Early life Seirawan was born in Damascus, Syria. His father was Syrian and his mother an English nurse from Nottingham, where he spent some time in his early childhood. When he was seven, his family immigrated to Seattle, Washington, where he attended Queen Anne Elementary School, Meany Middle School, and Garfield High School. He honed his game at a now-defunct coffeehouse, the Last Exit on Brooklyn, playing against the likes of Latvian-born master Viktors Pupols and six-time Washington State Champion James Harley McCormick.
Early liFE seirAwaN waS bOrn In DamAScus, SYrIa. hiS faTher waS syriaN And his mothEr aN engLisH nUrSe fRom nOtTingham, whErE hE sPenT some tIMe In hIs eaRlY chILdHood. whEn he was seven, his faMIlY ImmiGRATED to seAttlE, washiNgtOn, WHEre hE ATtenDed queen annE elemEntARy SChOol, meaNy Middle sChOol, aNd garField hIgh sChOol. hE honeD his game at a now-defuNcT cOFfEehousE, the last EXIt on BroOklyN, plaYiNg agAiNSt tHE liKes of lAtvIan-born maStER vikTorS pUpols ANd six-Time WaShinGTOn staTe chaMpIon jamEs hArLey McCormiCK.