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

4/29

Pygmalion Tournament

Pygmalion Chess

Tempe, AZ

May 2026

5/1 - 5/3

BayAreaChess REAL-FIDE 2026 May Championship

5/1 - 5/3

$2,000 MAY CHAMPIONSHIP- FIDE/USCF

Poison Pawns Chess Club

Houston, TX

Sheridan Chess Association

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

5/1

USCF Rapid Rated Tournament

5/2 - 5/3

25th Addison Memorial Tournament

5/2 - 5/3

2026 Albuquerque/Rio Rancho Open

Albuquerque Chess Club

Albuquerque, NM

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

Magnus Carlsen: 60 Memorable Games

5/2

Kings of Chess Tournament

Kings of Chess

Aurora, CO

5/2

Rising Star May Grand Prix

5/2

3RD CHESS4SMILES OPEN Chess Tournament

Simply Chess

Arcadia, CA

5/2

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

5/2

Saturday Open

5/2

Monthly Saturday Swiss

5/2

RiseNShine Monthly Quads

RiseNShine Chess

Gilbert, AZ

5/2

SDCC Gambito

5/3

BayAreaChess Signature Quads @ San Jose

Bay Area Chess

San Jose, CA

5/3

BayAreaChess Signature Swiss @ San Jose

Bay Area Chess

San Jose, CA

5/3

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

5/3

Unity Weekly Blitz

Link to Clever and informative, How to Win at Chess teaches you everything you need to know about the game, including all the important moves and strategies to start off strong and keep you thinking several steps ahead.

How to Win at Chess Books

5/4

IHOP Quick Quad Mondays in May 2026

IHOP Chess

Colorado Springs, CO

5/4

May Swiss at Sky Cinemas (1 Rnd Weekly)

Santa Fe Chess

Santa Fe, NM

5/5

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

5/5

DCC Tuesdays

5/5

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

5/5

May Tuesday Night Rated (1 Rnd Weekly)

StarWizard Chess

5/5

Sunset Coffee Tuesday Quick

Sunset Coffee

Sandy, UT

5/5

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

5/5

Tuesday G45 Chess Tournament

5/5

Frisco Quick Weekly

5/6

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

Strategic Minds Chess Academy

5/6

May Wednesdays

Wellington, CO

Spring Break Chess Camps March 9th to 20th

5/6

SPCC Chess Run Wednesday

Santa Paula Chess Club

Santa Paula, CA

5/7

May Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

5/8

USCF Rapid Rated Tournament

5/8 - 5/10

2026 World Chess Festival - Disneyland

Hanley Chess Academy

Anaheim, CA

5/9

2026 Utah G/60 Championship

5/9 - 5/10

BayAreaChess Ashley Qualifier (Grades K-3)

5/9

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

5/9

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

5/9

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

5/9

Prescott Quads #32

Prescott Chess Club

Prescott, AZ

5/9

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

5/9

Saturday Open

5/9

2026 May ICEA Chess @ West LA

5/9

PALS May Chess Tournament

PALS Chess Academy

5/9

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

5/9

SDCC Gambito

5/10

2026 Memorial Tournament G/30

Azeri Chess Academy

Houston, TX

5/10

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

5/10

Unity Weekly Blitz

5/12

Game Vault Tuesdays

Game Vault

El Paso, TX

5/12

Frisco Quick Weekly

5/15 - 5/17

Denver Open 2026

5/15 - 5/17

Scottsdale Chess FIDE Invitational

5/15 - 5/17

2026 National Middle School (K-8) Championship

Round Rock, TX

Link to Safety first! Success in chess begins with asking yourself the basic question, “Is the move that I’m considering a safe one?”

Is Your Move Safe?

5/15

USCF Rapid Rated Tournament

5/16

Vegas $2k Action G/25

Elevate Chess

2,000 Prize Money

5/16

Little Masters

5/16

Summit Chess Monthly Open

Summit School of Chess

Golden, CO

5/16

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

Wasatch County Chess Club

5/16

School’s Out Chess Tournament

Heber City, UT

5/16

Saturday Open

5/16

Phoenix Saturday Action

5/16

SDCC Gambito

San Gabriel Valley Chess Club, Rooklogic

5/16

San Gabriel Valley Chess Club Tournament 45/5 #12

San Gabriel, CA

5/17

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

5/17

Unity Weekly Blitz

5/19

Sunset Coffee Tuesday Quick

Sunset Coffee

Sandy, UT

5/19

Frisco Quick Weekly

5/22

USCF Rapid Rated Tournament

Southern California Chess Federation

5/23 - 5/25

46th Annual Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic

5/23

Rising Star Memorial Day Blitz

5/23 - 5/25

Rising Star Memorial Day Classic

5/23

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

5/23

Saturday Open

5/23

Game 40 Challenge

5/23

Reno Chess Quads

Reno Chess Club

Reno, NV

5/23

Rising Star Memorial Day U800

5/23

SDCC Gambito

5/26

Frisco Quick Weekly

5/29

USCF Rapid Rated Tournament

Colorado State Chess Association

5/30 - 5/31

2026 Colorado State Senior Championship and Under 50 Open

Loveland, CO

5/30

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

5/30

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

5/30

Saturday Open

5/30

Bughouse Challenge

5/30

Freestyle Chess Challenge

5/30

SDCC Gambito

5/31

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

5/31

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

5/31

Unity Weekly Blitz

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)

Strategic Minds Chess Academy

6/3

June Wednesdays

Wellington, CO

6/4

June Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

6/5 - 6/7

North Texas FIDE

6/5

USCF Rapid Rated Tournament

6/6

Rising Star June Grand Prix

6/6

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

6/6

Saturday Open

6/6

Monthly Saturday Swiss

6/6

RiseNShine Quads

RiseNShine Chess

Gilbert, AZ

6/6

SDCC Gambito

6/7

Unity Sunday Weekly G/30

6/7

Unity Weekly Blitz

6/10 - 6/14

2026 National Open

Vegas Chess Festivals

6/12 - 6/14

Summer FIDE 2026

6/13

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

6/13

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

6/13

Saturday Open

6/13

Game 40 Challenge

6/13

SDCC Gambito

Coy's Chess Camps and Classes

6/19

Game in 60 All Ages (One round per week at 6:00pm)

Tucson, AZ

Colorado State Chess Association

6/20 - 6/21

2026 Colorado Class Championships

Colorado Springs, CO

6/20

California Blitz Cup

6/20

Little Masters

6/20

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

6/20

Saturday Open

6/20

2026 June ICEA Chess @ West LA

6/20

Phoenix Saturday Action

6/20

SDCC Gambito

6/27

Central Valley June Swiss - Fresno/Clovis

Clovis Chess Club

Clovis, CA

6/27

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

6/27

SLCC Afternoon Quick Chess

6/27

Saturday Open

6/27

2026 June ICEA Chess @ Irvine

6/27

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

6/27

Reno Chess Quads

Reno Chess Club

Reno, NV

6/27

SDCC Gambito

6/28

Scholastic@ChessPalace Cypress

6/28

2026 Summer ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

July 2026

7/1 - 7/5

World Open (Top 6 Sections)

Washington, DC

7/1

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

7/2

July Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

7/3 - 7/5

Pacific Southwest Open 2026

Day & Knight Chess Club

Riverside, CA

7/3 - 7/5

Rising Star Independence Day Classic

7/3 - 7/5

28th Annual Sacramento Chess Championship

Sacramento Chess Club

Sacramento, CA

12,500 Prize Money

7/4

Pacific Southwest Open Blitz 2026

Day & Knight Chess Club

Riverside, CA

7/4

Rising Star Independence Day Blitz

7/4

Monthly Saturday Swiss

7/4

Rising Star Independence Day U800

7/4

SDCC Gambito

7/7

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

7/7

DCC Tuesdays

7/7

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

7/7

Temecula Tuesday Tourney

7/11 - 7/12

2026 Kansas Open

Kansas Chess Association

Wichita, KS

7/11

2026 July ICEA Chess @ West LA

7/11

Game 40 Challenge

7/11

SDCC Gambito

7/18

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

7/18

Little Masters

7/18

Phoenix Saturday Action

7/18

SDCC Gambito

7/19

2026 Summer Scholastic Chess Tournament

AAA Chess Club

Glendale, CA

7/24 - 7/26

Gulf Coast FIDE 2026

Colorado State Chess Association

7/25

2026 Colorado State All Girls Scholastic Championship

7/25

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

7/25

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

7/25

Reno Chess Quads

Reno Chess Club

Reno, NV

7/25

SDCC Gambito

7/31 - 8/2

Pacific Coast Open

7/31 - 8/2

2026 World Chess Festival - Las Vegas

Hanley Chess Academy

August 2026

8/1

Rising Star August Grand Prix

8/1

2026 August ICEA Chess @ Irvine

8/1

Monthly Saturday Swiss

8/4

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

8/4

DCC Tuesdays

8/4

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

8/5

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

8/6

August Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

8/8

2026 August ICEA Chess @ West LA

8/8

Game 40 Challenge

8/14 - 8/16

Central California Open

Fresno, CA

8/15

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

8/15

Little Masters

8/15

Phoenix Saturday Action

8/22

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

8/22

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

Phoenix Chess Academy, Unity Chess, M&B Chess

8/29

Arizona Open

1,200 Prize Money

8/29

Arizona Summer Scholastic

September 2026

9/1

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

9/1

DCC Tuesdays

9/1

SMBCC ONE NIGHT RAPIDS

9/1

Temecula Tuesday Tourney G45

9/2

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

9/3

September Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

9/4 - 9/7

2026 Southern California Open

American Chess Academy

Glendale, CA

9/5 - 9/7

2026 Phoenix Open

9/5

2026 Phoenix Open - Bughouse

9/5

2026 September ICEA Chess @ Irvine

9/5

Monthly Saturday Swiss

9/6

Phoenix Open - Blitz

9/8

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

9/12

Rising Star September Grand Prix

9/12

2026 September ICEA Chess @ West LA

9/12

Game 40 Challenge

9/19

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

9/19

Little Masters

9/19

Phoenix Saturday Action

9/26

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

9/26

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

9/27

2026 Fall ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

October 2026

10/1

October Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

10/3

Rising Star October Grand Prix

10/3

Monthly Saturday Swiss

10/4

2026 October ICEA Chess @ Irvine

10/6

Tuesday Night USCF Tournament

10/6

DCC Tuesdays

10/6

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

10/6

Temecula Tuesday Tourney G45

10/7

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

10/10

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

10/10

2026 October ICEA Chess @ West LA

10/10

Game 40 Challenge

10/16 - 10/18

2026 South Dakota Governor's Cup

Chess Weekend

Sioux Falls, SD

12,000 Prize Money

10/17

2026 Big Sioux Blitz

10/17

Little Monsters Chess Tournament

10/17

Phoenix Saturday Action

10/24

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

10/24

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

10/31

Game 60 Challenge

November 2026

11/1

2026 November ICEA Chess @ Irvine

11/3

DCC Tuesdays

11/3

SMBCC 4 Round Swiss

11/3

Temecula Tuesday Tourney G45

11/4

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

11/5

November Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

11/6 - 11/8

Los Angeles Open

11/7

Rising Star November Grand Prix

11/7

Monthly Saturday Swiss

11/14

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

11/14

Little Masters

11/14

2026 November ICEA Chess @ West LA

11/14

Phoenix Saturday Action

11/21

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

11/21

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

11/22

2026 Winter ICEA Free Chess @ The Wende

11/26 - 11/29

American Open (Main Tournament)

11/27 - 11/29

Rising Star Thanksgiving Classic

11/28

Rising Star Thanksgiving Blitz

11/28

Game 40 Challenge

11/28

Rising Star Thanksgiving U800

December 2026

12/1

DCC Tuesdays

12/1

SMBCC ONE NIGHT RAPIDS

12/1

Temecula Tuesday Tourney G45

12/2

ChessPalace Wednesday Knights (1 Round each Week)

12/3

December Thursdays (1 Round Weekly)

12/5

Little Masters Championship

12/5

Rising Star December Grand Prix

12/5

Phoenix Saturday Action

12/6

2026 December ICEA Chess @ Irvine

12/8

SMBCC Unrated Blitz

12/11 - 12/13

2026 National K-12 Grade Championships

Orlando, FL

12/12

2026 ICEA Scholastic Annual Championship

12/12

Tarrant County Chess Club G/60

12/12

Monthly Saturday Swiss

12/19

Phoenix Saturday Blitz

12/19

Arizona Golden Cup (Year-Long USCF Chess Series)

12/26 - 12/30

North American Open

12/26

Game 40 Challenge

January 2027

1/5

Temecula Tuesday Tourney G45

1/8

Captain Vigil's San Diego Sendoff

Hawkeye Chess Club

1/9

Captain Vigil's Chess Festival at Sea 2

Hawkeye Chess Club

April 2027

4/2 - 4/4

2027 National High School (K-12) Championships

Schaumburg, IL

4/30 - 5/2

2027 National Elementary (K-6) Championships

Columbus, OH

May 2027

5/14 - 5/16

2027 National Middle School (K-8) Championships

Round Rock, TX

June 2027

6/30 - 7/5

World Open

Philadelphia, PA

December 2027

12/3 - 12/5

2027 National K-12 Grade Championships

Orlando, FL