Chess tournaments in Florida: Where to look for the best ones?
- Sebastian Artigas
- Oct 28, 2023
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 3
Florida is a great place for chess lovers, as it hosts many chess tournaments throughout the year. Whether you are a beginner or a master, you can find a suitable event to test your skills and have fun. In this guide, we will introduce you to some of the most popular chess clubs and institutions in Florida, and the tournaments they offer regularly.
Can't see your favorite chess club or academy here? Make sure to contact us and we will add them :)
Chess tournaments near Miami
They're the official US Chess Affiliate for the state of Florida and organize five championship events per year, as well as other tournaments and activities for chess players of all levels and ages.
They even have a magazine! Which is pretty cool, you can check it out here
Some of the FCA events are:
Lerman Florida State Championship: The state’s premier open tournament, the Harvey Lerman Florida State Championship, remains the culmination of the competitive year. It is confirmed for the traditional Labor Day weekend, scheduled from Friday, August 29, 2025, through Monday, September 1, 2025. The event is slated to be held at the Holiday Inn Resort.
Florida State Scholastic Championship: The most anticipated youth event, the Florida State Scholastic Championship (K-12), is confirmed for March 15–16, 2025, at the Wyndham Orlando Resort & Conference Center Celebration Area in Kissimmee.
Florida State Women’s Championship: This is an annual event for female chess players in Florida, where they can compete for cash prizes and trophies. It is usually held in February, and it has an open section and an under 1400 section.
Florida State Senior Championship: This is an annual event for chess players who are 50 years old or older. It is usually held in February, and it has an open section and an under-1800 section.
Florida State Quick and Blitz Championships: These are two separate events that are held on the same weekend, usually in August or September. The quick championship has a time control of 10 minutes per player, while the blitz championship has a time control of 3 minutes per player.
You can find more information about their events on the FCA website.
The Florida Scholastic Chess League (FSCL), offers chess classes, camps, clubs, and tournaments for students of all ages and skill levels. Affiliated with the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and the Florida Chess Association (FCA). The FSCL hosts several tournaments throughout the year, both online and in-person. Some of the regular tournaments are:
FSCL Grand Prix Series: A series of four online tournaments held on Lichess.org, one per month from September to December. Each tournament has four sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, and K-12. The top three players in each section receive trophies and qualify for the FSCL Grand Prix Finals in January.
FSCL Regional Championships: A series of three in-person tournaments held in different regions of Florida: South, Central, and North. Each tournament has five sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, K-8, and K-12. The top five players and teams in each section receive trophies and qualify for the FSCL State Championship in May.
FSCL State Championship: The final and most prestigious tournament of the FSCL season, held in May at a central location in Florida. The tournament has five sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, K-8, and K-12. The top five players and teams in each section receive trophies and medals. The winners of the K-8 and K-12 sections also receive scholarships to attend the National Scholastic Chess Championship.
FSCL Online Blitz Series: A series of four online tournaments held on Chess.com, one per month from January to April. Each tournament has four sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, and K-12. The top three players in each section receive medals and qualify for the FSCL Online Blitz Finals in May.
FSCL Scholastic Chess Festival: A one-day in-person event held in February at the University of Central Florida. The event features a four-round Swiss tournament with five sections: K-1, K-3, K-5, K-8, and K-12. The top five players and teams in each section receive trophies and certificates. The event also includes chess lectures, puzzles, games, and prizes.
FSCL Team Championship: A two-day in-person event held in April at the Florida Hotel and Conference Center. The event is open to teams of four players from any FSCL-affiliated school or club. The event has four sections: Elementary (K-5), Middle (6-8), High (9-12), and Open. The top three teams in each section receive trophies and medals. The event also features a blitz tournament, a bughouse tournament, and a chess trivia contest.
Since the dates and locations are constantly changing, I’d recommend visiting their website or their Facebook page for more information about upcoming events.
The High-Stakes Sunshine Open Analysis
The CFCC Sunshine Open represents a high-stakes competitive environment, offering an impressive prize pool of $8,500 based on 150 entries, with 60% Guaranteed. Significantly, the Master/Expert and Class A sections are officially
FIDE Rated, ensuring the results impact international standings.
The logistical planning for the CFCC Opens showcases a sophisticated approach to maximizing player convenience and attendance. The event provides flexible scheduling options, including a 3-day schedule (G/90; d30) and a condensed 2-day schedule (with G/60; d5 time controls for the first two rounds). Crucially, the organizers offer a $60 re-entry fee, allowing players who start poorly on the first day to reset their score for the Saturday rounds. This flexible, player-focused policy minimizes the financial and competitive risk associated with traveling for a major event, thereby encouraging higher participation rates necessary to guarantee the substantial prize fund.
Chess tournaments in Palm Beach
Palm Beach Chess is a chess club that offers tournaments, classes, camps, and other services for chess players in Palm Beach County. It hosts several regular events, such as:
PBC Quads: This is a monthly event where four players of similar ratings are grouped and play three rounds. It is usually held on Saturdays at the North Palm Beach Library.
PBC Action: This is a monthly event where players play five rounds with a time control of 15 minutes per player. It is usually held on Mondays at the Habit Burger Grill.
88 Palms Grand Prix: This is a series of four events that are held throughout the year, where players can accumulate points and qualify for the final tournament. Each event has four sections based on rating and a time control of 30 minutes per player.
Fall Classic: This annual event is held in November, where players can compete for cash prizes and trophies. It has two sections: an adult quad section and a scholastic section.
Chess tournaments in Boca Raton
Concurrently, the Boca Raton Chess Club (BRCC) maintains the regional competitive spirit by organizing the South Florida Grand Prix events, such as the event scheduled for October 18, 2025, in Cooper City. These local circuits, combined with structured academy competition, provide high-frequency, low-travel competitive opportunities. This system of consistent local play serves as the essential, high-quality feeder pipeline, developing the necessary skills and competitive experience that ultimately feed top-tier players into the major state and national scholastic championships
Chess tournaments in St. Petersburg
The St. Petersburg Chess Club is one of the oldest in America in the same location, as it has been operating continuously since 1930. It is located in downtown St. Petersburg and welcomes players of all ages and skill levels. The club has a library of over 1,000 chess books, magazines, and DVDs that members can borrow for free. The club also hosts weekly events, such as:
Monday Afternoon Chess: A casual event that takes place every Monday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Players can play friendly games or practice puzzles with other members. There is no entry fee or registration required.
Wednesday Afternoon Chess: A casual event that takes place every Wednesday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Players can play friendly games or practice puzzles with other members. There is no entry fee or registration required.
Friday Night Chess: A rated event that takes place every Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. Players can play in one of two sections: Open or U1800. The entry fee is $5 for members and $10 for non-members. The prizes are based on entries.
For more information about St. Petersburg Chess Club and its events, visit their website or follow them on Facebook.
Chess tournaments in Orlando
Adding diversity to the summer calendar is the 2025 World Chess Festival, scheduled for July 11–13, 2025. Organized by the Hanley Chess Academy, this event utilizes a faster time control, offering G/45; inc 5 and G/30; inc 5 rounds. It caters to a wide range of skill levels with sections including Open, Under 1000, and Under 500/Unrated, structured as a 5-round Swiss or Quad format. Prize funds are distributed as 60% of the total entry fees collected.
The inclusion of the Chess Festival alongside the CFCC Opens illustrates a clear strategy of market segmentation via time control. While the CFCC focuses on demanding classical time controls for established players, the World Chess Festival offers a faster, more accessible format. This dual approach ensures that the Orlando area caters simultaneously to the elite, rating-conscious professional and the developing, time-constrained, or recreational player. This strategy effectively broadens the competitive ecosystem, enhancing Central Florida’s appeal as a year-round chess tourism destination.
You can find more information about their events on their website or follow them on Facebook.
The Central Florida Chess Club (CFCC) provides the state’s most consistent, professionally organized, and high-prize open tournament series. These events are crucial for maintaining USCF and FIDE ratings for serious competitors.
III.A. The Quarterly Open Cycle and Venue Consistency
CFCC maintains a reliable quarterly schedule, with most major opens being held at the Holiday Inn at Lake Buena Vista in Orlando. Key events confirmed through September 2025 include:
CFCC Winter Open: Held January 18–19, 2025. This event featured a dedicated Scholastic U1200 section utilizing a G/60; d5 time control.
CFCC Sunshine Open: Scheduled for June 13–15, 2025, offering both a 3-day and a 2-day/Scholastic schedule.
CFCC Autumn Open: Confirmed for September 26–28, 2025 (3-day schedule) or September 27–28, 2025 (2-day/Scholastic schedule).
Chess tournaments in Jacksonville
The Jacksonville Chess Club (JCC) provides a reliable, high-value monthly competitive structure. The club hosts three distinct events every month, with its mainstay being the Fourth Saturday Quads. These Quads are structured as three-round tournaments, prioritizing matching players based on current rating.
A key feature of the JCC Quads is their designation as USCF Dual-Rated. This means that the results simultaneously count toward both a player's Regular and Quick USCF ratings. This is a sophisticated operational choice that drastically increases the utility and incentive for local players to participate in these monthly events, effectively maximizing the value derived from the entry fee and time commitment. The time control is set at a player-friendly G/40 with a 5-second delay.
Chess tournaments in Tampa
Tampa Bay Chess Academy is a chess club that offers chess instruction, tournaments, camps, and after-school programs for students of all ages in the Tampa Bay area. The club is affiliated with the USCF and the FCA. The club has a team of experienced and certified coaches who teach chess in a fun and interactive way. The club also hosts several tournaments throughout the year, such as:
TBCA Monthly Tournament: A monthly tournament that consists of four rounds of game/30 with a 5-second delay. The entry fee is $25 and the prizes are trophies for the top three in each section (Open, U1400, U800). The next TBCA Monthly Tournament will be on October 28, 2023 at the TBCA Center.
TBCA Scholastic Championship: A two-day tournament that consists of six rounds of game/45 with a 5-second delay. The entry fee is $35 and the prizes are trophies for the top three in each section (K-1, K-3, K-5, K-8, K-12). The next TBCA Scholastic Championship will be on November 18-19, 2023 at the TBCA Center.
For more information about Tampa Bay Chess Academy and its tournaments, visit their Facebook page.
Conclusion
Whether you are a beginner or a master, Florida offers chess tournaments that suit you. Playing in tournaments can enhance your chess skills, socialize with others, and enjoy yourself. Grab your chess set and join a tournament today!
Other options
capablancachessacademy.com: In honor of the legendary Cuban chess player (hence its name) this a big academy that offers regular tournaments and chess lessons in Florida.
https://tampachessclub.wordpress.com/ If you're into more local tournaments, the Tampa Chess Club is the perfect place for you.
https://orlandochessacademy.com/ It’s also more local than the Orlando Chess and Games Center. The club hosts several tournaments throughout the year, such as:
Orlando Chess Center Monthly Tournament: A monthly tournament that consists of four rounds of game/30 with a 5-second delay. The entry fee is $25 and the prizes are trophies for the top three in each section (Open, U1400, U800). The next Orlando Chess Center Monthly Tournament will be on October 27, 2023 at the Orlando Chess Center.
Orlando Chess Center Scholastic Championship: A two-day tournament that consists of six rounds of game/45 with a 5-second delay. The entry fee is $35 and the prizes are trophies for the top three in each section (K-1, K-3, K-5, K-8, K-12). The next Orlando Chess Center Scholastic Championship will be on November 17-18, 2023 at the Orlando Chess Center.
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