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 played for centuries, and it’s still going strong in Mississippi. If you’re a chess fan in Mississippi, you have plenty of options to play in tournaments and meet other chess lovers. In this guide, we’ll tell you about some of the best chess tournaments in Mississippi, how to sign up, and what to expect. No matter what your skill level or preference, you’ll find a tournament that’s right for you.
The Mississippi Chess Association (MCA) is the official affiliate of the United States Chess Federation (USCF) in Mississippi. It organizes and supports chess activities in the state, such as tournaments, clubs, and scholastic programs. Some of the tournaments that MCA hosts or sponsors are:
MS Scholastic Individual State Chess Championships: This is the annual state championship for K-12 students in Mississippi. The winners of each section will qualify for the National High School, Junior High, and Elementary Championships.
MS Scholastic Girls State Chess Championships: This is the annual state championship for girls in grades K-12 in Mississippi.The winner of each section will qualify for the National Girls Tournament of Champions.
MS Scholastic Team State Chess Championships: This is the annual state championship for school teams in Mississippi. The winning teams of each section will qualify for the National K-12 Grade Championships.
Mississippi Senior State Chess Championship: This is the annual state championship for players aged 50 and above in Mississippi.The winner will be crowned as the Mississippi Senior Champion and will qualify for the National Senior Tournament of Champions.
Mississippi State Chess Championship: This is the annual state championship for all players in Mississippi. The winner will be crowned as the Mississippi State Champion and will qualify for the National Tournament of State Champions.
You can find more information about the Mississippi Chess Association and their events on their website or Facebook page.
The Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association (MSCA) is a non-profit organization that promotes chess education and competition for students in Mississippi. It organizes and supports chess tournaments, clubs, and camps for students of all ages and skill levels. Some of the tournaments that MSCA hosts or sponsors are:
Adults Quads for Cash: This is a monthly tournament for adults and advanced scholastic players. The players will be divided into four-player sections based on rating and will play three games for cash prizes.
MSCA BUGHOUSE Championship: This is the annual state championship for bughouse, a variant of chess played by teams of two. The winning team will be crowned as the Mississippi Bughouse Champions.
Ole Miss Scholastic Chess Tournaments: These are monthly tournaments for scholastic players of all ages and skill levels. The players will be divided into sections based on grade and rating and will play four games for trophies and medals.
Kemper County Chess Tournament: This is a tournament for players of all ages and skill levels. The players will be divided into sections based on rating and will play four games for trophies and medals.
Holmes County CSD Chess Tournament: This is a tournament for players of all ages and skill levels. The players will be divided into sections based on rating and will play four games for trophies and medals.
Chess tournaments in Gulfport
Mississippi Coast Chess Club is a friendly and informal club for socializing over good food and casual games of chess. They meet every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Newks in Gulfport. They welcome players of all ages and skill levels, and have no dues, no ratings, and no stress. They also organize tournaments and other events throughout the year. Some of the tournaments they host are:
Friendship Oak Classic: This is a major annual tournament held in spring at the Hardy Hall Ballroom at the University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Park Campus in Long Beach. It is open to all players and has four sections: U800, U1200, Open/Unrated, and Scholastic. The entry fee is $25 and the prizes are trophies and medals for the top finishers in each section.
Gulf Coast Chess League Saturday Swiss: This is a monthly tournament held on the first Saturday of each month at the Gulf Coast Chess Club in Gulfport. It is open to all players and has one section. The entry fee is $10 and the prizes are based on entries.
Biloxi Blitz: This is a monthly tournament held on the third Saturday of each month at the Biloxi Public Library in Biloxi. It is open to all players and has one section. The entry fee is $10 and the prizes are based on entries.
Other options:
There are also other chess clubs and tournaments in Mississippi that are not affiliated with MCA or MSCA, but are open to chess players of all ages and skill levels. Some of them are:
The Scott County Chess Club is a friendly and welcoming chess club that strives to promote the game of chess in Scott County and Mississippi. They provide opportunities for persons of all ages and skill levels to learn and play the game. They meet monthly on the first Saturday at the Forest Public Library from 9 to 11 a.m. Some of the tournaments they host are:
Bienville Chess Classic: This is a major annual tournament held in spring at Alfreda-Harris Lodge at Roosevelt State Park in Morton. The next date is April 20, 2024. It is open to all players and has four sections: Open, U1800, U1400, and U1000. The entry fee is $35 and the prizes are based on entries.
Roosevelt Chess Classic: This is another major annual tournament held in fall at the same location as the Bienville Chess Classic. The next date is October 19-20, 2024. It is also open to all players and has the same sections and entry fee as the Bienville Chess Classic. The prizes are also based on entries.
Monthly Quads: These are monthly tournaments held on the first Saturday of each month at the Forest Public Library. They are open to all players and have four-player sections based on rating. The entry fee is $10 and the prizes are $25 for first place in each section.
You can also follow them on Facebook for updates and announcements.
Conclusion
Mississippi is a state with a rich chess culture and a variety of chess tournaments for players of all ages and skill levels. Whether you are looking for a state championship, a scholastic event, a club tournament, or a casual game, you can find it in Mississippi. Chess is a great way to improve your mental skills, meet new friends, and have fun. If you are interested in playing chess in Mississippi, you can check out the websites of the Mississippi Chess Association, the Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association, or the other chess clubs and tournaments listed above. Happy chess playing!
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