Today, I had the wonderful opportunity to attend the FEMChess All-Girls Scholastic Chess Tournament in Fremont, California. The event was not only an exciting showcase of numerous inspiring chess matches but also a chance for me to reconnect with several old friends. A particularly memorable highlight of the day was seeing Meiyappan Sathappan, an acquaintanceContinueContinue reading “Scholastic All-Girls Chess Tournament Held in Fremont”
Tag Archives: scholastic chess
Checkmate in Silicon Valley: Celebrating Northern California’s Scholastic Chess Excellence at the 2026 CalChess Super States
Northern California boasts a thriving scholastic chess scene, as evidenced by the ongoing 2026 CalChess Super States at the Santa Clara Convention Center. This afternoon, I explored the tournament floor with my camera, capturing the vibrant atmosphere. While it certainly takes a dedicated team of professionals to orchestrate such an impressive chess event, the realContinueContinue reading “Checkmate in Silicon Valley: Celebrating Northern California’s Scholastic Chess Excellence at the 2026 CalChess Super States”
CalChess Super States: K-6 Championships 2026
This weekend, October 17-18, the Santa Clara Convention Center will host one of the most significant scholastic chess tournaments in California: the 2026 CalChess Super States K-6 Championships, along with the grades 7-12 1000+ tournament. This event is set to draw the region’s top youth chess players, who will compete for prestigious titles and hugeContinueContinue reading “CalChess Super States: K-6 Championships 2026”
Grandmaster Andrew Hong Hosts Exciting 30-Board Simul and Lecture in Santa Clara on October 12
Grandmaster Andrew Hong will give a 30-board simul on Monday, October 12, in the heart of Silicon Valley. The event will be hosted by the BAC Santa Clara Monday Night Club located at 2495 Cabrillo Ave in Santa Clara, California. in addition to the simultaneous exhibition, GM Hong will present a lecture and take partContinueContinue reading “Grandmaster Andrew Hong Hosts Exciting 30-Board Simul and Lecture in Santa Clara on October 12”
CalChess All Girls and Boys Championships
If you love scholastic chess as much as I do, few experiences compare to attending the CalChess All Girls and Boys Championships. This year’s event was held at the Sonesta Silicon Valley, a venue that’s especially convenient for the many chess families from Fremont, as the Milpitas location is just a few minutes south ofContinueContinue reading “CalChess All Girls and Boys Championships”
Fremont Chess Musings:
Richard Shorman The great chess instructor Richard Shorman started traveling to Fremont to help Hans Poschmann with the Fremont Chess Club in 1968. By the end of the 80’s Richard was teaching a popular chess class at the Fremont Library where he trained a young group of talented players known as the Blue Knights. SomeContinueContinue reading “Fremont Chess Musings:”
Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son
Bughouse is a popular variant of chess played by four players in teams of two. Each player controls a standard chess set and board. The unique aspect of Bughouse is that when a player captures an opponent’s piece, they hand it to their partner, who can then place that piece on their board as aContinueContinue reading “Playing Bughouse Chess with My Son”
Chess Parenting: Encouraging High Expectations While Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Goals
Recently, I revisited a blog post entitled “The Importance of Setting Lofty Goals in Chess.” While previously, I stressed the importance of setting lofty goals, I now want to speak of the dangers of having unrealistic goals. As a coach I like to separate expectations from goals. Every great chess player I have coached hadContinueContinue reading “Chess Parenting: Encouraging High Expectations While Avoiding the Pitfalls of Unrealistic Goals”
Musings From a First-Time Tournament Organizer
Josh Wilson April 17, 2024 There is a line from the 1998 film Six Days Seven Nights where Harrison Ford retorts to Anne Heche, “It’s an island, babe. If you don’t bring it here, you won’t find it here.” While Ford was responding to Heche’s optimism about finding the magic of romance on a faraway island, theContinueContinue reading “Musings From a First-Time Tournament Organizer”
Fun Friday Chess Classes in Foster City
Chess Coach Chris Torres looking at a fundamental checkmating pattern with his class at Very Sunny Academy. I have fun on Fridays nurturing young minds at Very Sunny Academy in Foster City, California. Each week, I bring my chess equipment and guide a group of passionate young learners on their chess journey. Most classes beginContinueContinue reading “Fun Friday Chess Classes in Foster City”
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”
Pawn Endgame Worthy of Study
“Pawn endings are to chess what putting is to golf.” — Cecil Purdy Pure pawn endgames are said to be the simplest of all endings but that doesn’t mean they are always easy to win. A case and point is presented in a recent blog post where I shared a blown opportunity in a KingContinueContinue reading “Pawn Endgame Worthy of Study”
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”
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 “
NorCal Chess Organizations Working Together in Support of Building Chess Communities in South Africa
Join The Eade Foundation, Mission 360 and Bay Area Chess in San Jose, California to play chess and raise funds for Defying the Oddz Chess (South Africa). Chess holds the power to unite continents while giving communities opportunities to learn and grow. Bay Area chess players are invited to further this cause in South AfricaContinueContinue reading “NorCal Chess Organizations Working Together in Support of Building Chess Communities in South Africa “
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”
Chess Memories of Birthdays Past
When I was a younger man, I didn’t need to take a day off to rest on my birthday (December 18th). I much preferred going to work, which for most of my adult life, means playing chess with young people. Kneeling next to Andrew Peng on my birthday in 2012. I turned 35 on DecemberContinueContinue reading “Chess Memories of Birthdays Past”
Don’t Miss the 17th Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys
If you are a chess parent who lives or can travel to Bellevue, Washington, consider taking your child/teen to the 17th annual Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys. The SPFNO, which will take place on October 22-23, is one of the most prestigious scholastic chess tournaments in the United States and theContinueContinue reading “Don’t Miss the 17th Susan Polgar Foundation’s National Open for Girls and Boys”