🐼

NMJeffrey Robert Ashton

National Master · Magna Cum Laude · Tournament Director · founder of Panda Chess Academy

0+Players Served
0+Events Directed
0+Years as National Master
0Peak Lichess Bullet

★ Career highlights — career bests only

the flattering numbers · all formats · live from Lichess + US Chess
🏫
Collegiate Chess Champion — University of Texas at Dallas
Attended UTD on a full chess scholarship — one of the most prestigious chess programs in the country. Graduated Magna Cum Laude (GPA 3.7) with a B.S. in Psychology, December 2003.
Won his first 10 games for the team and helped make history at the highest level of collegiate chess.
🏆 Pan-American Championship · Freshman year
🏆 First-Ever Final Four of Chess · Sophomore year
📜 Magna Cum Laude · GPA 3.7 / 4.0
♟ Full Chess Scholarship · UT Dallas

🏆 The climb — only the awesome bits

milestones & achievements · onward and upward · no steps back

♟ US Chess

ratings-api.uschess.org · member

⚡ Lichess @jeffreyashton

lichess.org/api · rated games only · live

Career at a glance

 

Around the web

 

💬 What students & parents say

testimonials from the Panda Chess Academy community
★★★★★
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.
Parent
St. 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 Administrator
DFW Area School
★★★★★
Jeffrey directed our tournament with absolute professionalism. 200+ players, zero chaos. He's been running events like a machine for 18+ years. There's nobody better in the area.
Tournament Organizer
Texas Chess Community

Ready to work with a National Master?

Jeffrey has taught 22,500+ students, directed 950+ rated tournaments, and coached at schools from Dallas to Fort Worth. Whether you're a beginner or a tournament player, Panda Chess Academy has a program for you.

🐼 Learn with Jeffrey
Panda Chess Academy @jeffreyashton on Lichess chesspanda on Chess.com ChessBase articles

📈 Lichess rating history

live · all-time per-format ratings (rated games only)

📊 Full statistics

the complete record — every rating, count, and career total

🏅 US Chess milestones

peak & career markers

🗺 Playing career

Events by state
Most recent rated events

🎲 Tournament Director —

Events directed per year

 

By the numbers

 

Most recent events directed

 
DateEventSectionsPlayers
🎓
University of Texas at Dallas
Bachelor of Science in Psychology · December 2003
GPA 3.7 / 4.0 · Attended on a full chess scholarship
Magna Cum Laude Chess Scholarship GPA 3.7 Pan-Am Champions Final Four of Chess

🏫 Chess coach — Dallas / Fort Worth schools

after-school chess programs · 1999–present · 7+ years as educator
  • St. Alcuin Montessori School
    Dallas, TX
  • Parish Day Episcopal School
    Dallas, TX
  • Norton Elementary School
    Allen, TX
  • Matthews Elementary School
    Plano, TX
  • All Saints Catholic School
    Fort Worth, TX
  • Shelton School
    Dallas, TX
  • Today's Child Montessori School
    Carrollton, TX
  • St. Monica School
    Dallas, TX
  • Akiba Academy
    Dallas, TX
  • Wyatt Elementary School
    Plano, TX

🏕 Featured instructor — National Chess Camps

invited as a featured instructor at elite national chess camps
  • Castle Chess Camp
    Terre Haute, Indiana · Summer 1998
  • Whitewater Chess Camp
    Whitewater, Wisconsin · Summer 1998
  • USA Chess National Chess Tour
    Summer 2003 · Taught at 8 camps across the United States

💡 Skills & background

 
Title
National Chess Master
Teaching since
1999
Expertise
Chess instruction
Other skills
Customer service, Leadership
Psychology degree
B.S. · UT Dallas 2003