This weekend, Sunnyvale, California, is hosting the US Amateur West Championship—a prestigious FIDE-rated event that offers chess players of all ages a chance to improve their ratings, earn recognition, and vie for exciting prizes. Organized by Bay Area Chess, an organization renowned for fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment for both local enthusiasts and visiting players, the tournament promises a vibrant and competitive atmosphere.
Held at the comfortable and convenient Domain Hotel in Sunnyvale, the event benefits from the expertise of veteran tournament directors Tom and Jordan Langland, ensuring smooth and fair play throughout. Notably, Bay Area Chess Director Salman Azhar was also in attendance, actively participating in the competition.
As a passionate chess journalist, I couldn’t resist stopping by to capture the lively scenes—snapping photos of players deep in thought in the playing hall and others having some chess downtime in the adjoining areas. The Amateur West Championship truly exemplifies how the Bay Area continues to be a dynamic hub for chess enthusiasts of all levels.
Be sure to flip through the pictures
Published by chessmusings
Chris Torres is a nationally renowned scholastic chess coach working in the San Francisco Bay Area. His classes have attracted players of strengths ranging from rank beginners to world champions. A chess professional since 1998, Chris is widely recognized as one of the main driving forces behind the explosion in popularity and sudden rise in quality of scholastic chess in California. Chris Torres served as the President of the Torres Chess and Music Academy from 2005-2020 and currently is recognized as a correspondence chess master with the United States Chess Federation. Since 1998 Chris Torres has taught 6 individual national champions as well as led multiple school teams to win national championship titles. In addition, Chris Torres has directed and taught at 10 different schools which have been California State Champions at chess. In 2011 and 2012, several former and current students of Chris Torres have been selected to represent the United States at the World Youth Chess Championships. Mr. Torres’ hobbies include playing classical guitar and getting his students to appear on the national top 100 chess rating lists.
View more posts
