California chess history is constantly growing. Every weekend, the San Francisco Bay Area’s many chess tournaments become living chapters of history, written not by historians but on the chessboards in chess centers, school gyms, community centers and hotel ballrooms. Each rated chess game adds a line to the evolving story—bold openings tested, grinding endgames, andContinueContinue reading “Amateur West Chess Championship 2025”
Tag Archives: california chess tournaments
A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending the Spooky Swiss hosted by the Berkeley Chess School. BCS decked out the spacious playing hall in Halloween decor and almost all of the young chess players arrived in costumes. As I analyzed games, I noticed how well played they were, which is a testament toContinueContinue reading “A Very Fun and Spooky Chess Tournament”
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”
2024 US Amateur Team West Tournament
https://youtu.be/yuYr4RbLTCs Greetings chess players! My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for February 13, 2024. It’s almost time for the 54th annual US Amateur Team West chess tournament. A President’s Day Weekend tradition, the USATW is a fun chess event open to teams of four players plus an optional alternate.ContinueContinue reading “2024 US Amateur Team West Tournament “
A Very Sunny Chess Tournament
Daily Chess Musings wrapped up its 2022-23 school year in style with a free chess tournament on Saturday, June 3. My students took this opportunity to show off their chess skills at A Very Sunny Academy in Foster City, California. Titled “A Very Sunny Chess Tournament” this event was was the culmination of another year’sContinueContinue reading “A Very Sunny Chess Tournament”
DCM Spring Invitational Chess Tournament in Los Altos Hills
On Saturday, April 22, I hosted the Daily Chess Musings Spring Invitational Chess Tournament at the Fremont Hills Country Club in Los Altos Hills, California. This was a very special event for me as it was the first invitational chess tournament I have organized since the onset of the pandemic. As is my tradition, thereContinueContinue reading “DCM Spring Invitational Chess Tournament in Los Altos Hills”
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 “
California Chess Players Come Together to Support Scholastic Chess in Africa
The Eade Foundation is sending support for scholastic chess in Capetown, South Africa thanks to some help from the fine young chess players of Mission 360. Readers of this blog will recall an article entitled “NorCal Chess Organizations Working Together in Support of Building Chess Communities in South Africa.” In that post, I described howContinueContinue reading “California Chess Players Come Together to Support Scholastic Chess in Africa”
October 15th is Say Gay Chess Day in San Francisco
The Eade Foundation is sponsoring the first ever “Say Gay Chess Day” in San Francisco. This free event will be on October 15th at the world famous Mechanics’ Institute. There is no entry fee for this event but there will be lots of prizes in both the unrated and USCF rated sections. Join us forContinueContinue reading “October 15th is Say Gay Chess Day in San Francisco”
Girls K-12 CalChess State Championship 2022
A friendly reminder that the 2022 Girls Calchess State Championship is this Saturday (June 4th). The Berkeley Chess School does a wonderful job organizing this prestigious event and I highly recommend that all the young ladies in the Northern California chess community consider attending. All participants will be broken into sections by school grade: Kindergarten-3rdContinueContinue reading “Girls K-12 CalChess State Championship 2022”
Don’t Miss the Finale of California’s Most Exciting Chess Tournament…
Tune into The Eade Foundation’s YouTube channel at 4:00 pm (Pacific) to watch FM James Eade broadcast the final round action at the Inaugural Mission 360 Bay Area GM/IM Invitational Norm chess tournament.
CalChess Journal Winter 2022
A California Chess Tradition Returns: The People’s Tournament
Chess players in California are flocking to Santa Clara, California to play in the upcoming People’s Tournament, Young People’s Championship and People’s Blitz. The People’s Tournament is a prestigious annual chess tournament with a storied history. This year’s event continues an important 45 year California chess tradition. Don’t miss out on your chance to competeContinueContinue reading “A California Chess Tradition Returns: The People’s Tournament”
#HappyNewYear from the Torres Chess and Music Academy
2015 was a banner year for scholastic chess in Northern California! One of the high points was undoubtedly the California premier of the Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and Boys. The feedback we received about the tournament was overwhelmingly positive with some very insightful suggestions as to what parents and coaches would likeContinueContinue reading “#HappyNewYear from the Torres Chess and Music Academy”
Children’s Chess in the Bay Area
A Parent’s Guide to Chess in the San Francisco Bay Area: Bay Area chess parents have many resources available to help establish their children’s chess calendar. Two of my favorite Northern California chess websites are listed below. 1) SiliconValleyChess.com This is the web site to visit to get all the latest information on children’s chess events inContinueContinue reading “Children’s Chess in the Bay Area”
CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships: Part Two
The 2010 CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships got underway this morning. This years Calchess Scholastic State Championship drew around 900 players and was noticeably smaller in size than some previous years. Even with the smaller turn out, it is clear that scholastic chess is alive and well in Northern California. Mission San Jose Elementary School ofContinueContinue reading “CalChess Scholastic Chess Championships: Part Two”
Chess Quads for Children
A children’s chess quad run by the Torres Chess and Music Academy is the ideal way for new chess players to begin playing in tournaments. Children are separated into groups of four based on rating and age so that each quad tournament represents the closest chess experience grouping possible. This structure assures that all threeContinueContinue reading “Chess Quads for Children”
For Immediate Release: Scholastic Chess Tournaments in the Bay Area
For Immediate Release: Torres Chess and Music Academy, Inc. Presents: The SPHDS Quads At the South Peninsula Hebrew Day School – 1030 Astoria Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087 Sunday, February 7th, 2010 AND Sunday, March 7th, 2010 Where: South Peninsula Hebrew Day School When: 1:00pm – 4:00pm What: Scholastic (K-12) 3 Round Quad – G/30 Cost:ContinueContinue reading “For Immediate Release: Scholastic Chess Tournaments in the Bay Area”