ABOUT
Elite Chess was started in 2012 by chess player and coach, Jeff DiOrio. Jeff's goal was to provide chess learning opportunities to kids in the Naperville area. Over the last 12 years Elite Chess has expanded its programs to include weekly classes, after school programs, tournaments, and summer camps for kids all over the Midwest. Elite Chess hopes to continue to grow in the future, serving the community and using chess to change the world.
STAFF
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Jeff DiOrio
Founder & CEO
Jeff spent 15 years in education as a math teacher, Dean of Students, and Assistant Principal at Naperville North High School. While at NNHS, he coached the chess team to a record 12 consecutive DuPage Valley Conference Titles and an IHSA State Championship in 2015. Jeff was named the Illinois Chess Coaches Association Coach of the Year in 2017.
Jeff lives in Geneva, IL with his wife, Karina, and their sons, Blake and Chase. When he is not coaching, Jeff loves to fish, golf, read, spend time with his family, and of course, play chess.
Eduardo Correa
Instructor
Eduardo Correa began playing chess three years ago and has quickly developed into a dedicated and competitive player. During his time on his high school chess team, he showed remarkable growth—starting on board 7 as a junior and rising to board 1 by his senior year. His performance helped secure his school’s first-ever championship at the Ram Invite 2024.
Eduardo continues to actively compete and holds a rating of over 1700. He has been part of the Elite Chess team for over a year, where he enjoys sharing his passion for chess.
A bilingual speaker, Eduardo is fluent in Spanish. He is currently a freshman at Waubonsee Community College, with plans to transfer to a four-year university to pursue a degree in data science.
Outside of chess, Eduardo enjoys working out and playing video games with friends.
Sebastian Aranda
Manager - Naperville Center
Sebastian found his love for chess in high school where he competed with his team in the IHSA as well as multiple RAM invitationals with Glenbard East High School.
He now devotes his efforts to supporting others in their journey. Sebastian has a compassionate approach to teaching and is passionate about building people up!
When he is not teaching or playing chess himself, he loves to workout and spend time with family.
Anthony Kindness
Instructor
Anthony is a student at North Central College who found his passion for chess at Glenbard East High School. At GEHS he earned hundreds of board points and went to state. His goal as a coach is to give students a consistent framework to solve various chess puzzles.
Currently, he is pursuing his Bachelor of Science in mathematics, applied mathematics, and a minor in computer science.
When not coaching or playing chess, Anthony enjoys golfing, coding, and doing some mathematics, especially exploring the Lambert W function!
Usman Qazi
Manager - Wheaton Center
Usman graduated from Glenbard East High School where he was the highly decorated, 2-year captain of the chess team. While at GEHS, he earned multiple All-Conference honors and 1st place at his board during the 2016-2017 IHSA State Finals.
His passion for chess competition is now a passion for developing young players that is evident to anyone who watches him teach.
Usman lives in Lombard, IL and studies at the College of DuPage. When he is not coaching, he enjoys playing volleyball, making music, and fishing.
Srdjan Jefic
Instructor
Srdjan is a FIDE Master who has extensive experience playing and coaching chess. He learned to play at the age of 5 in Bosnia, and by the age of 6 he was competing in tournaments. He is a 7-time Bosnian National Champion and has played in multiple European and World Championships. His current FIDE Rating is 2312.
Srdjan also works with students every day as a mathematics teacher in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he lives.
When he is not coaching, Srdjan enjoys hiking and taking long walks.
Lam Truong
Instructor
Lam Truong has been playing chess competitively for over a decade and brings approximately a year of coaching experience, specifically at the high school and middle school levels. During his high school career, he held the Board 1 position starting from his sophomore year.
Currently, Lam is studying nursing at the College of DuPage (COD). He plans to further his education to become a Nurse Practitioner for family practice, aiming to demonstrate that chess is a fun and engaging pursuit for people from all walks of life.
His other interests include playing video games, reading, working, and taking long weekend hikes.
Archit Deshpande
Instructor
Archit Deshpande started playing chess when he was five years old and previously trained as a student at Elite Chess.
Now 18 and a senior at Neuqua Valley High School, he is a member of the school's chess team and has competed in numerous tournaments. He has one and a half years of experience in his current role.
Archit plans to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering, with the goal of becoming a Formula 1 design engineer. In his free time, he enjoys playing and listening to music, working out, and spending time with family and friends.
Will Johnson
Instructor
Will grew up playing chess in rural Vermont and practiced puzzles consistently while studying at Boston College.
During the pandemic, Will improved his skills substantially and played over 15,000 games online. He recently achieved a peak chess.com blitz rating of 1911. An avid follower of GM Hikaru Nakamura, Will believes that chess is ultimately a game that both inspires wonder and fun for students of all ages.
When he is not coaching or playing over the board, Will is a Senior Territory Manager for Cvent. He additionally serves as a lieutenant in the Illinois National Guard.
Varun Vokkarane
Srivatsa Vokkarane
Tim Campbell
Instructor
Varun Vokkarane began playing chess in elementary school after learning from his father.
As a 17-year-old senior at Metea Valley High School, he has served for over a year as his school's first board captain and is an IHSA State Qualifier. He plans to pursue business management in college.
Varun has a light-hearted approach to teaching and sharing his love for Chess.
Instructor
Srivatsa Vokkarane began playing chess in elementary school, where spirited rivalry with his brother, Varun, and father sparked a deep passion for the game.
Srivatsa competed on Metea Valley High School's chess team, serving as captain and Board 1 player his senior year. As a coach, he is committed to meeting each student where they are, translating advanced concepts into accessible ideas, and guiding them to meaningful improvement.
Currently, Srivatsa is studying nutritional biochemistry with minors in biology and music at Case Western Reserve University, on the pre-med track.When not coaching or playing chess, Srivatsa enjoys basketball, playing the violin, and working out.
Instructor
Since joining the Elite Chess family in Spring 2025, Tim Campbell has often been asked when he first began playing chess: “At birth, certainly—and perhaps before,” he likes to say.
Tim teaches Pawn and Knight level students at the Wheaton Center, where he brings patience, creativity, and a sense of humor to every lesson. He is also known—unofficially—for keeping the center’s houseplants alive and thriving.
Beyond chess, Tim is a Court of Master Sommeliers-certified sommelier who regularly hosts wine tastings throughout the community. He is also an adjunct faculty member at the College of DuPage, where he teaches Beverage Management along with other continuing education courses in the arts and writing.
In his free time, Tim enjoys traveling with his partner Alice, reading, and running.
John Benas
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Aayush Thakkar
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Sheetansu Bhusan Sahoo
Instructor
Sheetansu Bhusan Sahoo began playing chess when he was 7, after discovering the game at a club.
Now a 15-year-old sophomore at Stevenson High School, he is a member of the school’s chess team and is an IHSA State Qualifier. After playing in numerous tournaments over the years, he is currently at a rating of 1700, but is aiming to go even higher.
Sheetansu also plans to become a neurosurgeon, showing that the skills learned from chess can be applied anywhere. When he isn’t playing chess, he likes to debate, play tennis, and solve math problems.
Patrick McDonnell
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Emil Sadykhov
Instructor
Emil Sadykhov has been playing chess since the age of 11 and brings a lifelong passion for the game to his coaching. He has developed into a strong competitor, achieving a chess.com rating between 2000–2200 and continuing to push toward higher levels with aspirations of earning an official chess title.
He competed as a first board player for Wheaton North High School. Emil has been part of the Elite Chess team for the past year, where he is dedicated to helping students grow.
Emil studied at the College of DuPage and later earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Illinois Chicago.
Outside of chess, Emil enjoys weightlifting and is committed to continuous self-improvement both on and off the board.
Devin Larimer
Instructor
Devin has been playing chess since the age of six and has been involved in competitive chess for most of his life. He began on his elementary school team and continued through high school, where he played board 2 for three of his four years.
A passionate player and mentor, Devin enjoys helping students develop their skills and confidence in chess. He is especially motivated by the opportunity to provide young players with a structured and supportive learning environment—something he recognizes as invaluable for fostering long-term growth and enthusiasm for the game.
Outside of chess, Devin is a political science student at the College of DuPage. In his free time, he enjoys riding his bike, swimming, and brewing espresso.
Carlos Sandoval
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon
Scott Murphy
Instructor
Scott Murphy began playing chess as a student at Elite Chess for over 5 years, and he enjoyed his time there so much he came back to teach during his junior year at Naperville Central.
Now a senior, Scott enjoys seeing students understand new skills. His goal when coaching is to involve everyone and ask engaging questions. Most importantly, he believes that chess should be fun for those learning!
Scott brings years of experience developing strategic skills and previously competing on his high school chess team. Outside chess, Scott is involved in BPA, DECA, and Special Olympics at Naperville Central. He hopes to bring empathy learned from those experiences to his teaching.
His other passions include spending time with friends and family, working out, listening to music, playing and watching sports, and obviously teaching!
Eric Clancy
Instructor
Bio Coming Soon