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  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Our Events
  • Newsletter
  • Our Tournaments
  • Chess Across Mississippi
  • Chess Education
  • Photo Gallery
  • About Chess
  • FAQ
  • Donations Welcome
  • Dave Ross
  • Chess in Black History
  • Hall of Champions

Chess Across Mississippi

The Magnolia State has a rich Chess tradition and growing participation

From state associations to local clubs - more people are finding fun and adventure in the game in nearly all corners of Mississippi

Mississippi Chess Association (MCA)

The Mississippi Chess Association has existed since at least the 1950s to organize the State Championship each year. In 1973 it became more formal with annual dues and a chess publication about five or six times a year. The organization, in return for requiring MCA membership from all state players at tournaments held be local clubs, would publicize events beforehand and print games and the cross tables from them afterwards. 


When active tournament directors were elected officers (Steve Perry and Jimmy Hughes) around 1985, the MCA started organizing nearly every rated tournament in the state.


In 1980 the Jackson Optimist Club started holding annual chess tournaments for high school and junior high students--tournaments at the elementary level were started in 1985. The MCA designated the winner of this event as the Mississippi High School Champion until 1988 when the Optimist Club limited the scope of its annual event to students in the Greater Jackson area, the MCA started running scholastic events. The Optimist Club ran its last tournament in 1992 when the chess chairman, Warren Porter, returned to college for a degree.


Dues are $10 annually, usually paid in October around the time of the state tournament.  The MCA asks tournament organizers to require players from Mississippi to join or be members of the MCA in return for helping promote their events and publicizing the results afterwards.


At the 2022 annual business meeting of the MCA membership, Chris Allen Baker of the Scott County Chess Club was elected to the organization's Board of Directors for a two-year term. Following that meeting, Baker was elected vice-president by board members.   

Additional Information

While we will publicize Mississippi Chess Association events and other information, we encourage everyone to visit their website by clicking the button at the right. Then come back to keep reading what we have going here.

Find out more

Quick Glance Upcoming Events

October 8 - Chess League - Round 9

Food Court - Outlets of Mississippi, Pearl - See Below for more details

October 21-22 - Mississippi State Chess Championship

CSpire Headquarters - Ridgeland - See Below for more details

Current, Upcoming, or Ongoing Events

Sunday Chess League

MS State Chess Championship

MS State Chess Championship

The Capital City Chess Club 

hosts a year long Chess league tournament   


12 rounds with one round per month; 

No elimination; Swiss format

Game Control 90+30

Sections: Open and U1400

Must have active USCF Membership  

 

Entry Fee $40

 

Games are to be held on the SECOND Sunday of the Month at 2 pm at the Outlet Mall Food Court in Pearl or at Dogmud Tavern in Ridgeland as long as an approved tournament director (T.D.) is present. 


Find out more

MS State Chess Championship

MS State Chess Championship

MS State Chess Championship

Mississippi Chess Association

will host the state championship tournament

Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 21-22

CSpire Corporate Headquarters

1000 Highland Colony Parkway

Ridgeland, MS 39157

** Tournament is now OPEN to all players regardless of residency **

*Only MS residents may win titles/trophies


Entry fee $55 due by Oct. 7 - includes annual MCA dues (adults); Junior entries (Under 18) $45 and do not include MCA dues

After Oct. 7 all entries increase by $20  

  

5 rounds; Swiss format 

Two Sections: Open and U1500  

Check in and Registration BEFORE 8:30 Sat.; 

Rnd. 1 at 9 a.m.; Rnd. 2 @ 2 p.m.  G/60+30

G/90+30 - Rnd. 3 @ 6 p.m.; Sun. 9 & 2:30 

Find out more

Nationally recognized Chess

Nationally recognized Chess

Nationally recognized Chess

The Franklin Chess Center in Meadville is a privately funded enterprise of the  Southwest Mississippi Chess Foundation. The Center has been featured on the CBS national news program "60 Minutes" and has introduced over 150 children to the game of Chess. 

They have continuous activities through the year and compete on the state and national levels.  

Find out more

Just for Kids

Nationally recognized Chess

Nationally recognized Chess

The Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association  is a registered non-profit corporation dedicated to:   

  • Encouraging the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and for enjoyment, but also as a means for the improvement of our society. 
  • Supporting the development of local chess clubs and regional associations; informs, educates, and fosters the development of players and potential players.
  • Promoting chess in Mississippi schools as a means of improving the problem-solving and critical thinking skills of our children.

Find out more

Past Events across the State

Mississippi Action Tournament

Mississippi Chess Association 

hosted this tournament

Saturday, Sept. 23

Franklin Chess Center

63 Main Street, Meadville, MS 39653


G30 +30; 4 rounds, 4 sections 

Open, U1600, U1200, U800  

unrated - no prize except in Open and U1600

75% of entry fees returned as prizes

Pawns n Pajamas

Partnership Showdown

Battle By the Beach

  Mississippi Children's Museum

hosted tournament

Saturday, Sept. 15

2145 Museum Blvd., Jackson, MS

Players were encouraged to attend 

and play in pajamas!!

 

G10 + 3; 4 rounds, No eliminations 

K-3 grade, K5, K8, K12 - UNRATED  

Battle By the Beach

Partnership Showdown

Battle By the Beach

  MS Coast and Gulf Coast Chess Clubs

hosted adult and scholastic tournaments

Saturday, Sept. 9

Long Beach, MS

USM Gulf Coast Campus 


The tournament featured sections 

for adults and students in all grade levels

Partnership Showdown

Partnership Showdown

Partnership Showdown

  Capital City Chess Club 

hosted a Partner Showdown Tournament

Saturday, August 12. 

Outlets of Mississippi Food Court, Pearl MS


The tournament featured a two-person team fixed roster; 4 rounds Swiss; G/45+5


Sections: Open and U1000 (USCF rated)


Summer Chess Camps

Chess @ Children's Museums

Partnership Showdown

  Two summer chess camps for kids was held at Dogmud Tavern, in Ridgeland.Both camps were huge successes 

weeks of June 12-15 & July 10-13

The events also included tournaments 

for the general public.


Thank you everyone for participating and thank you Beth Thrasher for hosting 

Remembering JKennethon

Chess @ Children's Museums

Chess @ Children's Museums

The J'Kennethon Smith Sacrifice 

Memorial Chess Tournament 

was held on Saturday, July 8, 

at the  Outlets of Mississippi

Mall Food Court 


There was a great turnout of players who supported the tournament and honored the memory of J'Kennethon. An avid chess player in Jackson, he was killed in an accident while saving the life of a family member., making the ultimate sacrifice.     


This will become an annual event. 


Chess @ Children's Museums

Chess @ Children's Museums

Chess @ Children's Museums

The Mississippi Children's Museums 

hosted two Scholastic Chess Tournaments in April at two locations - Meridian (April 15)  and Jackson (April 22).


Both locations saw great turnouts including 92 players in Meridian and 118 in Jackson.



MSCA Girls State Championship

MSCA Girls State Championship

MSCA Girls State Championship

The Mississippi Girls State Chess Championship is set for Saturday, March 25 Jackson Prep school in

The Mississippi Girls State Chess Championship was held March 25, at Jackson Prep school in Flowood. 

Friendship Oak Classic

MSCA Girls State Championship

MSCA Girls State Championship

The Mississippi Coast Chess Club hosted its Friendship Oak Classic tournament on Feb. 25 for all ages at USM Gulf Coast Campus in Long Beach.

They had a great turnout - 

Congrats to our chess friends on the coast! 

Outlet Special/ Summer Kickoff

MSCA Girls State Championship

Outlet Special/ Summer Kickoff

The Capital City Chess Club hosted  tournaments on Feb. 11 and May 13 

in the Food Court, Outlets of Miss., Pearl. 

Each tournament attracted huge turnouts from across the state.

St. Augustine Spring Chess

St. Augustine Spring Chess

Outlet Special/ Summer Kickoff

A spring tournament for all ages was held Feb. 18 in Ridgeland. This is a popular venue and has been attended by more than 100 players.   

MSCA Events at a Glance

St. Augustine Spring Chess

MSCA Events at a Glance

The Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association  hosts a number of events annually at approximately the same time of the year.

Here are some of the past events.  

See calendar list above for upcoming events.


Jan. 14/15 - MS Individual Scholastic Chess Championships - CSpire, Ridgeland

More than 80 students from schools across Mississippi participated in an exciting battle for opportunities to represent the state on the national level.  


Jan. 28 - The MSCA hosted a tournament for all ages at Meridian High School's Library; scholastic divisions as well as U800 an Open for USCF rated games. 


Feb. 4 - The University of Mississippi partnered with MSCA to host a scholastic tournament. 


March 4 - The MSCA hosted a scholastic team tournament at St. Andrews Episcopal School. 

Chess Clubs Across Mississippi

Scott County Chess Club

FOREST - Meets the first Saturday of each month from 9 until 11 a.m. at the Forest Public Library, 210 S. Raleigh Street. 

Capital City Chess Club

PEARL - Meets Tuesdays from 5:30 until 8 p.m. at the Food Court of the Outlet Mall, 200 Bass Pro Drive. 

Monthly Sunday Chess Club

RIDGELAND - Meets first Sundays of month from 2 until 7 p.m. at Van's Comics, Cards, and Games, 731 S. Pear Orchard Rd. #1. 

Vicksburg Chess Club

VICKSBURG - Meets Thursdays from 6 until 8 p.m. at Newk's Eatery, 3403 Pemberton Square Blvd. 

Stone County Chess Club - ** NEW CLUB!

WIGGINS - Meets Wednesdays from 4:30 until 6:30 p.m. at Pizza Inn, 530 West Central Ave., Wiggins, MS 39577 (will be added to state map at later time)

Mississippi Coast Chess Club

GULFPORT - Meets Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Newk's, 10381 Old Highway 49. 

Oxford Chess Club

OXFORD - Meets Tuesdays from 6 until 9 p.m. at The Growler, 265 North Lamar Ave. Unit Y.

Picayune Chess Club

PICAYUNE - Meets Mondays from 6 until 9 p.m. at IHOP, 500 South Lofton. 

Hernando Chess Club

HERNANDO - Meets Saturdays from 2 until 5 or 6 p.m. in the lobby of Hampton Inn, 2675 McIngvale Rd. 

Other Presence

There is also an organized chess presence in Tupelo, at Miss. State University, St. Andrew Episcopal School, Jackson Prep School, Jackson, Ridgeland, and Franklin County.

Let Us Know!!

The list of clubs around Mississippi was taken from information available on the MCA web site, Facebook pages, and general familiarity of their operations. If any details need to be changed, new clubs added, or any removed, please let us know as soon as possible.   

Contact Us

Introduce Chess in your area

We can help you establish a chess presence in your area.

The best way to keep our game growing is to invite everyone to participate. Our founders started the Scott County Chess Club because they wanted to share the joy and experience of the game. We have kept chess education efforts going with teaching the game to Boy Scouts to help them earn the chess merit badge. Using that experience as a teaching framework, we have taught the game in other communities when invited. 


We will be constantly refining our technique and adding resources here on our site so please keep checking for more information. If you want to develop a chess presence in your community, let us know and we will offer whatever assistance we can provide. 

Learn more

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