The Long Game:

Lessons from Life and Chess with Vlad Ghita ’15

For Vlad Ghita ’15, chess has been a lifelong pursuit that started at age six, when his father first taught him the rules. It wasn’t until fifth grade, though, that the game truly captured him. “My classmates started bringing their own chess sets to school, and we would play during class breaks,” he recalled. By 16, Vlad was competing in his first internationally rated tournament, a sign of the dedication that would follow. Over the next several years, he became one of the world’s most active licensed chess coaches and a respected member of the international chess community.

In Romania, Vlad was equally captivated by physics, emerging as a standout student in national and international contests. When it came time to apply to college, he scanned physics rankings across the United States. Rice kept rising to the top. “Brockman Hall for Physics was being built, and I was drawn to the idea of a new research facility and collaborating with research scientists,” he said. “That was the initial spark that drew me to Rice.”

The spark turned into a transformative opportunity. Vlad was admitted and named a Fayez Sarofim International Scholar, earning a full-ride merit scholarship. “Honestly, my family could not have afforded to support me through college far from home,” he said. In August 2011, he boarded his first transatlantic flight and stepped into Houston’s iconic humidity, setting the pieces for a new phase of his life.

On campus, he found a welcoming space in the Rice Chess Club. A friendship with the club president quickly led to regular meetings and, when the president graduated, leadership passed to Vlad and another student. The group was small, just a few undergraduates and a French professor, but it was a home for a game that was still far from mainstream. “Chess wasn’t really popular back then. It was just a nerdy hobby,” he said. “Now look around, and you’re surrounded by people who love the game.”

Vlad majored in physics with a minor in mathematics, diving deeper into chess during his freshman year through books and online lessons. But as his coursework grew more rigorous, competitive play took a pause until graduate school at the University of Illinois reignited it. “We had a strong chess team there, and they pushed me hard,” he said. “I’m competitive, and I wanted to win, so that reeled me back in.”

After completing his master’s and moving briefly to the West Coast, Vlad returned to Romania in 2020, just as the pandemic hit. He found himself questioning the traditional 9-to-5 path. At the same time, the popular Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit” sparked a global interest in chess. “It was a fortunate scenario,” he said. “It was a golden opportunity to promote myself as a coach and find my first clients.” Four and a half years later, Vlad is a chess player, coach, arbiter and blogger. Drawing on his tech background, he built vladchess.com, a platform where he coaches students worldwide and shares his insights on the game.

For Vlad, chess blends the elements that define him — science, competition and art. “You're analytical, considering all possibilities and scenarios,” he said. “There is also this competitive spirit, an edge that pushes you to win. But you can also find beauty on the 64 squares.”

Vlad holds a rare distinction: between 2021 and 2025, he logged more than 500 FIDE-rated games, making him the most active player among licensed chess coaches. “It helps because I’m intimately aware of the difficulties my students face,” he said. “We have the same struggles. It’s easier to teach when you have a clear connection to the material that you’re teaching.”

The world of chess has also allowed Vlad to travel and build community. “I enjoy seeing new places and interacting with friends,” he said. “Being able to socialize with people and meet them in cool locations and talk about the game over a beer or a meal.”

Playing chess has taught him that sacrifices are necessary, but they must be the right ones. “I have absolutely no regret when it comes to pursuing my passion, and this is what I encourage others to do,” he said. “It’s worth taking a shot and really pursuing what you care about or what you love.”

This past fall, Vlad returned to Rice for Alumni Weekend, his first visit since 2019. “I flew 6,000 miles just to reconnect with classmates and professors,” he said. “I attended the Shepherd School production of “The Magic Flute” and ventured beyond the hedges to catch a Rockets game. My time at Rice allowed me to reflect on what I value and explore new interests. I credit my experience at Rice with shaping me into the person I am today, and returning to campus was a powerful reminder of that.”