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Last updated: August 2026 In 1887, in the small town of Donerail, Kentucky, a farmer named Jackson Showalter married a woman named Nellie Love Marshall and taught her how to play chess. Six years later, she could beat him at knight odds. A few years after that, Nellie faced off against Emanuel Lasker — the reigning World Chess Champion — in an odds match, and beat him 5 games to 2. Jackson, meanwhile, was busy becoming a legend in his own right. Farm-raised in tiny Minerva, B

Are you a chess enthusiast in Alabama or planning to visit soon? You’re in for a treat! Alabama has a lot of chess fun to offer, with...

Arkansas, a state with a vibrant chess community, offers a variety of clubs and institutions that host regular chess tournaments. This...

Rhode Island may be small, but its chess scene is genuinely active — a state championship, a scholastic circuit, charity tournaments, and more weekly club nights than you'd expect from the smallest state in the country. Here's a complete, verified guide. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Rhode Island Chess Tournament Calendar — 2026–2027 Name Date Location Format Prizes New England Open Sept 5–7, 2026 R

Delaware chess enthusiasts, rejoice! There are a couple of organizations hosting tournaments to test your skills and strategic mind....

Idaho features an active competitive chess community with rated weekend open tournaments, weekly USCF and FIDE rated club matches, fast-paced quarterly quads, and dedicated youth academies. Whether you are a beginner preparing for your first rated match or an experienced player striving to build an international rating, this guide details the premier chess institutions, weekly venues, and upcoming tournament schedules across the state from October 2026 onward. Before stepp

South Dakota features an active over-the-board chess community offering United States Chess Federation (USCF) and FIDE-rated championships, weekly library club gatherings, scholastic qualifiers, and resort tournaments starting from October 2026 onward. Whether you are a beginner preparing for your first rated match or an experienced player competing for major prize pools, South Dakota provides structured opportunities across both eastern and western regions. Before enterin

Are you a chess lover looking for exciting tournaments in Nebraska? You're in luck — Nebraska has a vibrant chess scene with clubs and associations organizing regular events for players of all levels. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Nebraska Chess Tournament Calendar — 2026 March — Nebraska Winter Open, Omaha (Nebraska Player of the Year series) March — Omaha City Championship, University of Nebraska

Wisconsin is not only known for its cheese, beer, and football, but also for its vibrant and diverse chess community. There are many...

Looking for chess tournaments in North Carolina? You've found one of the biggest chess scenes on the East Coast — anchored by the Charlotte Chess Center, which runs over 375 rated events a year, and a state academy that helped train the youngest Grandmaster in history. Here's a complete, verified guide. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Chess Tournaments in North Carolina — 2026–2027 Calendar Event Date

North Dakota features an active over-the-board competitive chess scene supported by statewide non-profit organizations, municipal library clubs, and university programs. From weekend Grand Prix state championships in Fargo to monthly Swiss events in Bismarck and weekly casual gatherings in Grand Forks, chess enthusiasts across the Peace Garden State have multiple avenues to test their tactical skills and earn official ratings. If you want to sharpen your opening strategy a

Last updated: August 2026 Hawaii has a small but genuinely active chess community, centered on Oahu, with a marquee annual tournament and a network of regular, casual meetups across the island. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Hawaii Chess Tournament Calendar — 2026 September 5–7 — Hawaii Open, University of Hawaii at Manoa (Labor Day Weekend tradition, USCF-rated, Open/Reserve/Under 800/Blitz sections

Looking for chess tournaments in Maine? The Pine State's chess scene runs deeper than most people realize — real clubs meet from Portland to Presque Isle, and even a small public charter school recently produced a Maine State Championship team. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Maine Chess Tournament Calendar — 2026–2027 Event Date Location Source Maine Chess Championship Usually March Rotates statewide

Oklahoma Chess Association The Oklahoma Chess Association (OCA) is the official state affiliate of the United States Chess Federation...

Looking for chess tournaments in Vermont? Vermont’s chess scene is small. The October 1, 2026 US Chess rating list shows just 211 rated players in the state. That means a handful of events carry the whole calendar, and each one is easy to find and welcoming to newcomers. And if you’d like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Chess Tournaments in Vermont: October 2026–2027 Calendar Event Date Location Source Chittenden Count

Are you a chess aficionado who lives in Iowa or plans to visit the state soon? Do you want to improve your chess skills and have a blast...

Looking for chess tournaments in New Hampshire? The state's chess scene is small but steady, anchored entirely by one dedicated nonprofit running six championships a year. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? New Hampshire Chess Tournament Calendar — 2026–2027 Tournament Expected Timing Location Format Source New Hampshire Individual Scholastic Championship Usually October Various NH venues 4-Round Swiss,

South Carolina's chess scene runs through Columbia, but it doesn't stop there — real clubs are active from Charleston to Myrtle Beach to the Upstate. Here's a complete, verified guide. And if you'd like to sharpen your game first, why not try a trial lesson with a master at MM Chess Academy? Chess Tournaments in South Carolina — 2026 Calendar Event Date Location Source 2026 SC Scholastic State Championship March 21, 2026 Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center SCCA SC Girls'

Mississippi is a state with a lot of history, culture, and beauty. It’s also a state with a lot of chess. Chess is a game that has been...

Chess is not just a game, it is an art, a science, and a sport. It is a game that can challenge your mind, inspire your imagination, and...