Chess Across Mississippi

Dogmud Tavern, Ridgeland

Nissan Training Center, Canton

Ambition Preparatory School, Jackson

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

FLOWOOD - Meets Tuesdays from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. at Schlotzky's restaurant  2451 Lakeland Dr.

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

MEADVILLE - privately funded chess education center. See below for more information. 

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)

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

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

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

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

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

More than 70 players gathered at St. Augustine School in Ridgeland to compete in rated and unrated sections for adults, youth, and children. Meanwhile players met at Delta State University in Cleveland for a scholastic jamboree and adult competition.

More than 50 players gathered at the CSpire Headquarters in Ridgeland to determine the best players in the state. Sections included Open, U1500, and U1000. The tournament weekend also included the MCA annual business meeting.

The MCA returned to the Mississippi State Fair at the Trade Mart in Jackson to provide the public a chance to see chess up close and ask questions about the game. Two players participated in a Blitz tournament and received complimentary U.S Chess Federation membership/renewal as prizes. 

 Our Chess kids have been busy this year. These events have been held in the fall 2024 all over the state: October 5 - Southwest Mississippi Chess Jamboree, Meadville; Oct. 12 - Kemper County Tournament, DeKalb; Oct. 26 - Eagle Chess Challenge, Pascagoula; 

The Mississippi Chess Association hosted its first ever Women's State Championship  

at the Nissan Training Center in Canton. The event attracted nine players for four Swiss rounds using a time control of G/45 + 15 increments. Three sections were available: Open, Reserve (U600), Under age 12.

Two chess camps for kids and two tournaments for everyone were held at Dogmud Tavern in Ridgeland. One camp was held in June and the other in late July where kids could receive instruction and improve their skills. Each camp concluded with a tournament where participants included campers and any players from outside the camps.  

The Mississippi Chess Association Team Championship was held at Jackson Preparatory School in  Flowood. More than 10 teams competed in two sections including Open and Reserve (U1300). The tournament included 3 Swiss rounds G/60 + 15i.  

The second annual J'Kennethon Memorial Tournament was held at the food court of the Outlets of Mississippi mall in Pearl. The tournament included four Swiss rounds of G/45+5 with three sections - Open, U1000, and U600; with a mixed doubles section.  

** J’Kennethon Smith died on July 9, 2022, after being struck by a vehicle protecting a cousin by pushing her out of harm’s way. Smith was a top academic student, athlete, and a chess player who taught chess to younger children. Profit from this event goes to providing clocks to scholastic chess programs in disadvantaged districts. 

The Mississippi Chess Association hosted its G/60 tournament at Jackson Prep school in Flowood. The event included four Swiss rounds with sections: Open, Reserve (U1300), Amateur (U800), K-5, & K-3.  

St. Augustine School in Ridegland hosted its spring tournament where adults, youth, children were welcome from all schools, homeschool, all levels, grades; rated and unrated games.  

The Capital City Chess Club hosted an opportunity for players to learn from International Master Dave Ross at the Food Court, Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl. On the first day, 12 players faced Ross in simultaneous games. On the second day, seven players faced Ross simultaneously on a 45 minute clock. After the games, Ross provided lessons with evaluations of the players' performances. For more information about Dave Ross, click HERE. 

The Scott County Chess Club hosted its third Bienville Chess Classic at Roosevelt State Park in Morton where 58 players from across Mississippi competed in a 4-round Swiss tournament using G/45+5 including sections Open, U1200, U800, and U400.  

The Capital City Chess Club hosted a Partner Chess Tournament at the Food Court, 

Outlets of Mississippi in Pearl. The event included 4 rounds Swiss format with G/45+5

The Mississippi Chess Association hosted the 2024 Senior Chess Championship at Nissan in Canton. The tournament was open only to all players ages 50 and above as of July 27, 2023. The tournament included four Swiss rounds with G/90+30. The winner represents Mississippi at national level. 

The Capital City Chess Club hosted a March Madness tournament at the Food Court, Outlet Mall  of Mississippi in Pearl. More than 50 players participated in the four round Swiss event. 

 Our Chess kids have been busy this year. These events have been held since January 2024 all over the state: Jan. 27 - MSCA Bughouse Championships, Jackson; Feb. 3 - Ole Miss Chess Tournament, Oxford; Feb. 17 - MS Scholastic Girls State Championship, Flowood; Feb. 24 - Kemper County Chess Tournament, Scooba; March 2 - Holmes County Chess Tournament,   Goodman; March 9 - MSCA Individual/Team Cup, Starkville; March 15 - Knights at Museum, Jackson; March 23 - MS Scholastic Team State Championship, Ridgeland. 

The Scott County Chess Club held its third annual Roosevelt Chess Classic featuring individual and team action. The tournament included 4 Swiss rounds with G/45+5 and sections including Open, U1200, and U800. Prizes included cash, trophies, and medals. 

The Mississippi Chess Association hosted the 2-day state championship tournament at CSpire Corporate Headquarters in Ridgeland. The tournament was open to all players, residents and non-residents of Mississippi. Five Swiss rounds included G/60+30 for first two rounds and G/90+30 for remaining three rounds.   

The Mississippi Children's Museum hosted the chess tournament tournament in Jackson whereas players were encouraged to attend and play in pajamas. The event used G/10 + 3 in four Swiss rounds and sections included K-3 grade, K5, K8, K12 - UNRATED.   

Mississippi Coast and Gulf Coast Chess Clubs hosted adult and scholastic tournaments on the USM Gulf Coast Campus in Long Beach. The tournament featured sections for adults and students in all grade levels.

The Capital City Chess Club hosted a Partner Showdown Tournament at the Outlets of Mississippi Food Court in Pearl. The tournament featured a two-person team fixed roster; 4 rounds Swiss; G/45+5; sections: Open and U1000 (USCF rated) 

Two summer chess camps for kids were held at Dogmud Tavern, in Ridgeland during the weeks of weeks of June 12-15 & July 10-13. The events also included tournaments for the general public.

The J'Kennethon Smith Sacrifice Memorial Chess Tournament was held at the  Outlets of Mississippi Food Court in Pearl. There was a great turnout of players who supported the tournament. An avid chess player in Jackson, Smith was killed in an accident while saving the life of a family member. This became an annual event. 

The Mississippi Children's Museums hosted two Scholastic Chess Tournaments at two locations - Meridian (April 15)  and Jackson (April 22). Both locations saw great turnouts including 92 players in Meridian and 118 in Jackson. 

NO JOKE! The Scott County Chess Club held its second Bienville Chess Classic at the Alfreda-Harris Lodge at Roosevelt State Park in Morton. The event featured four Swiss rounds using G/45+5 among three sections: Open, U1200, U800.   

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

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

The Mississippi Scholastic Chess Association  hosts a number of events annually at approximately the same time of the year. Here are some of the events for 2023.
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.