Southwest Chess - Chess Tournaments, Events, and Meetups around the U.S. Southwest

12/20

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess @ University of utah

12/20

OC Mess Hall by Elements of Chess

Elements of Chess

Tustin, CA

Southern Arizona Chess Association

12/20

SACA December Swiss

Tucson, AZ

Utah Valley South Chess Club

12/20

UVSCC Tournament 2 – Electric Boogaloo!

Spanish Fork, UT

12/20

Kings of Chess Tournament

Kings of Chess

Aurora, CO

12/20

Game 40 Challenge

12/20

SDCC Gambito

12/21

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

12/21

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

Quality Chess Scorebook

12/23

Frisco Quick Weekly

Frisco, TX

12/26 - 12/30

North American Open

130,000 Prize Money

Heritage Event

12/27

Game-in-30 Chess Tournament (Advance registration required)

Brain Powers

12/27

Chess Quad tournaments

Masterpiece Chess Club

Santa Clarita, CA

12/27

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

12/27

Game 30 Challenge

12/27

SDCC Gambito

12/28 - 12/31

2025 World Chess Festival - Hawaii

Honolulu, HI

12/30

Frisco Quick Weekly

Frisco, TX

January 2026

1/1

Annual Blitz Championship

1/1

Monthly Thursday Series

Cornerstone Chess Academy

1/2 - 1/4

2026 Cornerstone Chess Academy Launch

Sunnyvale, CA

Link to Carlsen and Howell show how you can keep a game alive, how you can keep posing problems to your opponent, how you can recognize the first small mistakes, and how you can grind your opponent down until he cracks.

Grind Like a Grandmaster

1/2 - 1/4

New Years FIDE 2026

1/2

La Palma Chess Club Three Groups (1 Round Per Week)

La Palma Chess Club

La Palma, CA

1/2 - 1/4

$1,500 JANUARY CHAMPIONSHIP 2026

Poison Pawns

Houston, TX

1/3

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

1/3

Phoenix Monthly Scholastic

1/3

Rising Star January Grand Prix

1/3

Saturday Open

1/3

Monthly Saturday Swiss

1/3

SDCC Gambito

1/4

2026 Winter Chess-Fest

Chess Fest

West Hills, CA

1/4

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

1/5

IHOP Quick Quad Mondays in January 2026

Link to Chess takes you through more than 5,000 unique instructional situations, many taken from actual matches, including 306 problems for checkmate in one move, 3,412 mates in two moves, 744 mates in three moves, 144 simple endgames, and 128 tournament game combinations.

Chess: 5334 Problems, Combinations and Games

1/5

Winter Scholastic G/25

Frisco, TX

1/6

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

1/6

DCC Tuesdays

1/6

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

1/7

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

1/7

SPCC Chess Run Wednesday

1/8

Chess Knight Blitz

1/10

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

1/10

Game-in-30 Chess Tournament (Advance registration required)

Brain Powers

1/10

Albuquerque Chess Club January 2026 G/60

Empire Chess

Albuquerque, NM

1/10

Empire Chess Club January 2026 Scholastic g/30

Empire Chess

Albuquerque, NM

1/10

Cedar Park January 2026 Scholastic Tournament

Leander Chess Club

Cedar Park, TX

Link to Renowned chess writer Andrew Soltis analyzes the strategies of today's blockbuster player Magnus Carlsen.

Magnus Carlsen: 60 Memorable Games

1/10

Saturday Open

1/10

2026 January ICEA Chess @ West LA

1/10

Kings of Chess Tournament

Kings of Chess

Aurora, CO

1/10

PALS January Chess Tournament

1/10

SDCC Gambito

1/11

SAN DIEGO HIGH SCHOOL TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP

1/11

ChessPalace Amateur Tournament @SteelCraft

1/11

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

1/13

Game Vault Tuesdays

1/13

SMBCC 3 Round Swiss

1/14

Pygmalion Tournament

1/15

Thursday Cerritos Scholastics

Cerritos, CA

Link to Tears Of My Chess Opponents : Travel Mug with Lid

Chess Travel Mug with Lid

1/16 - 1/19

17th Annual GOLDEN STATE OPEN

Concord, CA

25,000 Prize Money

1/16 - 1/18

2026 World Chess Festival - Disneyland

Atlantic Chess Association

1/16 - 1/18

2nd Annual MLK Day Open

Houston, TX

Southern California Chess Federation

1/17 - 1/19

Dreaming King Open

1/17

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

1/17 - 1/18

NMCO 2026 Senior Championship and Tony Schroeder Memorial Open

New Mexico Chess

Albuquerque, NM

1/17

Arizona Scholastic Chess Festival

1/17

Saturday Open

1/17

SDCC Gambito

1/18

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

1/21

Pygmalion Tournament

1/23 - 1/25

Dallas Frost FIDE

Mad Hatter's House of Games

1/24

2026 TCA Region I Open and Scholastic Championships

Lubbock, TX

1/24

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

1/24

Chess Emporium Sunday Swiss - G25

1/24

Little Masters

1/24

Summit Chess Monthly Open

1/24

New Year's Extravaganza

The Meadows School

1/24

ChessMates G30 Swiss

1/24

Saturday Open

1/24

SDCC Gambito

1/25

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

1/25

A Hazy Quad of Winter

Sante Fe Chess

Santa Fe, NM

1/28

Pygmalion Tournament

1/31

2026 Utah State Elementary Championships

Provo, UT

1/31

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

1/31

Game-in-30 Chess Tournament (Advance registration required)

Brain Powers

1/31

Saturday Open

Make A Move LA x Make A Move Chess League

1/31

$10K Champions Tournament - Make A Move Compton

Compton, CA

1/31

SDCC Gambito

February 2026

2/2

IHOP Quick Quad Mondays in February 2026

2/3

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

2/3

DCC Tuesdays

2/3

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

2/3

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

2/4

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

2/4

SPCC Chess Run Wednesday

2/4

Pygmalion Tournament

2/5

Thursday Cerritos Scholastics

Cerritos, CA

2/5

Monthly Thursday Series

2/7

AZ State Grade Championships

2/7

ChessMates G30 Swiss

2/7

PALS February Chess Tournament

2/7

SDCC Gambito

2/8

ChessPalace Amateur Tournament @SteelCraft

2/8

2026 Spring ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

2/10

Game Vault Tuesdays

2/11

Pygmalion Tournament

2/11

Pygmalion Tournament

2/12 - 2/16

17th Annual SOUTHWEST CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS (Presidents Day Weekend)

Irving, TX

35,000 Prize Money

Heritage Event

2/12

Chess Knight Blitz

Colorado State Chess Association

2/13

2026 Colorado State Scholastic Blitz Chess Championship

Highlands Ranch, CO

Colorado State Chess Association

2/14 - 2/15

2026 Colorado State Scholastic Chess Championship

Highlands Ranch, CO

2/14 - 2/16

Rising Star Presidents Day Classic

2/14

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

2/14

Saturday Open

2/14

2026 February ICEA Chess @ West LA

2/14

SDCC Gambito

2/16

President's Day Scholastic

Plano, TX

2/18

Pygmalion Tournament

2/18

Pygmalion Tournament

2/21

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

2/21

Texas Action Championship 2026

Houston Chess Studio

Houston, TX

2/21

Rising Star February Grand Prix

2/21

Summit Chess Monthly Open

2/21

SLCC Afternoon Chess

2/21

Saturday Open

2/21

SDCC Gambito

2/22

2025 LA Super City Championships

American Chess Academy

Glendale, CA

2/22

Checkmate for Charity Chess Tournament (G/25)

Checkmate for Charity

2/22

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

2/25

Pygmalion Tournament

2/27 - 3/1

South Texas FIDE

Arizona State University Chess Club

2/28

ASU Spring 2026 Rapid and Blitz

2/28

Knights Leap Ahead

The Meadows School

2/28

SDCC Gambito

March 2026

3/2

IHOP Quick Quad Mondays in March 2026

3/3

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

3/3

DCC Tuesdays

3/3

SMBCC Club Championship

3/3

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

3/4

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

3/4

SPCC Chess Run Wednesday

3/5

Monthly Thursday Series

3/6 - 3/8

33rd Annual Western Class Championships

Irvine, CA

Heritage Event

3/7

2026 Southern Nevada Scholastic Championship

3/7

Rising Star March Grand Prix

3/7

SDCC Gambito

3/10

Game Vault Tuesdays

3/12

Chess Knight Blitz

3/14

Chess Emporium Sunday Swiss - G25

3/14

Summit Chess Monthly Open

3/14

Texas Spring Championship

McKinney, TX

3/14

2026 March ICEA Chess @ West LA

3/14

PALS March Chess Tournament

3/14

SDCC Gambito

3/20 - 3/22

DFW Spring FIDE

3/20 - 3/22

2026 SuperStates State Championships

Arizona State University Chess Club

3/21 - 3/22

2026 TEXAS SENIOR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

3/21

ASU Spring 2026 Classical

3/21

SDCC Gambito

3/22

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

3/27 - 3/29

2026 National High School (K-12) Championship

Chicago, IL

3/28

ChessMates G30 Swiss

April 2026

4/1

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

4/1

SPCC Chess Run Wednesday

4/2

Monthly Thursday Series

4/4

Rising Star April Grand Prix

4/6

IHOP Quick Quad Mondays in April 2026

4/7

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

4/7

DCC Tuesdays

4/7

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

4/7

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

4/9

Chess Knight Blitz

4/10 - 4/12

2026 All-Girls National Championships

Chicago, IL

Women/Girls

4/11

TMS Grand Finale

The Meadows School

4/11

2026 April ICEA Chess @ West LA

4/11

PALS April Chess Tournament

4/14

Game Vault Tuesdays

4/18

Chess Emporium Sunday Swiss - G25

4/18

2026 April ICEA Chess @ Gardena

4/18

Summit Chess Monthly Open

4/18

Spring Bloom Championship

McKinney, TX

4/18

ChessMates G30 Swiss

4/25

2026 TEXAS QUICK CHESS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

4/26

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

Sheridan Chess Association

May 2026

5/1 - 5/3

2026 WYOMING COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OPEN

Sheridan, WY

9,000 Prize Money

5/1 - 5/3

Houston FIDE

5/1 - 5/3

2026 National Elementary (K-6) Championship

Baltimore, MD

5/2

Rising Star May Grand Prix

5/4

IHOP Quick Quad Mondays in May 2026

5/5

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

5/5

DCC Tuesdays

5/5

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

5/5

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

5/6

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

5/6

SPCC Chess Run Wednesday

5/7

Monthly Thursday Series

5/9

2026 May ICEA Chess @ West LA

5/9

PALS May Chess Tournament

5/12

Game Vault Tuesdays

5/14

Chess Knight Blitz

5/15 - 5/17

2026 National Middle School (K-8) Championship

Round Rock, TX

5/16

Summit Chess Monthly Open

5/23 - 5/25

Rising Star Memorial Day Classic

5/31

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

June 2026

6/2

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

6/2

DCC Tuesdays

6/2

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

6/2

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

6/3

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

6/4

Monthly Thursday Series

6/5 - 6/7

North Texas FIDE

6/6

Rising Star June Grand Prix

6/10 - 6/14

2026 National Open

Vegas Chess Festivals

6/11

Chess Knight Blitz

6/12 - 6/14

Summer FIDE 2026

Seryozha Gasparyan (GC CLUB)

6/18 - 6/21

1st Annual Grant Chess Open

Irvine, CA

6/20

2026 June ICEA Chess @ West LA

6/28

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

6/28

2026 Summer ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

July 2026

7/1

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

7/3 - 7/5

Rising Star Independence Day Classic

7/7

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

7/7

DCC Tuesdays

7/7

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

7/7

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

7/9

Chess Knight Blitz

7/11

2026 July ICEA Chess @ West LA

7/24 - 7/26

Gulf Coast FIDE 2026

7/31 - 8/2

2026 World Chess Festival - Las Vegas

August 2026

8/1

Rising Star August Grand Prix

8/4

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

8/4

DCC Tuesdays

8/4

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

8/4

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

8/5

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

8/8

2026 August ICEA Chess @ West LA

8/13

Chess Knight Blitz

September 2026

9/1

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

9/1

SMBCC ONE NIGHT RAPIDS

9/2

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

9/8

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

9/10

Chess Knight Blitz

9/12

Rising Star September Grand Prix

9/12

2026 September ICEA Chess @ West LA

9/27

2026 Fall ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

October 2026

10/3

Rising Star October Grand Prix

10/6

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

10/6

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

10/7

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

10/8

Chess Knight Blitz

10/10

2026 October ICEA Chess @ West LA

November 2026

11/3

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

11/3

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

11/4

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

11/7

Rising Star November Grand Prix

11/12

Chess Knight Blitz

11/14

2026 November ICEA Chess @ West LA

11/22

2026 Winter ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

December 2026

12/1

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

12/1

SMBCC ONE NIGHT RAPIDS

12/2

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

12/8

SMBCC Unrated Blitz

12/10

Chess Knight Blitz

12/11 - 12/13

2026 National K-12 Grade Championships

Orlando, FL