Leadership
Emmanuel Aluko
Founder & Educator
Emmanuel Aluko is the Founder and Director of King & Knights Chess Academy, a Maryland-based chess education initiative committed to developing strategic thinking, discipline, and confidence through the game of chess. As a team, we provide both online and in-person chess instruction tailored to students of all skill levels, from beginners to more advanced learners. Our approach focuses not only on improving chess ability but also on fostering critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and structured decision-making. Through King & Knights Chess Academy, our team continues to support families, schools, and community organizations to deliver engaging, high-quality chess programs that promote personal growth and lifelong learning.
Chief Whales
Operations Director & Educator
As the academy’s Operations Director, Chief Whales oversees student relations, scheduling, international program coordination and the consistent delivery of high-quality instruction. He is rated over 1800 FIDE and is the author of Every Beginner’s Chess Book, featuring 215 puzzles, along with six graded workbooks widely used across the world. A two-time Best Tournament Director and three-time Best National Arbiter award winner, he is also a licensed FIDE Chess in School Instructor. He brings energy, professionalism, strong commitment, world-class service to every aspect of the academy’s work.