Are you a Chess player in Arizona? If so, you’re in the right place. Here’s what we’ll cover in this article.
- Chess in Arizona
- How Many Chess Players Are There In Arizona
- Grandmasters In Arizona
- Arizona Chess Clubs
- Arizona Chess Tournaments
- Arizona Chess Shops
- Conclusion
Chess is one of the oldest games in human civilization; it is also one of the most revered, if not cherished, with some people adoring it as a form of art while others see it as a sport. The game has survived tremendous wars and revolutions and managed to maintain its popularity for centuries.
Today, chess is available to everyone in the world, with communities in every country congregating to play chess together. In this article, we’ll look in depth to the chess opportunities and stats surrounding the great state of Arizona.
Chess in Arizona
Chess was first represented in Arizona during the mid-19th century. The state has a small number of chess players, with the most prevalent club being the Mesa Association of Chess (MAC). The Mesa Association of Chess is a private, non-profit organization and the members who belong to it range from 3rd graders all the way to seniors.
Perhaps more importantly, they also aim to promote chess play by sharing their knowledge with people in local schools and coffee shops.
How Many Chess Players Are There In Arizona
There’s no accurate records for the exact number of chess players in Arizona. However, there are multiple chess tournaments that take place, which attract hundreds of novice and expert chess players each and every year.
Grandmasters In Arizona
There are only three chess grandmasters from Arizona, which includes:
- Daniel Rensch (FIDE: 2402)
- Alejandro Ramirez (FIDE: 2567)
- Levon Altounian (FIDE: 2539)
Arizona Chess Clubs
Arizona Chess Central is a non profit organization that facilities Arizona chess tournaments and youth outreach and training. Some of the events that they take part in include the Arizona state chess championships; they also hold monthly meetings where players can learn about tactics, openings, and strategy.
East Valley Chess Club is another chess group based out of Scottsdale, Arizona, which also has its own Facebook group as an online community. EVCC holds chess tournaments and chess club meetings, which allow people of all ages, gender, and cultural backgrounds to get together and learn about chess.
Arizona Chess Tournaments
The primary place to find chess tournaments in Arizona is through Arizona Chess Central, which currently offers online tournaments on a weekly basis, consisting of blitz games and CrazyHouse style games.
Blitz chess tournaments are short-term tournaments that are played over the course of a weekend, while Crazyhouse chess tournaments are similar to blitz games, except they play out over the course of a couple of months. These tournaments are all ages, but cater to adults and advanced teen players.
Another popular place to find Arizona chess tournaments is through metro Phoenix schools. These schools offer programs and workshops for players aged 3rd grade and up, where they teach people the ins and outs of the game.
Arizona Chess Shops
There are a couple of chess stores in Arizona. One of them is located in Mesa, Arizona and is locally owned and operated.
The shop offers computers and boards for players to use, as well as chess sets, books on chess strategy, and more. It is called GamesU.
Another store that you can visit to learn about chess is Cuddles, which uses state-of-the-art technology to provide players with quality sets as well as instructional resources. This is a hobbyist store located outside of Wildsong, Arizona.
Conclusion
Arizona chess players, like their counterparts in other states, can find a variety of tournaments to play in throughout the year. Players who are new to the game can learn from experts at Arizona chess schools and clubs.
Chess enthusiasts can also find various online opportunities to play chess through Kansas City Chess, with many people taking part in online games on a regular basis. This is one of the best ways for advanced players to sharpen their skills and build their knowledge on tactics, strategy, and attacks.
These days, one of the best places to start is by following local chess organizations on social media, and searching for local Game stores or game groups on Facebook. Most major city areas will have groups online where people can organize meet ups and talk strategy, and even organize their own tournaments.
I hope this post on Arizona Chess helped you. If you liked this post, you might also be interested in reading more about Chess in the United States or a specific state like Texas or California.