by Jeffrey Ashton · National Master · Houston

NM Jeffrey Robert Ashton

National MasterCoach since 1999Panda Chess Academy

Teaching online. Photo from his ChessBase author page.

National Master, tournament director and founder of Panda Chess Academy. He went to UT Dallas on a full chess scholarship, has coached since 1999, and has run 951 rated tournaments in Texas for 22,505 player entries.

Learn with Jeffrey →

US Chess

2267Regular rating · National Master · US Chess 20076751

FIDE 2015331TD Local

UT Dallas

Full chess scholarship, Magna Cum Laude, and the first Final Four of Chess

Pan-American champions his freshman year. B.S. in Psychology, December 2003, GPA 3.7.

College chess

Panda Chess Academy

Founded 2008 in Houston. Online classes on Zoom since March 2020, Saturday classes in person, and private lessons.

LessonsHouston & online

ChessBase for Coaches

his series on en.chessbase.com, 2022

The record

milestones

1991
First US Chess rated tournament
The start of a 207-event playing career, mostly in Michigan, through 2009.
1998
Instructor at Castle and Whitewater chess camps
Terre Haute, Indiana and Whitewater, Wisconsin, the same summer.
1999
Began coaching in Dallas / Fort Worth
After-school chess at ten DFW elementary and private schools.
~2000
National Master
Crossed 2200 in his 70th tournament, his junior year of high school.
2000
Pan-American Intercollegiate champions, UT Dallas
Won his first ten games for the team.
2001
The first Final Four of Chess, UT Dallas
Part of the team at the inaugural collegiate Final Four.
2003
Magna Cum Laude, and the USA Chess National Chess Tour
Graduated in December; that summer taught at eight camps across the country.
2008
Founded Panda Chess Academy
US Chess affiliate A6031015, Houston.
2022
ChessBase author
Six “ChessBase for Coaches” articles on en.chessbase.com.
2026
951 events directed
22,505 player entries since 2008.

Tournament director

Panda Chess Academy · US Chess affiliate A6031015

Events directed per year

By the numbers

Teaching

schools, camps, and what people say

Chess coach, Dallas / Fort Worth schools · from 1999

St. Alcuin Montessori SchoolDallas
Parish Day Episcopal SchoolDallas
Norton Elementary SchoolAllen
Matthews Elementary SchoolPlano
All Saints Catholic SchoolFort Worth
Shelton SchoolDallas
Today's Child Montessori SchoolCarrollton
St. Monica SchoolDallas
Akiba AcademyDallas
Wyatt Elementary SchoolPlano

After-school chess

Featured instructor

Castle Chess CampTerre Haute, Indiana · 1998
Whitewater Chess CampWhitewater, Wisconsin · 1998
USA Chess National Chess TourEight camps across the US · 2003

Camps

Jeffrey is an incredible coach — patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about helping kids grow. My son went from never playing chess to winning his school tournament in one semester.
ParentSt. Alcuin Montessori School

NM Ashton has a rare gift — he can explain grandmaster ideas to a 7-year-old and make it stick. The Panda Chess program completely changed how our school approaches chess.
School administratorDFW area school

Jeffrey directed our tournament with absolute professionalism. 200+ players, zero chaos. There's nobody better in the area.
Tournament organizerTexas chess community