Weekday Events (EVERY WEEK):
5:15-6:05 p.m. Developmental Class (K-8)
6:15-7:05 p.m. Developmental Class (HS-Adult)
The Developmental Class is an engaging chess course tailored for both beginners and aspiring tournament players rated under 1000 USCF, focusing on building a strong foundation through progressive lessons on opening principles, tactical motifs like pins and forks, middlegame strategies, endgame essentials, and tournament preparation including time management and game analysis.
Appropriate for:
- Complete beginners
- Students who have only played chess at home
- Students who have not competed in a formal tournament
- Students who have competed in a tournament and are rated under 1000 USCF
- Free Casual Play
- $5 Unrated Tournament Wins US Chess Membership
- $5 Rated Tournament Wins Medal
- Best suited for K-12 youth players that are unrated or rated <1000.
- See Kid's Night details and registration.
- Players grouped into tournaments of 4 players based on US Chess rating
- $20 entry fee wins $40, $45 with perfect score
- Suitable for all rated players of any age.
- See Quad Night details and registration.
5:15-6:05 p.m. Developmental Class (K-8)
The Developmental Class is an engaging chess course tailored for both beginners and aspiring tournament players rated under 1000 USCF, focusing on building a strong foundation through progressive lessons on opening principles, tactical motifs like pins and forks, middlegame strategies, endgame essentials, and tournament preparation including time management and game analysis.
Appropriate for:
- Complete beginners
- Students who have only played chess at home
- Students who have not competed in a formal tournament
- Students who have competed in a tournament and are rated under 1000 USCF
Learn from one of South Carolina’s most accomplished players! National Master Mike Sailer is a 21-time State Champion with decades of competitive experience. Adults are invited to stay afterwards for free casual play!
Appropriate for all 1000+ rated players as well as aspiring adult chess players.
5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Main Meeting
- 5-530 p.m. Free Casual Play
- 530-630 p.m. $5 Blitz / Rapid Tournament
- 630-9 p.m. $5 Classical Tournament
- Suitable for all players of all ages, including unrated and rated. This is our main meeting, so chess is happening at all levels all evening--from new adults and new kids, to the most seasoned competition.
- See Main Meeting details and registration.
Weekend Events (PER SCHEDULE):
The Columbia Chess Club awards $1000 in guaranteed prizes every month as part of the Tunnelvision tournament series. The tournament boasts some of the state's strongest players in regular attendance. Come rub elbows with the best while still having a section suited to your experience level!
- 4-Round Swiss, G/45+5 (Dual Rated)
- Sections: Championship (1600+), U1600, U1000.
- Streamed live to Chess.com, Lichess.org and broadcast on Twitch.
- $1000 Guaranteed Prizes
- 10:30 a.m. start, runs until approximately 6:10 p.m.
The Columbia Chess Club organizes the Palmetto Scholastic Chess League (PSCL) during the school year as a regular monthly tournament series to encourage the organization of scholastic chess clubs and to promote scholastic competition throughout the state!
- 4-Round Swiss, G/10+5 (Quick Rated)
- Sections: High School, Middle School, Elementary School
- First-timers get US Chess membership with registration
- Team trophies, Individual trophies, and Superlative Awards
- 10:00 a.m. start, finishes at 12:15 p.m. with awards
Time Trouble is a recurring tournament on scheduled Saturday afternoons from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Time Trouble is formatted on an alternating schedule as either a Rapid G/10+5, 5-Round Swiss or a Blitz G/3+2, 6-Round Double Swiss, depending on the scheduled Saturday. $400 Prize Pool b/30.
The 2026 South Carolina Scholastic Championship
March 21, 2026
SC Scholastic Players Only
- Top 8 in High, Middle, Elementary, and Primary sections invited to State Finals on April 4, 2026.
- Top 3 Schools in each of High, Middle, and Elementary sections awarded team trophies based on the best 4 player scores.
Hosted at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201