CDA Chess Club News

  Passion, strategy, and the shared love for chess bring us together. This February, we are thrilled to announce a special tournament series celebrating the core of what makes this game so captivating: the "Heart of the Game." This isn't just about winning; it's about the passion that drives every move, the camaraderie built over the 64 squares, and the pure joy of the game. Join us for a three-part series designed for every chess enthusiast, from seasoned veterans to those making their very first move in a tournament setting. What is the "Heart of the Game" Tournament? The Heart of the Game tournament is a three-week series held on the first three Mondays in February. It's designed to bring our community together to celebrate our shared passion. We're focusing on sportsmanship, learning, and the love of chess. Whether you are driven by the thrill of competition or the desire to connect with fellow players, this event has a place for you. We believe ...

  The holiday decorations are coming down, the resolutions are written, and the chessboard is calling. There is something uniquely refreshing about flipping the calendar page. It’s a blank score sheet, waiting for your next brilliant combination. We are thrilled to have kicked off 2026 with our first major event: the "New Year, New Moves" January Club Tournament . This wasn't just another monthly meet-up. It was a chance to shake off the rust, try out that risky opening you studied over the break, and set the tone for a fantastic year of chess. Whether you’re a seasoned grandmaster in the making or just learned how the knight moves last week, this tournament was built for everyone. Why "New Year, New Moves"? We chose this theme because January is the perfect time for experimentation. Too often, we get stuck in our comfort zones and miss out on growth. With this tournament, we encouraged boldness—whether it was playing more aggressively, finally trying the Sicili...

  The Knights Before Christmas Tournament has officially come to a close, and what an incredible event it has been! Over the course of three exciting Mondays, we saw 24 players come together to celebrate the holiday season with competitive and fun chess matches. Congratulations to our top players 1st Place: Ken (6 points) 2nd Place: Eric (5 points) 3rd Place: Carlie (4 points) A huge thank you to everyone who participated and brought their holiday spirit and good sportsmanship to the tournament. ​ Whether you were a seasoned player or a beginner, your enthusiasm and love for the game made this event truly special. ​ As we wrap up 2025, we are already looking forward to kicking off the new year with our next event: "New Year, New Moves: Kickstart 2026 with Our January Tournament." Mark your calendars—this exciting tournament begins on January 12th ! Thank you for making this December one to remember. ​ We can’t wait to see you in January for more chess, community, and fun!...

As the last chess pieces were put away and the final handshakes were exchanged, our November "Turkey Shoot" Tournament came to a close. The event was a wonderful celebration of community, strategy, and the spirit of Thanksgiving. Throughout the month, we saw exciting matches, welcomed new friends, and shared in our collective passion for the game. Thank you to everyone who made this tournament memorable. With 23 players participating, the atmosphere at Riverstone McDonald's was filled with friendly competition. It was fantastic to see both familiar faces and new members joining the fun. Now, let's look at the final results and see who carved out a victory. Final Standings: Congratulations to Our Winners! The competition was close, but one player demonstrated remarkable consistency and skill to climb to the top. A huge congratulations to Ken Erickson for securing the top spot in this month's tournament! His victory is a testament to his dedication and improvement....

The CDA Chess Oktoberfest Tournament wrapped up with an unforgettable final night on October 20, capping off three weeks of spirited competition and community growth. Over the course of the tournament, 36 players participated, making this one of our biggest events yet! Final Results Ken delivered a commanding performance, finishing undefeated with a perfect 6-0 record and claiming first place. Richard secured second with 4.5 points, while both Andrew and Eric finished strong with 4 wins each. Ken’s stellar play deserves special mention—not only did he win all six games in the Oktoberfest event, but he has now won his first 10 club matches and boosted his rating by an incredible 172 points. Community Milestones Our club continues to thrive! This month, we welcomed several new members: Andy, Will, Sam, Luphian, and Andrew P. With these additions, our total active membership now stands at 57, the highest in recent memory. It’s been fantastic to see so many fresh faces at the boards and so...

  Our September "Legends & Learners: A Chess Duel" has come to a thrilling conclusion. Over the past few weeks, we've witnessed intense battles, celebrated returning players, and watched new members make their mark. The tournament was a fantastic display of skill and community, highlighting the passion that drives our club. Let's look at the final results and celebrate our champions. Legends Section: A Tie at the Top The competition in the Legends section was fierce from start to finish. With 16 skilled players vying for the top spot, every game was a hard-fought contest. The final evening saw most players splitting their matches, a true testament to how closely matched the competition has become. When the dust settled, two players stood tall. Congratulations to Ken and Eric , who finished the tournament with an impressive four wins each, tying for first place! Their consistent performance and strategic skill throughout the month earned them this well-deserved vic...

The Knights of Summer Chess Tournament reached an incredible conclusion on Monday, August 25 —and what a night it was! We welcomed our largest field in club history, with 32 players taking part over the three-week tournament. A special welcome to new members Todd, Grace, and Anakin, who all joined us for the first time at the finale. Tournament Results Our overall champion for August was Andrew, who claimed victory with a perfect score of 6 straight wins. Richard finished close behind with 5 points, followed by Emerson with 4 points. Congratulations to everyone who competed and made this tournament so memorable! We also want to highlight our two "most improved" players: Travis Miller, who gained an impressive 116 rating points, and Richard Ford, who improved by 110 points. And a special shout out to Andrew, who now tops our club ladder with a new rating of 1591! What's Next? Next Monday is Labor Day, so we'll be hosting a casual "open house" session. Come b...

  What a night! Our International Chess Day Blitz tournament brought 14 aggressive players together for some seriously intense 5-minute games, and the competition was nothing short of electrifying. 🎉 Congratulations to Emerson Schwartz , who claimed the top spot with an impressive 4.5 out of 5 points . Emerson credited his countless hours of online games for his success, and it showed! His path to victory included wins over Lee, Deon, Ken, and Andrew, along with a hard-fought draw with Matt. Truly an outstanding performance! 💪 A big welcome back to Ken Erickson, who returned to club activities and tied with Travis for second place , both scoring 4 points each . It’s great to see such a strong comeback in our club! 👏 Special recognition goes out to Alec Dorenkamp for jumping into the tournament at his very first meeting and scoring an impressive 3 points . We’re excited to have you as part of the club! This tournament proved once again how the competitive spirit and enthusiasm o...

The July All-American Chess Board Derby finished in style with two exciting final rounds on July 21, capping off a lively three-week competition. Despite a few regulars away, we were thrilled to welcome new players Lorenzo and Luke, who dove right into the action, and to see familiar faces like our old friend Cory back at the boards. In total, 18 players battled it out in the final week, bringing our overall participation to 20 for the month—an impressive turnout given the busy summer season. Final Standings: Derby Champions Crowned Advanced Section: Andrew claimed the coveted All-American title with 4.5 points out of 6, navigating a challenging field and earning the top spot. Travis was close behind with 4 points, while Emerson finished third with 3.5 points, both demonstrating exceptional skill and sportsmanship throughout the event. Intermediate Section: Greg emerged as our All-American after a fierce tie-breaker, edging out Victor and Lee, who all ended the tournament with...

  Our June 23rd “Bracket Busters” Chess Tournament at Riverstone McDonald’s was a smashing success! With over 20 players, including newcomers and returning faces, the atmosphere was electric with strategic moves and friendly competition. The venue was excited as players of all levels—seasoned strategists and eager learners alike—gathered to test their skills, share laughs, and enjoy McDonald’s classics. Highlights from the Competition: A Great Turnout: We were thrilled to welcome new players Sawyer and Ben, along with Travis, who joined us after his travels to Alaska. It was wonderful to see fresh faces alongside familiar ones, making this tournament a dynamic and diverse event. Intense Matches: The brackets paired players with their closest ladder rivals, resulting in some incredibly close games. Grant faced Deon and Andrew in the top bracket, with both matches ending in hard-fought draws. Meanwhile, Emerson and Richard delivered a truly memorable game in the second bracket, wi...