Dear Chess Families,
It’s often far too easy to get caught up in everyday stress and forget about the great escape that is the chessboard and the wonderful friendships the chess community fosters. During these unprecedented times, I know that it is especially important that our scholastic chess community members have access to a structured chess schedule and face-to-face time with great coaches. To fill this need, I have created a busy calendar of chess events for the month of December which includes regular classes, tournaments, camps and special events. Better yet, all of these events are completely free to join.
1. Learn to Play Chess for Adults: Monday, December 14 at 6:00 – 8:00 pm Pacific Time.
If you liked The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix but know little to nothing about chess, then join me for a 2-hour introduction to the game. This is a free class for adults new to chess and will cover basic rules and beginning tactics and strategies.
2. Chris Torres’ Birthday Simul: December 18th, at 6:00 pm Pacific Time.
Play in a livestream chess Simul against Coach Chris on his birthday. This free Simultaneous Exhibition is open to the first ten players who register.
3. Free Winter Chess Camp #1: December 21st-December 24th, 11:00 am until 2:00 pm Pacific Time.
A free chess camp with Coach Chris and esteemed guests. For over 20 years, Chris Torres has brought together the best scholastic chess players from around the country to train, compete and learn together with the best coaches and elite chess players as their guides. Combining the fun of chess with professional training, Chris’s chess camps offer the highest quality chess experiences for youth chess players of all experience levels. His commitment to excellence is easily demonstrated by the thousands of young chess players who choose to learn in his camps each year and the team of esteemed guest coaches he has brought together for the 2020 Winter Break Chess Camp.
4. Free Winter Chess Camp #2: December 28th-December 31st, 11:00 am until 2:00 pm Pacific Time.
A free chess camp with Coach Chris and esteemed guests. For over 20 years, Chris Torres has brought together the best scholastic chess players from around the country to train, compete and learn together with the best coaches and elite chess players as their guides. Combining the fun of chess with professional training, Chris’s chess camps offer the highest quality chess experiences for youth chess players of all experience levels. His commitment to excellence is easily demonstrated by the thousands of young chess players who choose to learn in his camps each year and the team of esteemed guest coaches he has brought together for the 2020 Winter Break Chess Camp.
5. New Year’s Eve Blitz Chess Extravaganza: December 31st, 4:00 – 7:15 pm Pacific Time.
Three free consecutive 5 round blitz tournaments with tournaments starting at 4:00 pm, 5:00 pm, and 6:00 pm Pacific Time. Participants will receive one raffle ticket for every tournament entry and every game won. At the conclusion of the third tournament, a raffle will be held to distribute $300 in gift certificates to American Chess Equipment.
6. DCM Chess Club: A tuition free weekly chess club with online meetings every Wednesday at 3:00 pm Pacific Time.
7. Friday Frenzy Blitz Chess Tournaments: Every Friday we will have the Friday Frenzy Blitz Tournament on Chess.com. It is a free weekly speed chess tournament with round 1 starting at 5:00 pm Pacific Time.
8. Saturday Super Swiss: Every Saturday we will have a Super Saturday Swiss tournament on Chess.com. It is a free weekly g/30 chess tournament Saturday morning with round 1 starting at 10:00 am Pacific Time.
9. Sunday Beginner Brunch: Every Sunday we will have a Beginner Brunch Swiss tournament on Chess.com. It is a free weekly g/30 chess tournament open only to players who’s chess.com ratings are under 500 Sunday mornings with round 1 starting at 11:00 am Pacific Time.
10. Saturday Night Blitz against Coach Chris: December 12th Free Livestream blitz games open to anyone who wishes to play against the coach live on chess.com. YouTube. Livestream starts at 7:00 pm Pacific Time.
2020 has, thus far, been an especially challenging year for many of us. However, it’s not how a year starts that defines it but rather how we finish it that ultimately matters. And together, we can finish 2020 on a high note through chess.