Are you a chess player or chess enthusiast in the state of Illinois? It is your time to find out more about chess in Illinois. This article will guide you through important information about Chess in Illinois and helpful player resource.
Chess in Illinois
Chess is being embraced by many across the USA and with many emerging players. Illinois is no exemption, with the sport gaining great popularity like never before. Many schools and institutions across Illinois have introduced chess clubs for interested students and those willing to be professional chess players. Examples of such schools are Illinois High School, University of Illinois, Joliet Junior College, and many others.
With the rising interest in chess across Illinois, it is common to find people across various Chess clubs in the state playing chess. Tournaments are mushrooming across the state, not only in quantity but also in the quality and competitiveness the matches offer. Under the guidance of the Illinois Chess Association, chess championships around the state are gaining popularity not only in Illinois but across the US.
Illinois Chess players
Illinois has seen a rise in the number of players playing chess across the state. As of 2022, the state had more than 400 chess players across various categories recognized by the Illinois Chess Association. Though the numbers are yet to be official on the exact number of chess players in the state, the number is expected to rise with new and old clubs eager to recruit upcoming players from junior levels. The Illinois Chess Association is introducing new tournaments that are also attracting many players who are willing to participate.
Grandmasters in Illinois
The title of the Grandmaster in chess is the most prestigious, with many chess players aiming to gain the status of a Grandmaster. Eric Rosen is one of the notable chess players from Illinois. Though he has yet to achieve the Grandmaster status, he has had a prolific chess career. The player has won both the FIDE Master title and the FIDE International title in 2011 and 2015, respectively. In 2013 and 2014, He was also part of the Illinois University chess team participating in the President’s cup.
The Illinois Chess Association offers an affiliate program with various coaches who provide training and classes to chess players across the state. Some notable coaches are Grandmaster Mesgen Amanov and Boris Avrukh, a Co-Champion in the 2014 Midwest Class.
Illinois chess clubs
Illinois offers a variety of chess clubs ranging from professional and university and college chess clubs to those in high schools and junior schools.
The famous chess clubs in Illinois are The Illinois Chess Vets (ICV), managed by veteran and former chess players from Illinois.
Galesburg Gambit Chess club is also famous in Illinois, with one of the highest memberships across Illinois. At the same time, Illinois Chess Club is also known across the state, offering many benefits to its members.
Other chess clubs include;
- Illinois Wesleyan University Chess Club
- St. Charles Chess Club of Illinois
- Chicago Chess Centre
- Lincoln Square Chess club
Illinois Chess Tournaments
The state offers various chess tournaments, with the majority under the Illinois Chess Association. Illinois has both scholastic games and open tournaments. The prevalence of open tournaments in the state is only eligible for adult chess players. Younger chess players are restricted at the open tournaments but can be available if they have rating restrictions or if the tournaments are invitational.
Some open tournaments are:
- Midwest Chess Congress
- Springfield Open
- Annual Chicago Class
- Annual Chicago Class Blitz
- Quad-Cities Summer Open
- Minnesota International Chess Festival
- Evanston Bi-Level
- Quad Cities Chess open
The scholastic chess tournaments are also available in Illinois. They are open to chess players in the K-8 grades but might include a few participants from the K-12 sections or grades. The United States Chess Federation rates all the tournaments under this category, and all participants are expected to present their United States Chess Federation Accreditation to participate.
Some tournaments under the scholastic category include;
- Summer Scholastic
- Scholastic Team Tournament
- CPS High School Championship
- CPS Elementary School playoffs
- CPS Elementary School Championship
- KCF All-Girls National Championships
- Pan – American Youth Chess Festival.
Other tournaments are also played online, such as the Online Countrywide Rapid Scholastics – US Chess Online Rated, Online Classical Scholastic – US Chess Online Rated, and the Online Rapid Scholastic Challenge – US Chess Online Rated.
Illinois Chess Shops
You can easily find chess shops across Illinois. While some might include other sports, some are exclusively for chess resources which are crucial for any chess player to prosper. One of the famous Chess shops is the It’s good to be King Chess shop specializes in chess. Other shops are;
Chess groups
It is easier to link up with various chess groups in Illinois through social media platforms like Facebook or the various chess clubs in Illinois, as discussed in the segment of chess clubs in Illinois. Popular chess Facebook pages related to Illinois are;
- Chicago Area Chess
- The Illinois Chess Association
- Southern Illinois Chess
- The Illinois Chess Association
- Illini Chess Club
User Twitters can access various Illinois groups too and get to link up with them on various matters concerning chess.
Illinois Chess Association
ICA is the governing body of chess in Illinois. It is affiliated with the governing body of chess in the United State Chess Federation (USCF). The association is responsible for promoting chess education through junior, interscholastic, adult, and team events. It is also responsible for organizing and overseeing the progress of chess tournaments in Illinois. Chess in Illinois is expected to grow further in the coming years as it is slowly becoming a force to reckon with across the US. I hope this article will equip you with information about chess in Illinois.
Further Resources
- The Illinois Chess Coaches Association
- United States Chess Federation
- Illinois Chess Association
- Free Internet Chess Server
I hope this Illinois Chess guide helped you, you might also be interested in reading more about Chess in the United States or a specific state like Rhode Island or Delaware.
