From personal loss to community action.
Two high school chess players from Upstate South Carolina turned one family's heartbreak into a movement for an entire community — and now, beyond it.
How it started.
Caton Tsao and Allen Hong are expert-level chess players from the Upstate region of South Carolina. They've been playing since childhood — competing in tournaments across the state, training for hours, living the game.
But chess became something much more personal for Caton when his grandparents developed Alzheimer's disease. During visits, they could no longer recognize him. That experience — feeling invisible to the people you love — was something no chess rating could prepare him for.
"Personally, I have witnessed the profound impact of the disease on the patient and the family. With this project, I hoped to help others in my community since I couldn't help my own family member on another continent."
Inspired by research showing that mentally demanding games like chess may lower the risk of cognitive decline, Caton reached out to Allen. Their idea was simple: use what they already loved — chess — to do something meaningful for their community.
They began hosting tournaments with chess clubs across Upstate and Midlands South Carolina, raising funds for the Alzheimer's Association's #TheLongestDay campaign. They also started visiting local retirement communities to teach chess directly to seniors — bringing cognitive stimulation, laughter, and genuine connection to the people who needed it most.
What started as two students with a chess board and a cause has since grown into a multi-city initiative with a formal research partnership at Clemson University — studying whether chess can be a scientific tool in preventing Alzheimer's.
Caton Tsao
Co-founder · D.W. Daniel HS
Expert-level chess player
Allen Hong
Co-founder · Upstate SC
Expert-level chess player
How it grew.
A personal spark
Caton's grandparents develop Alzheimer's. Unable to help his family directly, he and Allen decide to use chess to raise awareness and funds in their community.
Community tournaments launch
Caton and Allen partner with chess clubs across Upstate and Midlands South Carolina to host a series of fundraising tournaments for #TheLongestDay.
Chess classes at retirement homes
The founders begin visiting local retirement communities to teach chess directly to seniors — bringing cognitive engagement and social connection to those at highest risk.
Clemson partnership begins
Caton and Aman Sreshta propose a formal research study to Dr. Kaileigh Byrne at Clemson University. The study launches in 2024, investigating chess as a tool for preventing cognitive decline.
The initiative scales
Checkmating Alzheimer's continues to expand — more cities, more events, and more students joining the cause. The mission: prove that chess can change the story of Alzheimer's.
Why this matters
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting millions of families — including Caton's. There is currently no cure. Community awareness, early detection, and ongoing research are the most powerful tools we have.