Jarred Tetzlaff is the CEO and co-founder of Texas Chess Center (TCC), a multi-location chess education organization built to give families a consistent, structured alternative to the “either private lessons or school club” model. Founded in November 2021 alongside co-founder David Gaston, TCC was designed to make chess feel like a real program—more like dance or martial arts—where students can progress through structured levels, attend weekly classes, and compete regularly in a supportive environment.

Before TCC, Tetzlaff helped lead operations at North Texas Chess Academy (NTCA), where he and his future Business Partner, Gaston saw demand rising across the Metroplex for reliable instruction and beginner-friendly tournament opportunities. When NTCA’s future became uncertain, they invested their own resources to launch a new location in Plano and build a scalable system focused on consistent customer experience, dependable staffing, and weekly tournament rhythms. TCC later merged with NTCA under shared ownership, aligning the region’s chess community around one unified, growth-focused vision.

Today, Tetzlaff focuses on developing people and building durable systems—training staff, tightening operations, and creating the standards that allow multiple locations to run with the same quality and culture. His leadership philosophy centers on versatility, strong execution, and measuring the impact of change before scaling it. TCC operates across Plano, Frisco, Irving, and Houston and is known for its weekly Swiss tournament cadence and membership options— including a Competitive Pass that supports frequent tournament play.

Tetzlaff learned chess at age five and founded his first school chess club in 2007. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Science with a concentration in Project and Knowledge Management from the University of North Texas (2019). He is also an Eagle Scout and has completed 1,000+ volunteer hours through local community churches.