Spirit Lake Chess Open — CDA Chess Club ♟ CDA Chess Club — Tournament Report Erickson Reigns at the Spirit Lake Chess Open Tuesday, April 21, 2026  ·  Spirit Lake, Idaho  ·  16 Players  ·  4 Rounds Kenneth Erickson swept the field with a perfect score as players from across the Inland Northwest converged on Spirit Lake for a day of sharp chess, community competition, and a few surprises along the way. ♟ The tournament hall buzzes with concentration during the early rounds — pairings visible on the projector screen above. Clear First: Kenneth Erickson There was no ambiguity at the top of the standings. Kenneth Erickson of CDAChessClub claimed sole first place with a perfect 4.0 score, winning all four of his rounds. Entering the tournament as the highest-rated player in the field at 1926 — and leaving with a nudge up to 1936 — Erickson's dominance was as expected as it was impressive. He left ...

  As the gentle spring rains wash away the last remnants of winter, it is the perfect time to gather indoors for a fantastic evening of strategy and fun. The rhythmic pitter-patter of raindrops provides the ultimate background music for a cozy, competitive night at the board. We are thrilled to announce our upcoming April Showers Chess Tournament! Whether you are a seasoned local champion or someone who just learned how the knight moves, this event is designed entirely with you in mind. Grab your umbrella, bring your enthusiasm, and get ready to enjoy a fantastic night of friendly competition. Everything You Need to Know Clear your schedules and get ready for an engaging evening. Here are the essential details for our spring gathering: Date: April 27th Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Riverstone McDonald's Hosting the event at the Riverstone McDonald's means you can enjoy your favorite snacks and drinks right at your table. The relaxed, familiar atmosphere takes the pressure off, m...

  The final moves have been played, and our Spring Awakening tournament has officially concluded! Over the last few weeks, we saw fantastic games, great sportsmanship, and a wonderful turnout from players of all skill levels. Final Tournament Results The final rounds on April 20th brought plenty of excitement to the boards. Let's celebrate our top finishers: 1st Place (The Golden Tulip): Ken secured a flawless victory, taking home the honorary title with a perfect 6/6 score. 2nd Place: Carlie fought hard and played brilliantly to finish with an impressive 5 points. 3rd Place: Eric rounded out the top three, putting up a strong fight to finish with 4.5 points. Growing Our Community We always love seeing our club grow. Please give a warm welcome to David and Mike, who joined us for their very first club encounter this week. Both players showed great enthusiasm at the boards and will be fantastic additions to our community. Good Luck at State! We want to send our best wishes to Car...

  The CDA Chess Club proudly celebrates the success of our premier spring event: the March of the Masters tournament! Over three thrilling weeks, our club was alive with competition, camaraderie, and the spirit of strategic mastery. This tournament was more than just a series of games—it was a showcase of the dedication, creativity, and skill that make our chess community so exceptional. Whether you were a seasoned competitor seeking to perfect your tactics or a first-time participant excited to join the fray, this event brought together players of all levels for a journey of growth and memorable competition. Tournament Format and Structure Designed for fairness and excitement, the March of the Masters featured a Swiss system format that allowed all participants to compete in every round, regardless of their win-loss record. Players faced a variety of opponents, building momentum and adapting strategies through each stage—a true test of resilience and chess acumen. Schedule and Ke...

As February draws to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us for the Heart of the Game tournament. This month’s event was truly special, with a wonderful mix of familiar faces and new members all coming together to celebrate the love of chess. Final Results We had a fantastic turnout, with 19 players participating throughout the tournament, including several we haven’t seen in a while and several new competitors. Congratulations to Ken and Eric, who both finished strong with 5 points—Eric clinched a memorable win over Ken in the final round! Marty and Deon both ended with 4 points, while Anakin closed out the tournament with 3. A special shout-out to Carlie, who earned our "rising star" award this month by improving her rating by an impressive 124 points over the last three months. Well done, Carlie! Thank you to each and every participant for your enthusiasm and sportsmanship—it’s your presence and energy that make our club so vibrant and we...

  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...