FM Alex Zelner

CFCC was greatly saddened to learn about the sudden passing of FM Alex Zelner on January 3, 2024.

With Alex and family being longtime CFCC friends, supporters, our weekend tournament chess store vendor, and founder of the Orlando Chess & Games Center (OCG) that’s organized 482 USCF rated tournaments over the past two decades, Central Florida has indeed lost a stalwart supporter and champion for the local chess community.

We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to the entire Zelner family.
- Central Florida Chess Club

Eulogy For Alexander Zelner
by Steven Vigil

Last week the Central Florida chess community was stunned to hear the news that FM Alexander Zelner passed away. Alex had a positive impact and touched the lives of many throughout the chess world. The Central Florida Chess club is grieving this tremendous loss, and would like to extend its condolences to the Zelner family.

Originally from Moscow, Russia, Alex achieved the rank of National Master shortly before moving to Orlando from Springfield, Ohio in 1999 along with his wife Dr. Catherine Zelner and young sons Gregory, David and Joshua. All fierce competitors, the Zelner family quickly became a staple in local chess tournaments.

In November of 2002, Alex opened Orlando Chess & Games Center in Plaza Venezia on Sand Lake Road with a vision for a tournament venue, teaching academy, and chess retail store. It became a thriving club that offered not only tournaments, but lessons, summer camps, and GM simuls. “OCG” closed its store front in 2008, but Alex continued to train students and run at least one OCG tournament a month at various venues throughout central Florida. 

Alex was a tenacious competitor over the board, who in his prime had wins against GMs and reached a peak rating of 2481. But perhaps Alex was better known as a superb chess coach who trained countless players and aspiring young talents. He was not only passionate about the royal game, but of its merits and benefits, especially for scholastic players. His favorite students were his two daughters Roza and Zoe, whom he loved to travel to tournaments with.

Alex was also well known as a chess vendor for larger weekend tournaments, including those organized by CFCC. Always approachable and personable, he had a larger than life personality and a witty sense of humor. A gifted chess lecturer, he could regale audiences with countless anecdotes and jokes. Alex was best known by his peers as a generous and kind spirit, who was constantly helping people in and out of the chess world.

I had the pleasure of meeting Alex in March of 2003 and had the privilege of being his friend for over 20 years. Through Alex, I played in my first USCF tournament, became a tournament director, and discovered a fulfilling niche career that I feel blessed to have. I am a full time chess coach and tournament director, and I owe much of my professional life to Alex. He was my mentor and I hope he knew how grateful I am to him and how much I appreciated our relationship over the years. He will be with me every time I hang up a demo board. 

RIP Alex.

Your Friend,

Steven

Read more about FM Alex Zelner’s life on legacy.com

John Driscoll

We are saddened by the recent news that passionate scholastic chess coach John Driscoll, who coached Winter Park’s Trinity Preparatory School chess club at National and State level USCF tournaments for many years, passed away on July 31, 2023 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.

Additionally, Mr. Driscoll taught Math at Sweetwater Episcopal Academy in Longwood, FL while coaching their on-campus chess club. In 2018, John also began coaching the on-campus chess club at Park Maitland School in Maitland, FL until his passing.

Having worked with us over the years in coaching at chess camps and scholastic tournaments in Central Florida, we would like to express our sincere appreciation for the many contributions John Driscoll gave to the local scholastic chess community.

Steve Chernobyl

As reported in the Florida Chess Association Spring 2023 magazine, we are saddened to report the passing of Hollywood Kings Chess Club founder and CFCC tournament chess store vendor Steve Cernobyl, of South Florida, who passed away earlier this year. CFCC would like to express its sincere appreciation for Steve’s contributions to Florida’s chess tournaments over the years.

Eric Dirga

Eric Dirga’s widow reached out to us to notify the Central Florida chess community that her husband suddenly passed away recently. Eric was an avid chess player who accumulated a large chess book library that Mrs. Dirga wished to donate on his behalf, knowing Eric would be happy that other chess enthusiasts could benefit from his passion for chess. We appreciate her donation and wish to express our sympathies with the Dirga family during this most difficult time.