Lawyer Times
Founder and Owner of Future Masters Chess Academy (FMCA)
Awards
1981 Youth High School Champion (Player)
1982 National High School Team Champion – Boston Latin (Player)
1994 Declared Chess Master (Player)
2012 Boylston Chess Club Champion (Player)
2013-15 Most MVP points on Nor’easters Team in US Chess League (Player)
2017 Massachusetts State Chess Champion (Player)
2019 Elementary Scholastic MA State Championship (Coach)
2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Winter Teams State Champions (Coach K-3 & K-6 under 500, under 900 sections and under 1800 sections)
2022 High School Champions – Lexington High School (Coach)
2024 Coach of National Champion Grade K-1, Devansh Vellanki
2025 Coach of World Champion Under 8, Devansh Vellanki
Angela Times
Operations Manager
Angela Times is the Operations Manager and wife of Lawyer Times for over 30 years. She is invaluable in all of our behind-the-scenes administrative work at FMCA. She has over 30 years of experience as an administrator in the business field. She also volunteers her time to assist youths in making better decisions in life. And now she assists at FMCA in helping our students make great decisions on the chessboard and in life.
Steven Winer
Future Masters Level Coach
Learning chess at age 5, Steven began playing tournaments at age 9 and quickly achieved a high rating and won fifth grade nationals in 1991. Steven also became overall (non-scholastic) state champion of Vermont for several years starting at the age of 12. In the national arena he was 1999 Denker Champion and also finished 2nd in the National High School championship. Steven became an expert at age 12, a master at age 16, and a 2400 at age 18. He became a FIDE Master during that time as well. More recently he was New England Open champion in 2015 and has achieved a rating above 2450. As an instructor, Steven has taught 5 young players who went on to become masters as well as another 10 who have become experts. Ten of his students have become Spiegel Cup champions. Steven has worked with a wide range of ages and ability levels. Currently he is Vice President of the Massachusetts Chess Association.
Danila Poliannikov
Future Masters Level Coach
Danila was first introduced to chess at the age of 5 by his father. Since then, he has been an avid competitor and a 3-time representative of Massachusetts in the Barber Tournament of Champions and been scholastic state champion multiple times. In 2021, Danila attained the Fide Master title, and he is working towards becoming an International Master. Danila brings his passion for chess into his teaching and analysis as he seeks to share his love for the game with his students. He was the 2024 New England Champion, and is the current 2025 Massachusetts State champion.
Ross Eldridge
Emerging & Next Level Coach
Ross has been playing chess for over 40 years. He has worked with many talented players in the Boston area over these years. As well as teaching privately, Ross teaches in the Newton, Belmont, Wellesley, and Weston school systems. He is USCF expert level and has helped a number of his students reach that same level. Ross is also an English major who loves helping our students at FMCA.
Michael Jameson
Fundamental & Emerging Level Coach
Michael started playing chess later than most. Discovering the game at 27 around the beginning of the pandemic, he played online frequently with a newfound love for the 64 squares. By late 2021, he had started playing in tournaments and began teaching kids. By 2023, he had reached intermediate level and is still working to take his students’ chess to the next level. He specializes in beginner students with a great understanding of how someone comes to know and understand chess at that fundamental level. When not playing chess, he enjoys playing other strategy games.
Caleb Mendez
Fundamental and Emerging Level Coach
I began playing chess in the military, motivated to surpass my fellow military friend who initially taught and defeated me. After leaving the service, I dedicated myself to improving and eventually beat him. Now ranked in the 80th percentile of rated players, I’m passionate about teaching chess and helping students excel both on and off the board. There is no better game to enable thinking and fresh creative thoughts.
Phu Vo
Fundamental, Emerging & Next Level Coach
Phu began playing chess at age 12 and brings both competitive experience and a passion for teaching to his coaching. He enjoys chess for its endless depth, creativity, and the personal growth it fosters in players. Phu has experience working with youth and focuses on helping students build strong fundamentals, confidence, and disciplined thinking. A blitz and bullet specialist, he combines tournament knowledge with modern online play.
John Sadoff
Fundamental and Emerging Coach
John learned to play chess from his dad at the age of 7. He is a four-time state high school chess champion and has been teaching chess for over a decade. He has created several after school and in school chess programs in Washington D.C., Ohio, and Boson. He has taught chess in hospitals, libraries, and schools throughout the Massachusetts area. He has taught chess to both children and adults with a wide range of abilities. He as a Master’s Degree in Education from Harvard University. Presently John works as a curriculum developer and instructor for Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth (CTY) chess program. For several years, he was the Vice President of the Massachusetts Chess Association.
Anu Nettem
Chess for Tots Coach & Front Desk Manager
Before Anu entered the IT field, she began her professional journey in the teaching field after completing her master’s degree. Education has always been close to her heart, and today she is grateful for a new and exciting opportunity to help children learn and grow through chess. Anu coaches our Chess for Tots classes and manages the front desk operations at our Ashland location. Anu is also a proud mom of two chess-loving kids who have been playing chess for more than 11 years — one studying at Boston University and the other a high school student who has earned the title of National Master. Both of her children are youth coaches at our academy. Chess is more than a game for their family — it is a powerful tool for focus, personal growth, discipline, patience, becoming mentally strong and lifelong learning.
Rithika Kilari
Fundamental Coach
Rithika Kilari learned chess at the age of 6 from her father. She began competing at 11 years old. She has taught hundreds of kids over the past five years including top chess player in the country for his age Santosh Ayyappan, along with his sister who is also a top player in the state. Rithika is currently a high school senior looking to attend college for Psychology. Aside from chess, she enjoys listening to music and crocheting.
Anand Chintapalli
Expert Youth Coach
Learning chess in elementary school, Anand began playing tournaments at age 12. In 2021, Anand started teaching students at the Westborough Library and the Indian Society of Worcester (ISW), in addition to in-person and zoom classes. He has also taught kids as young as 5-years old as a volunteer youth coach at Future Masters Chess Academy (FMCA). He is currently a university student in New York. When not playing chess, he enjoys reading books.
Datta Kilari
Youth Coach, National Master
Datta, now one of our Youth Coaches teaching all of our chess levels, began playing chess at six, learning from early losses against his dad. He turned frustration into curiosity, analyzing mistakes and embracing lessons to improve. Now a National Master with a 2200 rating, Datta has earned titles like U.S. Chess Candidate Master and FIDE Arena International Master. His achievements include wins at the New England Open, Blitz Championship, Spiegel Cup, and Barber National Tournament. Datta is working toward becoming a Grandmaster. Datta also excels in mathematics, winning several competitions.
Sunset Martin
Youth Coach
Sunset has been a part of our sponsorship program for 3 years. In December 2025 she was selected to receive a full 4-year scholarship of $250,000 as a Posse Scholar. Sunset exhibits a thirst for learning, a positive team spirit and a commitment to making a difference both in her own life and our community. She credits much of her accomplishments to the leadership skills that our Chess Academy has taught her. She is already better than half the rated chess players in the country. She is ready to pass on her knowledge and understanding to our newer students.
Simon Payne
Expert Youth Coach
Prayag Karthik
Youth Coach
Prayag began learning chess at age seven and entered his first tournaments a year later, drawn to the game for the discipline and concentration it demanded. He quickly became fascinated by the endless possibilities within each position and continues to explore the game’s depth today. Alongside competing in tournaments, he teaches chess to younger students at local libraries, hoping to inspire the same curiosity he found early on. He often reflects on the saying, “The journey shapes the destination,” a reminder that growth comes from the process itself. Outside the chess world, Prayag is a two‑time national champion in karate and holds a second‑degree black belt.
Jessica Hyatt
Master Youth Coach
Jessica’s journey began at a Brooklyn public school with a strong chess program. At just 11 years old, she picked up a board and made her first move. By her teens, she was already winning state championships, earning a $40,000 college scholarship, and catching national attention for her brilliance and drive. In August 2024, Jessica became a National Chess Master. She is now the highest-rated African-American female chess player in U.S. history. Jessica now loves to teach at FMCA and help both boys and girls reach their potential in chess and in life.
Oliver Romanovsky
Youth Coach
Oliver started learning chess at age 7 and playing tournaments at age 9. He has had many chess successes including a top 10 team finish at the 2025 Supernationals in Orlando Florida. He is a licensed tournament director with multiple years of experience. He is the former president of the Massachusetts affiliate of the Student-Led Chess Association, a nonprofit that brings chess to underserved communities. He is currently pursuing a degree in PR at Florida State University. He also enjoys playing soccer. He loves to see our students grow to be their best.
Micah Logan
Business Strategist
With more than 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur, fractional executive, author, and Forbes contributor, Micah has driven measurable results for business owners: $15 million in additional revenue, 2,000+ leads generated, 30%+ improvements in revenue-to-expense efficiency, and successful mergers and acquisitions. He’s helped clients launch go-to-market strategies, open multiple new locations, and built companies that last. He has been helping FMCA grow worldwide from its beginning in 2018.
Kishore Mosaliganti
Tech Advisor
Kishore Mosaliganti was introduced to chess when he was 10 years old. Inspired by Vishy Anands games, he became a district champion and participated in the AP state championship in India when he was 12 yo. He then took a break from chess to finish his Master’s and PhD education and start a family. Kishore is an expert level player. When not playing chess, Kishore works as a Research Scientist in Systems Biology at Harvard Medical School.