Welcome

One of our signature major events is the Roosevelt Chess Classic which is held on a Saturday in November at Alfreda-Harris Lodge at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, Miss. It features individual and team participation whereas players can compete for prizes and bragging rights as well as strengthen their ratings. 

(Click HERE for information about the venue.) 

The tournament includes four rounds using the Swiss pairing system with game control time of 45 minutes with 5 second increment. All games are rated and players must use a clock and notation and have active membership in the U.S. Chess Federation. 

Individual players compete in four sections including Open, U1200, U800 and U400. 

Individual prizes include cash for first, second, and third place in the Open. Winners in the Open also receive a trophy for first place. and medals go to second and third places respectively. 

The U1200, U800, and U400 winners receive cash and trophies for first place and medals for second and third place. 

Players may also register as teams and the winning team receives medals and cash. Each team member plays in the section relative to their USCF rating. Team members' scores are combined for a composite score and the top 4 members receive prizes.

The tournament is named for the state park where it is held.    

To learn more about the Roosevelt Chess Classic and to register for the tournament, click the button at the right. 

We hosted the 4th annual Roosevelt Chess Classic on Nov. 9, 2024, and we had 75 players. Click the button at the right to view the results. 

Our other signature major event is the Bienville Chess Classic which is held in April at Alfreda-Harris Lodge at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, Miss. It features individuals only whereas players can compete for prizes and bragging rights as well as strengthen their ratings. 

(Click HERE  for information about the venue.)

The Bienville Classic includes four rounds using the Swiss pairing system with game control time of 45 minutes with 5 second increment.  

Individuals compete in four rated sections including Open, U1200, U800 and U400. 

All games are rated and players must use a clock and notation. 

Players must have active membership in the U.S. Chess Federation.

Prizes include cash for first, second, and third place in the Open. Winners in the Open also receive a plaque for first place and medals go to second and third places respectively. 

The U1200, U800, and U400 winners receive trophies (1st Place) and medals (2nd & 3rd).

If funds are available, first place winners may also receive cash prizes. 

* The plaque awarded to the grand champion in the Open section is named the Beverly Jo Rhodes Memorial Award in recognition of a former gifted teacher in Scott County who taught chess in local schools. (Click HERE for information about Mrs. Rhodes.)

This tournament is named for the Bienville National Forest which includes the state park where the tournament is held and covers most of Scott County. 

To learn more about the Bienville Chess Classic and to register for the tournament, click the button at the right. 

We hosted the 2nd annual Bienville Chess Classic on April 1, 2023. We had 57 registrations and 45 players. Click the button at the right to view the results. 

We launched our third tournament series on August 17, 2024, at Penn's Restaurant in Forest, Miss. It features rounds of Quick and Blitz games whereas players can get in some rated games in those styles of play and compete for cash prizes and strengthen their ratings. 

The Forest Chess Challenge includes five rounds of Quick games (G/15+3) followed by six rounds of Blitz (G/5+3) using the Swiss pairing system.  

Individuals compete in two rated sections including Open and U1000. 

All games are rated and notation is NOT required. 

Players must have active membership in the U.S. Chess Federation.

Prizes include first, second, and third place in both sections. 

This tournament is named for the City of Forest which is the county seat and base of operations for the Scott County Chess Club. 

To learn more about the Forest Chess Challenge and to register for the tournament, click the button at the right. 

Chess cannot grow without events to give players opportunities to participate and those events cannot happen without the experience and dedication of our Tournament Directors who make sure all competitions comply with U.S. Chess Federation rules and regulations. In most cases, tournament directors organize and host the events they supervise. 

The Scott County Chess Club recognizes and thanks the following Tournament Directors for their contributions and support for all our tournaments:

Chris Allen Baker - Chief Tournament Director

Beth Thrasher - Senior Assistant

Mark Nicholas - Senior Assistant

Douglas Stewart - Senior Assistant

Burks Allen Rives - Assistant

Will Tabor - Assistant

Anjanette Rassif - Assistant

Jay Mitchell - Assistant

The Scott County Chess Club is committed to providing a safe environment for all chess players. We will not tolerate any kind of physical, mental, emotional, verbal or any other kind of abuse directed at any person participating in any of our events. Any person found to be violating this policy will be ejected from the event. After due process, violators will be permanently banned from any future participation of events sponsored by the Scott County Chess Club. 

If necessary, violators will be reported to local law enforcement authorities. 

For more information about this policy, click HERE

Roosevelt State Park is an award-winning recreational destination that includes many amenities throughout the year. It is recognized as one of the best public parks in the state and in the country having received multiple national awards.

The park is conveniently located between Meridian and Jackson, Miss. The park offers an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities in a picturesque setting. The park's scenic overlook provides a panoramic view of the Bienville National Forest. The gently sloping landscape is particularly striking during the fall when the forest is bright with autumn colors. 

Alfreda-Harris Lodge offers a great venue for a Chess tournament with spacious rooms and amenities. To reach the Lodge when participating in our tournaments, take the park entrance (marked with highway signs - across from McDonalds/convenience store) off Highway 13 to the north of Exit 77 from Interstate 20. 

Follow the winding road, always staying to the right past the gatehouse and past the folllowing curves and a speed bump. The Lodge is on the left. It has a flag pole in front and the name is on the front of the building. Parking area is visible just beyond the Lodge.  

Many chess players are content to just play casually whenever an opportunity arises. This may include accepting a spontaneous invitation from a fellow chess player or attending a local chess club. However, there is another level to the game of chess - tournaments.

Tournaments are great ways to see how much progress a player is making in learning and growing in the game by discovering how they stack up against other players. It is also an opportunity to learn from other players in seeing a variety of strategies and styles of play. Like any other competitive activity, it is good to keep a healthy attitude and perspective, but playing in tournaments can reap many rewards. Remember, the #1 rule in Chess is to HAVE FUN! 

Some players enjoy just playing in a random tournament for fun and experiencing the opportunity to learn and grow. Other players are more competitive and really get into tournaments, seeking to win and advance as far as they can go. They may have aspirations for earning master, grandmaster status within the U.S. Chess Federation through their rating. It is up to each individual to determine what kind of chess life they wish to have.

In Mississippi, there are many opportunities to participate in tournaments. The Mississippi Chess Association sponsors a state tournament each fall for adults and youth. Youth may also participate in the annual scholastic tournaments. These events are precursors to representing the state on the national level at many events.

Tournaments usually include registration fees and players choose what sections they wish to participate in, based on their skill level as determined by their U.S. Chess Federation rating. Tournaments may also include team play where individual players' scores are combined and calculated for overall scores. Prizes may include cash, trophies, plaques, medals, ribbons, and certificates.