CUDA Chess Club logoCUDA
COCONUT GROVE • EST. 2023

Born at the
pink tables.

Before the first school bell rings, Coconut Grove kids gather on Fuller Street to think deeply, compete fearlessly and grow together through chess.

See the programJoin the club
MON • WED • FRI7:25–8:20 AMFuller Street • Coconut Grove
CUDA Chess Club students playing chess at the pink tables on Fuller Street in Coconut Grove
THE PINK TABLES • FULLER STREET
♟ THINK AHEAD   •   PLAY TOGETHER   •   OWN YOUR GAME   •   CUDA CHESS CLUB   •   ♟
THE CUDA STORY

A chess club that feels like Coconut Grove.

CUDA began in the 2023–24 school year when local parents set out to build a stronger, more accessible chess experience for Coconut Grove children. The solution wasn't a classroom. It was already waiting across the street: the pink picnic tables on Fuller Street.

What grew there is part chess program, part neighborhood ritual. Kids arrive before school to learn, play, challenge one another and discover that improvement comes from making a move, studying what happened, and coming back for another game.

“Everything is activated before school starts.”
— Ben Glatzer, co-founder, quoted by Coconut Grove Spotlight ↗
Young CUDA player studying a chess position
Think deeply.
CUDA student laughing during a chess game
Play joyfully.
CUDA student concentrating over a chess board
Own the game.
THE WEEK AT CUDA

From first moves to serious match play.

MON

Instruction + Match Play

7:25–8:20 AM • Fuller Street

Focused instruction and supervised games for students who already have a working command of chess.

WED

Instruction + Mentorship

7:25–8:20 AM • Fuller Street

Coaching, match play and opportunities to learn alongside experienced players and Ransom Everglades mentors.

FRI

Free Play Friday

7:25–8:20 AM • Fuller Street

The kids own the session. Regular chess, variants, new challenges and creativity—with parents there simply to keep everyone safe and happy.

WED • 2 PM

Beginner Pipeline

Kirk Munroe Park

Coach Jake and Coach Stephen teach developing players the fundamentals they need to graduate into CUDA's morning sessions.

THE CUDA PATHWAY
01

Learn

Rules, patterns, tactics and confidence.

02

Play

Turn knowledge into decisions over the board.

03

Analyze

Losses become lessons. Wins become questions.

04

Compete

Build toward tournament chess and bigger challenges.

A CUDA family playing chess together at the pink Fuller Street tables
A GROVE MORNING RITUAL

Parents come for the kids.
Then everybody gets hooked.

CUDA is intentionally intergenerational. Parents linger, younger siblings watch, experienced players give pointers and friendships form around the board. The result feels less like drop-off enrichment and more like a neighborhood.

COACHING

Serious chess. Exceptional mentors.

Webber J. Charles

Webber J. Charles

Head Coach • Educator • Championship Coach

Webber's path into chess began as an educator and grew into a remarkable coaching career. He led Edison Park Elementary's program to elite scholastic success, including a K–6 national championship, and later coached another national championship team at Ransom Everglades. Beyond chess, his work in student achievement and mentorship has made him a deeply respected Miami educator.

At CUDA, Webber brings championship-level expectations without losing sight of what matters most: resilience, critical thinking, confidence and the joy of figuring something out for yourself.

Coach Stephen Herreros with a young chess player and tournament trophy

Stephen Herreros

Coach • Founder, ChessMinds • FCA South Regional VP

Stephen is the founder of ChessMinds Chess Club and a lifelong student of the game. His scholastic career included a second-place U1250 Nationals finish individually and as a team. As an adult competitor he has collected multiple tournament wins and top finishes while building a coaching practice around school clubs, lessons, workshops and tournament direction.

He currently serves as South Regional Vice President of the Florida Chess Association. At CUDA, Stephen helps developing players build sound fundamentals and a genuine love of chess.

Visit ChessMinds ↗
Jake Zenn, CUDA Chess Club co-founder and president

Jake Zenn

Co-Founder • President • Beginner Coach

Jake co-founded CUDA and helps lead the Wednesday beginner program, giving new players a welcoming on-ramp into the club's morning chess community.

Ben Glatzer, CUDA Chess Club co-founder and coach

Ben Glatzer

Co-Founder • Treasurer • Coach

Ben co-founded CUDA and is an advanced chess player who loves helping the club’s other coaches wherever needed. He works with young players across the program, offering guidance, playing challenging games and helping students build confidence, stronger chess habits and a lasting enthusiasm for the game.

Oualid El Hamri

Oualid El Hamri

Coach • Competitive Player • Chess Dad

Oualid received formal chess instruction in Morocco and continues to play competitively. At CUDA, he brings both a player’s perspective and a parent’s perspective to the coaching team, helping young players develop their skills and love of the game. He is also a CUDA chess dad—his daughter is a member of the club.

RANSOM × CUDA

Big kids.
Little kids.
One board.

On Wednesdays, members of the Ransom Everglades Upper School Chess Club join CUDA to mentor and compete with younger players—creating a rare bridge between elementary and high-school chess.

The relationship grows naturally from Coach Webber's years leading chess at Ransom. Student leaders, including upper-school chess captain Tyson Dawal, give CUDA players something powerful to see up close: where dedication to the game can lead.

MORE THAN ELO

What chess teaches when adults don't make every move.

Resilience
You will lose games. Then you learn why.

Ownership
Friday belongs to the kids.

Community
Parents, coaches, mentors and friends around one table.

Competition
Prepare seriously. Win graciously. Keep learning.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND CUDA

Built by Grove families.

Jacob “Jake” ZennCo-Founder • President
Ben GlatzerCo-Founder • Treasurer
Michael WilliamsVice President • Board of Directors
Ann EubanksSecretary • Board of Directors

CUDA Chess Club, Inc. is a Florida nonprofit organized for charitable and educational purposes, including community outreach, chess education and support of competitive chess.

IN THE GROVE

“Rise and Shine: Student Chess at the Barracuda”

Coconut Grove Spotlight documented the club's origin, the kids, the pink tables and the community that grew around them.

Read the Coconut Grove Spotlight story ↗
CUDA Chess Club filling the pink tables along Fuller Street in Coconut Grove
THIS IS CUDA.Fuller Street • Coconut Grove
CUDA Chess Club
YOUR MOVE.

Come play with CUDA.

Interested in joining, volunteering, mentoring, supporting tournament play or learning more? Tell us about your player and we'll help point you toward the right CUDA session.

Email cudachessclub@gmail.com