Announcing the Fall 2025 Edition of the CalChess Journal I am thrilled to announce the release of the Fall 2025 edition of the CalChess Journal, the official chess magazine for Northern California. This issue is packed with insightful articles on California’s chess history, tournament highlights, player spotlights, and expert analysis to inspire and elevate yourContinueContinue reading “The CalChess Journal: Fall 2025”
Tag Archives: Calchess Journal
2025 US Amateur Team West Chess Tournament
Attending the 2025 US Amateur Team West Championship chess tournament In Milpitas, California was an absolutely delightful experience. This chess tournament always brings together a vibrant mix of familiar faces and opportunities for new friendships. Wandering the hallways, I could see how reuniting with old friends added a comforting sense of camaraderie to the eventContinueContinue reading “2025 US Amateur Team West Chess Tournament “
Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships
The CalChess Super States (a.k.a. the CalChess Scholastic State Championship) is the annual chess tournament where a large number of Northern California’s youth chess players compete for the title of State Champion. As a chess coach, I have been attending this Northern California tournament every year for well over a quarter century. My commitment toContinueContinue reading “Why I Keep Coming to the CalChess Super States Championships”
Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship
https://youtu.be/95Z6xHOwAPY Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my daily chess musing for Sunday, February 18th, 2024. Chess is often perceived as a solitary pursuit, with players hunched over a board deep in thought, making strategic moves in isolation. However, this is a misconception, as chess players are very much partContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2024 US Amateur Team West Championship”
The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman
https://youtu.be/4oz5Y6_IE1s View The CalChess Journal Fall 2023-Winter 2024 here OR download it below The-CalChess-Journal-Fall-2023_Winter-2024Download Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Saturday, February 3, 2024. As the Editor for the CalChess Journal, I play an important role in presenting stories and preserving the history of chessContinueContinue reading “The CalChess Journal Honors Richard Shorman”
2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship
The CalChess K-8 Scholastic Championship is truly one of the most special and memorable events on the Bay Area Chess tournament calendar. I took a stroll around the 2022-23 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship and was quickly reminded why this tournament is commonly referred to as the “Super States!” Enjoy the photos below and lookContinueContinue reading “2023 CalChess K-8 Scholastic State Championship”
The CalChess Journal: Winter 2022-23
Perhaps you’ve heard that the chess scene in Northern California is amazing! See what makes our region special by checking out the Winter 2022-23 Edition of The CalChess Journal. https://www.flipsnack.com/calchessjournal/calchess-journal-winter-2023.html
Photos from the 2023 CalChess K-5 Scholastic State Championship
This past weekend I was in attendance for the historic 2022-23 CalChess Scholastic State Championship and there was no place I rather be! Bay Area Chess put on a great tournament and as the CalChess Scholastic Coordinator I had the pleasure to review dozens of chess games and saying “hi” to hundreds of friends. BeingContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 CalChess K-5 Scholastic State Championship”
Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament
The US Amateur Team West Championship is one of the most enjoyable California chess traditions. A team event, the US Amateur Team West attracts all the usual faces and their friends to compete in a weekend long celebration of chess. Each year there is also a USATW Scholastic Tournament. As a chess coach, Editor forContinueContinue reading “Photos from the 2023 US Amateur Team West Championship Scholastic Chess Tournament “
Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship
I had a blast attending the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship hosted by Bay Area Chess. From the enthusiasm of the young competitors to getting to hear from many fans of my Daily Chess Musings YouTube Channel, I could not have ask for a better way to spend my birthday weekend. I look forward toContinueContinue reading “Chess Photos from the 2022-23 CalChess Grade Level Championship”
CalChess Journal Fall 2022
The Fall 2022 issue of the CalChess Journal is a whopping 33 pages filled with California chess news, Bay Area chess results and annotated games from NorCal chess players.
Plenty of Real Chess Drama at the Real Bay Area Championship
Chess players from around the San Francisco Bay Area showed up to battle for a share of the $10,000 prize fund at The Real Bay Area Championship this weekend in Milpitas, California. I took a break from analyzing games to capture photographs of the over-the-board chess drama. Look for a full report on this excitingContinueContinue reading “Plenty of Real Chess Drama at the Real Bay Area Championship “
2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 1
Sat, March 19 – Sun, March 20 K-5 On March 19th and 20th, hundreds of talented children between kindergarten and the fifth grade are competing in Santa Clara, California at the 47th annual CalChess Scholastic Championship (aka The CalChess Super States) for the title of Northern California State Champion. In the coming days I willContinueContinue reading “2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 1”
2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 2
Sat, March 19 – Sun, March 20 K-5 Day 2 of the 2022 CalChess K-5 Super State Championship was a special day for California chess. The drama of the final round battles were spectacular and I will be posting plenty of these well played chess games during the next several days. For now, please enjoyContinueContinue reading “2022 CalChess Super State Championships Day 2”
Brilliancy Prize for the 2022 K-5 CalChess Super State Championship
https://youtu.be/jV8nx3Hl9I0 Greetings Northern California chess players. My name is Chris Torres and I am excited to tell you about the Brilliancy Prizes for the K-5 CalChess Super State Championship. This year, in collaboration with The Eade Foundation, we will be awarding a couple of signed copies of the top selling chess book “Chess for Dummies”ContinueContinue reading “Brilliancy Prize for the 2022 K-5 CalChess Super State Championship “
