Chess tournaments in Louisiana: Where to look for the best ones?
- Sebastian Artigas
- Apr 24, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Oct 3
The operational framework supporting competitive chess in Louisiana underwent significant professional refinement transitioning into 2025, marking a period defined by strategic centralization and dedicated growth initiatives. The Louisiana Chess Association (LCA) has solidified its functional relationship with Downriver Chess, establishing the latter as the primary operational organizer for nearly all major state-level tournaments and series.
The high degree of organizational consolidation ensures a reliable and consistent calendar for players. Evidence of this centralization is demonstrated by the shared contact channels, where the official email for organizational correspondence, info@downriverchess.com, is managed by Downriver Chess, indicating their core role in managing logistics, communications, and tournament operations. This stability is crucial for fostering a dependable competitive environment. Moving away from highly sporadic, localized volunteer efforts toward a professionalized, single-entity structure allows for critical improvements in securing better venues, maintaining consistent administrative quality, and attracting stable, long-term sponsorships. This ultimately benefits players who rely on trustworthy, accurately USCF-rated competition. For formal contact regarding state governance, the LCA can still be reached directly through leadership, such as Adam Caveney at
Strategic Venue Optimization for 2025
The state organizers have displayed a focused approach toward venue selection, prioritizing both accessibility and quality. The prestigious Louisiana State Championship is confirmed to return to Loyola University’s Danna Center, utilizing the Audubon Room on the second floor. Concurrently, events requiring high-capacity, multi-sectional management, such as the Louisiana Pro-Am and the State Scholastic Championship, have relocated to the New Marigny Theater in New Orleans. The conscious decision to announce a new venue for the State Scholastic Championship specifically highlights an organizational commitment to elevating the atmosphere for junior players, moving away from potentially functional yet less inspiring scholastic settings. This commitment to centralized, high-quality locations contributes significantly to enhancing the overall competitive experience and strengthening the state's chess brand
The LCA is the official state affiliate of the United States Chess Federation, and the governing body of chess in Louisiana. They support and coordinate chess activities in the state, such as tournaments, clubs, scholastics, and publications. The LCA also maintains the state rating system and the state championship cycle. Some of the chess tournaments that Louisiana Chess Association sponsors or endorses are:
The Louisiana State Championship: Serving as the apex event of the competitive year, the 2025 Louisiana State Championship is scheduled for Labor Day Weekend, running from August 30 through September 1, 2025.
The championship is hosted at Loyola University's Danna Center, located at 6363 St Charles Ave in New Orleans. The event utilizes a seven-round, one-section Swiss system format, requiring players to register by 8:45 AM on Saturday morning. The time control is designated as classical: G/90;i30 (90 minutes per player with a 30-second increment per move), though the first round utilizes a slightly faster time control of G/60;i30. Parking at Loyola University is available, typically accessed via the ParkMobile application. The prize fund is confirmed to be at least
Louisiana Scholastic Championships: The state’s key scholastic event, the 2025 Louisiana State Scholastic Championship, is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025, and will be held at the New Marigny Theater in New Orleans.
The format is a five-round Swiss system with a rapid time control of G/25;d5. The tournament features five dedicated sections tailored to grade levels: K-2, K-4, K-6, K-8, and K-12. Individual and team trophies are awarded in each section. Players must be current USCF members, and LCA scholastic dues are included in the entry fee.
Ruston Knights Open: The Ruston Chess Knights host rated tournaments, including a “Ruston Chess Knights’ October Swiss” scheduled for October 11, 2025. They hold weekly meetings (casual / club nights) every Tuesday at 6:00 PM at Utility Brewing Company, located at 206 N Vienna St, Ruston, LA 71270
You can find more information about Louisiana Chess Association and its events on its website, and Facebook page or by contacting Adam Caveney at adam.caveney@louisianachess.org or 504-495-6200.
The 2025-2026 New Orleans Youth Chess Season
Providing consistent, local rated play is the goal of the recurring New Orleans Youth Chess Season. This series of scholastic meets, organized by Downriver Chess, begins its 2025-2026 season on October 4, 2025, at the Aurora United Methodist Church. Subsequent monthly meets provide vital opportunities for juniors to maintain active ratings and competitive engagement between the major state championships.
To provide a comprehensive outlook on the full year’s competitive schedule, it is necessary to include the 2025 Downriver Classic. Although scheduled outside the mandated September cutoff, this event offers significant competitive opportunity late in the year. The tournament is set for November 8–9, 2025, at the Louisiana Bridge Association in Metairie. This five-round Swiss tournament, rated USCF, features two sections—Open and Under 1500—and offers a substantial prize fund of $3,000. A Blitz side event is also planned for Sunday, November 9, 2025.
You can find more information about Downriver Chess Club and their events on their Facebook page or by contacting Andrew Squitiro at asquitiro@gmail.com or 202-656-9754.
Their goal is to promote chess as a tool for education, social development, and cultural diversity. The center is named after Paul Morphy, and is located in the historic French Quarter, where Morphy lived and played chess. The center offers chess classes, workshops, camps, and tournaments for players of all ages and backgrounds. Some of the tournaments they host regularly are:
Morphy Open: A quarterly open tournament with four rounds of G/90;d5. Entry fee is $30, and prizes are based on entries.
Morphy Scholastic: A quarterly scholastic tournament for K-12 students with four rounds of G/30;d5. Entry fee is $20, and trophies are awarded to the top three in each section.
Morphy Rapid: A quarterly rapid tournament with six rounds of G/15;d5. Entry fee is $25, and prizes are based on entries.
This is a free and open chess club that meets weekly at the New Orleans Healing Center. They welcome players of all ages and skill levels and offer casual play, lessons, and tournaments.
Weekly Friday Night Blitz: A fast-paced blitz tournament with a time control of G/5. The entry fee is $5 and the winner takes all. This is a fun and exciting way to test your chess skills and reflexes.
Biweekly Sunday Swiss: A six-round Swiss tournament with a time control of G/25, 5. The entry fee is $10 and cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers. This is a US Chess-rated event that counts for the Regular rating.
You can contact the club by email at nolachessclub@gmail.com or visit their website for more information. The club meets at 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117, United States.
Chess tournaments in Baton Rouge The 2025
Baton Rouge, the state capital, represents a significant growth area. The Baton Rouge Chess Club currently maintains a healthy casual presence, offering free play and learning sessions every Tuesday evening at La Divina Italian Cafe.
Moving forward, Downriver Chess has announced a specific strategic initiative targeting this region. The 2026 Baton Rouge Dual (February 21, 2026) is highlighted by organizers as their "first tournament in Baton Rouge!!". This declaration signals a deliberate market penetration strategy aimed at transforming the established casual club scene into a reliable hub for high-quality, organized, rated competition. By leveraging the existing successful grassroots structure, the organizers are actively working to establish a second major competitive center in Louisiana
The 2025 Louisiana Pro-Am Classic
The competitive year begins with the rapid-format Louisiana Pro-Am Classic, scheduled for March 29–30, 2025, at the New Marigny Theater, 2301 Marais St, New Orleans.
This five-round Swiss system tournament employs a G/60;i30 time control and features two dedicated sections: Professional and Amateur. The confirmed prize fund is $1,500, with class prizes based on the official March USCF rating list. Early entry is priced at $65 if purchased two weeks prior to the event.
The Pro-Am employs a strategic incentive structure designed to support the state organization: LCA dues are included in the entry fee for all Louisiana registrants, ensuring participants maintain current membership status until the State Championship. Furthermore, the event features a popular Blitz side event with a $20 entry fee, returning 60% of the pooled revenue as prize money.
Chess tournaments in Lafayette
This chess club is affiliated with the US Chess Federation. They offer regular tournaments, classes, and other events for players of all levels. Some of the tournaments they host regularly are:
The Lafayette Chess Club meets on Friday evenings at 6:00 PM at the Discovery Inn & Suites, 120 E. Kaliste Saloom Rd, Lafayette.
Membership dues are roughly $25 per year for adults, $10 for students. Lafayette Chess Club
The club welcomes players of all skill levels — from beginners to masters.
On Chess.com, the club is reported to hold monthly Saturday Swiss tournaments, 4 rounds at G/60 time control.
Chess tournaments in Shreveport
Shreveport Chess Club is a community-based chess club that meets weekly at the Shreve Memorial Library. They welcome players of all ages and skill levels and offer casual play, lessons, and tournaments. Some of the tournaments they host regularly are:
Shreveport Winter Chess Classic: A three-day, six-round, open tournament with two sections (rated and unrated). The prize fund is 80% of the entry fees, and the entry fee is $50.
Shreveport Spring Chess Classic: A similar event to the Winter Chess Classic, but held in spring.
Shreveport Blitz Chess Tournament: A monthly blitz tournament with seven rounds of G/5;d2. The entry fee is $10, and the prize fund is 70% of the entry fees.
Chess tournaments in Lake Charles
This is a student-run organization at McNeese State University. They welcome players of all ages and skill levels and offer casual play, lessons, and tournaments. The club meets at 4205 Ryan St, Lake Charles.
Weekly Tuesday Night Action: One US Chess-rated game every Tuesday night, completely free for CCC members. This is a great way to practice your skills and meet other chess enthusiasts. The time control is G/90, 30.
Monthly Saturday Swiss: A four-round Swiss tournament held on the first Saturday of every month. The entry fee is $10 for CCC members and $15 for non-members. The time control is G/45, 5. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers.
This is a school-based chess club that is open to all Barbe High School students. They offer lessons, casual play, and competitive tournaments. The club meets at 2200 W McNeese St, Lake Charles, LA 70605, United States.
Weekly Wednesday Afternoon Club: A friendly and relaxed club meeting where students can play chess, learn from each other, and have fun. The club provides chess sets and boards, but students can bring their own if they prefer.
Quarterly Scholastic Tournaments: A four-round Swiss tournament for students of all grades and skill levels. The entry fee is $5 and trophies are awarded to the top finishers in each grade category. The time control is G/30, 5. This is a US Chess-rated event that counts for the Regular rating.
This is a school-based chess club that is open to all St. Louis Catholic High School students. They offer lessons, casual play, and competitions. The club meets at 1620 Bank St, Lake Charles, LA 70601, United States.
Weekly Monday Lunchtime Club: A convenient and enjoyable club meeting where students can play chess, learn from each other, and socialize. The club provides chess sets and boards, but students can bring their own if they prefer.
Biannual Inter-School Tournaments: A team-based tournament where students compete against other schools in the area. The entry fee is $10 per team and medals are awarded to the top teams and individuals. The time control is G/25, 5. This is a US Chess-rated event that counts for the Regular rating.
North Louisiana and Acadiana Clubs
Local engagement continues throughout the northern and western parts of the state. The Lafayette Chess Club maintains an active calendar, hosting events such as the Lafayette City and Junior Championship, which requires current USCF membership for entry. While local titles are restricted to Acadiana residents, the events themselves are open to all. The Monroe Chess Club is dedicated to promoting chess across Northeast Louisiana and facilitating player meetups. Similarly, the Ruston Knights Chess Club and the Shreveport-Bossier Chess Club maintain local activities, contributing to a diverse, geographically spread network of chess enthusiasts.
Other options:
The Monroe Chess Club holds weekly meetups on Mondays at 5:30 pm at Enochs and on Saturdays at 10 am at BooksAMillion.
Conclusion
With dedicated clubs and organizations fostering chess across Louisiana, finding tournaments has never been easier. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a curious beginner, delve into the exciting world of Louisiana chess!
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