Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson is now a finalist, but needs the community to keep casting votes for him online so he can win the $25,000 grand prize and expand his nonprofit’s mission to mentor and empower underserved youth.
Nationwide — Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson is the proud father of seven biological children, but his role as a father figure extends to more than 120,000 young people across America. For more than 25 years, the Atlanta-based chess champion, motivational speaker, and founder of Be Someone, Inc. has dedicated his life to teaching children how to make better decisions, avoid violence, and become successful leaders. Now, after winning both the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of the national Super Dad competition, Hudson has officially advanced to the finals. He is just one victory away from winning the $25,000 grand prize, which he hopes to use to further his foundation’s mission of transforming young lives through chess and mentorship. (Click here to vote for him!)
His remarkable journey has made him a beloved “community father” to thousands of children, particularly those growing up without positive male role models. Through his nonprofit organization, Be Someone, Inc., he has visited schools, churches, community centers, underserved neighborhoods, and juvenile detention facilities across the country. Rather than simply teaching children how to play chess, he uses the game to introduce valuable life lessons about discipline, patience, critical thinking, conflict resolution, and personal responsibility. His message is simple but powerful: Every move has consequences, and every young person has the ability to make choices that lead to a better future.
His passion for helping young people comes from his own difficult childhood in Birmingham, Alabama, where he experienced poverty, instability, and negative influences. His life changed when a teacher named James Edge introduced him to chess and showed him how to think before acting. Those lessons helped Hudson turn his life around and eventually become a U.S. Air Force veteran, Alabama State Trooper, and two-time World Open Speed Chess Champion. Inspired by the mentor who believed in him, Hudson founded Be Someone, Inc. in 2001 to give other children the same opportunity to discover their potential.
Today, he is nationally recognized for his signature message, “Think It Out—Don’t Shoot It Out,” which encourages young people to choose peaceful solutions over violence. His programs demonstrate how the strategies used on a chessboard can help students navigate real-world challenges, resist peer pressure, improve their academic performance, and develop leadership skills. Having already reached more than 120,000 young people, Hudson hopes to expand his organization’s impact even further, particularly in communities where mentorship programs and positive father figures are desperately needed.
His advancement to the finals of the Super Dad competition represents another major milestone in his lifelong mission. The nationwide contest recognizes exceptional fathers and father figures who make meaningful contributions to their families and communities. After successfully winning the quarterfinals and semifinals, Hudson is now competing for the prestigious Super Dad title, a $25,000 cash prize, and an opportunity to appear in a national television commercial provided by Ace Hardware. While the recognition would be meaningful, Hudson is especially excited about the possibility of using the prize money to help Be Someone, Inc. reach even more children through chess instruction, character development, and violence prevention programs.
For Hudson, the competition is about much more than winning a title. It is an opportunity to remind the nation that fatherhood is not limited to biological relationships. It is also about showing up, offering guidance, setting positive examples, and helping children believe in themselves. Whether he is raising his own seven children or standing before a classroom of students eager to learn chess, Hudson continues to demonstrate how one committed father figure can influence generations. Now, with the national finals underway, he is calling on supporters across the country to help him make one final winning move by casting their free daily votes.
How to Help Him Win:
Supporters can help him win the national Super Dad competition by casting a free daily vote through his official competition profile: https://yoursuperdad.org/orrin-hudson-Xh0d
About Orrin
Orrin “Checkmate” Hudson is a nationally recognized youth mentor, motivational speaker, chess champion, author, and founder of Be Someone, Inc., a nonprofit organization based in Metro Atlanta, Georgia. A former Alabama State Trooper and U.S. Air Force veteran, he has dedicated more than 25 years to empowering underserved young people through chess, character development, leadership education, and violence prevention. His organization has reached more than 120,000 youth nationwide, inspiring them to make better decisions and become productive members of their communities. To learn more about his nonprofit organization, Be Someone, Inc., and its youth mentorship programs, visit BeSomeone.org
About the Competition
The national Super Dad competition, organized by Colossal Management, LLC, celebrates extraordinary fathers and father figures who make lasting differences in their families and communities. Founded by Mary Hagen and featuring actor and comedian Adam Devine as its celebrity ambassador, the competition includes multiple rounds of public voting. The grand prize includes $25,000 and an appearance in a national television commercial provided by Ace Hardware.
For press inquiries or to book Orrin Hudson to mentor young people in your community, school district, or organization, contact info@besomeone.org or (770) 465-6445.