISDs. The organization uses these partnerships to make chess instruction available directly on school campuses. TCC also runs dedicated scholastic tournaments. These competitions are structured by school level and rating, with sections for elementary, middle-school, and high-school players. Regular U1000 and beginner events provide an accessible first step into rated tournament chess. Stronger students can then progress into the regular Swiss circuit, championship events, and eventually FIDE-rated competition. This creates a continuous pathway from learning the rules to serious tournament play.

🥇 Coaching, Titled Players & Development

Texas Chess Center’s instructional team includes experienced coaches and titled players. NM Christopher Toolin serves as Senior Instructor & Co-Owner, while GM Chris Repka is part of the organization’s senior instructional team. The center has also collaborated with players including GM Jeffery Xiong, GM Chris Repka, FM Sharvesh Deviprasath, and IM Zurab Javakhadze. TCC reports that students from its programs have qualified for major international youth competitions, including the World Youth and Cadet Championships. Private coaching complements group programs. Players can work individually with instructors on opening preparation, calculation, strategy, tournament psychology, and game analysis while continuing to gain practical experience through the center’s tournament calendar.

📚 History & Expansion

Texas Chess Center grew partly from the chess community created around the North Texas Chess Academy (NTCA) in Carrollton. NTCA was founded in 2016 by NM Christopher Toolin and partners and hosted strong tournaments, Pro Chess League activity, events with numerous Grandmasters, and a simultaneous exhibition by GM Nigel Short. Jarred Tetzlaff and David Gaston founded Texas Chess Center in November 2021, and the first TCC location opened in Plano in January 2022. Its Grand Opening Swiss attracted 67 players. In September 2022, TCC and NTCA came under shared ownership with Christopher Toolin. The organization then expanded to Irving in March 2023 and Frisco in January 2024. A major geographic expansion followed in April 2025, when David Gaston launched the Bellaire location in the Houston area. This gave Texas Chess Center permanent operations in both North Texas and Southeast Texas. In October 2025, TCC also partnered with Checkmate: USA vs India at Esports Stadium Arlington and hosted its first norm tournament during the same month. Today, Texas Chess Center describes itself as an integrated chess organization built around education, frequent competitive play, community activity, and long-term player development.

📍 Texas Chess Center Locations

Plano – Main Location 4105 W Spring Creek Pkwy, Suite 610 Plano, TX 75024, USA Frisco 11547 Independence Pkwy, Suite 530 Frisco, TX 75035, USA Irving 4343 W Royal Lane, Suite 114 Irving, TX 75063, USA Bellaire / Houston 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH Houston, TX 77025, USA