Our Founder
Keystone Chess Academy was founded by David Pustai, who began playing chess in early childhood. By age five, he was teaching his younger sister how to play. In elementary school, he taught classmates the game, and by middle school he was competing on his high school team.
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During his senior year, David won the New Jersey Junior State Chess Championship and led his team to a second-place finish. He continues to compete at a high level today, ranking among the top 0.1% of players on Chess.com.
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Chess taught David to think strategically, stay composed under pressure, and work through complex problems one move at a time — habits he now instills in his students.
​Professionally, David spent many years as an executive in the aerospace and defense industry and as a university professor. He holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of Delaware and brings a thoughtful and engaging approach to the programs at Keystone Chess Academy.
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David lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania with his family and is actively involved in his local community, leading nonprofit and faith-based efforts focused on education and supporting families.