Author: Sarah Brauner

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Wednesday Blitz Night 11/12/25

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting a weekly blitz tournament on Wednesday evenings for players aged 14+ or younger players with mature ratings (1400+). 6:30-9:00. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 60 players

Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail
Austin, TX 78729

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
9 Round Swiss, one section, Time control: G/3;+2

RATING INFORMATION:
● November 2025 official USCF ratings will be used.
● Unofficial USCF ratings will be used if unrated or to play in a
higher section.
● Players must reveal foreign, FIDE, and other over-the-board
ratings. These ratings will be adjusted, if necessary, and may be
used if they are higher than USCF ratings.

TIME CONTROL & SCHEDULE:
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

One section: G/3;+2
●  1st round: 6:00 PM
●  2nd round: 6:15 PM
●  3rd round: 6:30 PM
●  4th round: 6:45 PM
●  5th round: 7:00 PM
●  6th round: 7:30 PM
●  7th round: 7:45 PM
●  8th round: 8:00 PM
●  9th round: 8:15 PM

The Closing ceremony for each will take place after the final round of that section.

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
● $20 online at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/wednesday-blitz-night-2025-nov-12/

For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES: $150, $100, $50

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance.  We reserve the right to charge a $5 service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins. 

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 

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2025 South Texas State Grade Championships

State Championship Event
UT Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville campus)
 – 

 

Event website:

https://www.utrgv.edu/chess/tournaments/2025-south-texas-state-grade-championships/

 

During the tournament, to improve the efficiency of mass communication, we will be using Telegram for the announcements. We recommend you installing it in advance.

The event will be played at the UTRGV Brownsville Campus. Precise building/location details to follow.

Chief Tournament Organizers: GM Bartek Macieja and LTD Colt Smith-Munoz

Chief Tournament Director: IA Louis Reed

Only Texas residents or students enrolled in secondary or primary schools (including home schools) in Texas may play in this event.

Current TCA membership is required. For most participants, “Junior Online” membership is most suitable. It costs $3 and allows them to participate in all Texas championships within a year without any additional payment to TCA.

USCF and TCA Memberships will not be processed by the organizers.

There will be 13 sections (one for each grade) and students will only play opponents in their grade, unless otherwise specified. Winners in each grade will be declared the State Champion of their respective grade throughout all of South Texas.

Grades:

  • Kindergarten (includes Pre-K)
  • 1st Grade
  • 2nd Grade
  • 3rd Grade
  • 4th Grade
  • 5th Grade
  • 6th Grade
  • 7th Grade
  • 8th Grade
  • 9th Grade
  • 10th Grade
  • 11th Grade
  • 12th Grade

Schedule and round times: TBD

Registration and payment shall be made online. Registration links TBD

$40 by October 13

$50 by October 27

$60 by November 7

$80 on November 8

Entries on November 8 will be permitted till 9:00 am. Players not registered by the cutoff time shall be paired from Round 2 only, unless the Chief Tournament Director decides otherwise.

One 1/2-point bye is allowed if requested by November 8 at 9:00 am.

Refunds by October 25; $10 refund charge.

6 rounds, Swiss System

The latest version of Swiss Sys will be used. Pairings created by this program are considered legal and will stand even if a pairing is not ideal, especially if pairings have been already posted. Current version is 11.55.

Total awards: 91 trophies, $2000 in scholarships from UTRGV and TCA

• Trophies will be awarded to the top 6 individual finishers in each section.

• A trophy will be awarded to the top team in each section.

• Awards will not be split between participants / teams with the same number of points – the tie-break point system described in the Tournament Regulations will be used.

• Chess sets, notations, pens, and clocks will be provided.

• Electronic notation devices shall not be used except for players with a disability and only with prior authorization.

• Accommodation for participants with disabilities will be ensured.

Address:

650 Ringgold Rd
Brownsville, TX 78520
United States

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Texas Chess Triathlon

TEXAS CHESS TRIATHLON

A TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2025

One-day tournament. 12 ROUNDS!  6 rounds of Blitz (G/5), followed by 4 rounds of Quick(G/20) and then by 2 rounds of Classical (G/90,d5).

For pairing purposes each win equals 1 point and each draw equals ½ point.  But for prize distribution each Blitz win equals 1 point and each draw equals ½ point; each Quick win equals 2 points and each draw equals 1 point; each Classical win equals 3 points and each draw equals 1 ½ points.

First six rounds paired using your Blitz rating.  Quick rounds paired using your Quick rating.  Classical rounds paired using your regular rating.  Scoring carries over; for example if you had 4 points in the Blitz rounds you will be paired in the first Quick round with you having a score of 4.

PRIZES: $500 + trophy for 1st, $300 for 2nd.  $200 for 1st U1600.  The $1,000 prize fund is based on 40 paid entries.  Prizes increased with each entry over 40.  Everyone who completes all 12 rounds gets a commemorative medal.  Only 72 spots available so enter now!  Everyone is eligible for the cash, but only Texas residents are eligible for the TEXAS CHESS TRIATHLON State Championship Trophy.  Standard US Chess tiebreaks used if necessary. 

SECTIONS: One open section.

SCHEDULE: Round 1 at 9:30am Saturday the 25th of October 2025.  Following rounds ASAP.  45 minute lunch break between the Quick games and the Classical games.

ENTRY FEE: Early entry $55 by October 4th, regular entry $65 by October 22nd, late entry $80 by midnight October 24th.  $90 for on site entry.  Poison Pawn members $35 anytime.  GMs and IMs enter for free, entry fee deducted from any winnings.  Must be a member of both US Chess and the Texas Chess Association (TCA membership just $5 annually for “regular non-subscriber”).  Renew or join the Texas Chess Association at:  https://texaschess.org/memberships/ 

CANCELLATION:  You may cancel up to 24 hours before the beginning of round 1 and get a refund of what you paid minus $15, or you may apply the entire amount towards a future Poison Pawns entry fee.  

BYES: NO BYES except for zero point byes.  This is a Triathlon endurance format. Suck it up!

HOTEL INFO:  Holiday Inn Express, 3401 N. Main St., is less than a mile from The Studio. Phone 832-834-6197 and ask for The Houston Chess Studio discount, or if booking online use code ALDR9.  Also within a mile is the Heights House Hotel, an America’s Best Value, and a Luxury Inn.  Google them for info.

THE HOUSTON CHESS STUDIO is dedicated to providing a quality, high tech, chess playing experience for players of all levels, their parents and spectators.  Centrally and conveniently located at 250 Patton St., Suite H, Houston TX 77009.  Just inside North Loop 610 and just 2 blocks off North I-45.  There are 3 restaurants in the same strip center as The Studio: The Red Hot Noodle (Asian), Subway, and Patron Pizza.  Several others are within walking distance.  Plenty of FREE parking.

SCANNING  All players are subject to being scanned (“wanded”) in order to help prevent cheating.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS :

 https://www.kingregistration.com/affiliate/poisonpawns

QUESTIONS?  Contact Edgar at poisonpawnschessclub@gmail.com or 281-844-4139.

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AGCA Open Play Wednesday 10/22

We are excited to announce we will be hosting an Open Play Session this Wednesday, October 22, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM!

This session is open to chess players of all ages with an official USCF or FIDE rating of 1000 or higher. It’s a great opportunity to enjoy friendly matches, meet fellow chess enthusiasts, and sharpen your skills.

👉 RSVP Here – Wednesday Open Play: https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/1UoxtqvoZAaKXOh4rjNRT_SdPjbEQ1LnaROJDEsrnUF4/edit

Location:
12466 Los Indios Trail #100
Austin, TX 78729

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to info@austin-chess.com, we would be happy to help.

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2026 Paragon Scholastic Tournament 1/24/26

The first Rocks & Rooks scholastic chess tournament of 2026, to be held on January 24, 2026. All sections are G/25, +5.  Trophies and medals awarded top individuals AND teams! A tournament for adults and youth rated 1000+ offered as well!

Register HERE! When you click the link, scroll to the bottom for registration.

 

Basics

USCF rated chess tournament on January 24th in multiple RATED scholastic sections: K-3 U400, K-5 U600, K-5 U1000, 6-12 U600, and 6-12 U1000. Please note: all scholastic players rated 1000 and over must play in the Open or K-12 Elite sections. At the event pairings will be posted online only.

This is a Swiss-system tournament, so everyone plays all day—there is no “elimination.” Players must know how to play the game of chess! We follow USCF rules including: touch-move, mandatory clocks if available, and notation. K-3 U400 section is excused from taking notation. Please review the Parent/Coach Responsibilities before registering

Location

Paragon Prep
7944 Great Northern Boulevard
Austin, TX 78757

Eligibility

This is a rated tournament. You must have a USCF ID and your membership (can be purchased/renewed at check out or online with the USCF in advance of registration) . You can verify your USCF membership ID and expiration by visiting the USCF’s Member Services Area. Anyone can become a USCF member. Players new to tournament chess are welcome to play. Your USCF membership cannot expire before January 31, 2026. USCF memberships can be renewed/purchased at check-out, or contact Dallas Chess Club at info@dallaschess.com at least a few days in advance for half-price membership. New players in 3rd grade and below may request a non-member ID as a part of USCF’s Junior Tournament Player program during registration. JTPs ok in K-3 U400 only.

“Under” sections are only for students meeting the rating criteria. All players who are new to tournaments are eligible for their age appropriate ‘under’ section. (Look up your player’s rating here. Please email the registrar or ask your chess coach for placement information.
If your 6th grader attends an Elementary School, please contact the registrar for options. With enough registrations, any section may be divided into two sections so we can offer more prizes. Sections with fewer than 20 entries may be merged into a similar section to provide optimal pairings and competition.

Please note: January 2026 ‘Regular’ OTB ratings will be used for pairing purposes. If no regular rating is available, then other USCF ratings (quick, blitz, online) can and will be considered for section placement.  Requests to play down will not be honored. FYI: Any event that is rated after December 17th 2025 will not affect your January published rating, as those events takes place after January ratings are calculated.

All players in this event must be in 12th grade or lower.

Schedule

No check-in necessary for preregistrations. We will make every attempt to contact you in advance if we see a problem with your registration. Verify your entry ONLINE!
8:00 a.m. Chess Control opens for onsite registration.  Onsite registrations before 9:30am accepted, but must start play in round 2.
8:30 a.m Announcements begin in all scholastic playing rooms.
Players and coaches should be present.
9:00 a.m. Rd 1 begins. Scholastic sections have 5 rds, G/25, +5.
9:00 a.m. Open section (different event allowing adults) begins. Open has 4 rounds, all rounds are are G/45, +5.
9:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Chess control open for event issues. No changes for round 1 (bye or section) allowed after online registration closes. Requests for byes, withdrawals, and player or school information edits go in effect immediately if made via email before the close of online registration. Changes requested onsite go into effect as of round 2.

Approximate Round Times

Scholastic Sections:
round 1 – 9:00am, rd 2 – 11:00am, rd 3 – 12:45 pm, rd 4 – 2:30 pm, rd 5 – 4:00 pm

Notes

There will be some “down time” between rounds since many games will finish early. We will provide an area (outside the tournament room) for casual “skittles” chess and/or other indoor activities. Parents and/or coaches, please provide age-appropriate activities during the time between rounds. The organizers cannot baby-sit. No child should be left unattended!

Food will be offered for purchase.  You may also bring lunch and snacks.  Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.

Proper handwashing and adherence to COVID 19 exposure guidelines mandatory!

Awards

Trophies & Medals to Top Contenders! Ribbons to all participants!

Trophies to the top individuals in each scholastic section. Trophies to the top teams in all sections. Number of individual and team trophies will depend on number of entries. Chess medals will go to all players (excluding Open section) that finish the tournament with a positive score (3.0 & 3.5 points). Trophies to players scoring 4.0 and above. No teams in Open section, but special trophies will be awarded to the highest scoring Family & Child teams (Uncles, Aunts, Siblings, Parents, Grandparents, or coach paired with at least one scholastic aged player.)

Registration Information

*$40 thru Saturday, 12/20/2025
*$50 thru Saturday, 1/10/2026
*$55 as of Sunday, 1/11/2026 and ENDS at 5pm on Thursday 1/22/26, at which time online entry closes.
*$65 Onsite entry, if space is available . Receives 1/2pt bye in round 1, and begins play in round 2.

Withdrawals requested via email before midnight on Wednesday, 1/21/2026 are eligible for a refund (minus a $10 service fee). No exceptions. No refunds for USCF memberships after purchased from the USCF. NO email/phone entries.

If you need byes (rounds when your player won’t be available to play), please request when you register if possible. First bye receives 1/2-point. Further byes receive 0-points. Email the registrar to make changes to your requested byes. Deadline to add or remove a 1st round requested bye is 9am Friday 1/23/2026. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2. After 9am Friday, please make all changes and requests onsite at Chess Control.

Email Sarah Brauner, registrar (austinchesstournaments@gmail.com) with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.

View the ONLINE TLA

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Wednesday Quads 10/29/25

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting USCF Rated 3 round Quads. Capacity: 60 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided

*US Chess Membership Required*

SECTIONS: Players rated above 1100 USCF will be allowed into the tournament.

QUAD FORMAT: A Quad Tournament is a four-player round-robin event where each player faces the other three opponents. Players are grouped by rating (1–4, 5–8, etc.), and each section plays three rounds. If the total number of players isn’t divisible by four, the remaining players (e.g., last 5–6) are placed into a small Swiss section instead.

TIME CONTROL: G/30, d5

3-Round Round-Robin System Schedule
1st round: 6:00 PM
2nd round: ASAP after 1st round finishes
3rd round: ASAP after 2nd round finishes
No closing ceremony, prize will be sent by PayPal after the end of the tournament.

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $25 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/wednesday-quad-2025-oct-29/ 
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES:
●  $50 for 1st place in each quad

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance. We reserve the right to charge a $10 service fee for cancellations. 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins. 

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 

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Wednesday Quads 10/15/25

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting USCF Rated 3 round Quads. Capacity: 60 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided

*US Chess Membership Required*

SECTIONS: Players rated above 1100 USCF will be allowed into the tournament.

QUAD FORMAT: A Quad Tournament is a four-player round-robin event where each player faces the other three opponents. Players are grouped by rating (1–4, 5–8, etc.), and each section plays three rounds. If the total number of players isn’t divisible by four, the remaining players (e.g., last 5–6) are placed into a small Swiss section instead.

TIME CONTROL: G/30, d5

3-Round Round-Robin System Schedule
1st round: 6:00 PM
2nd round: ASAP after 1st round finishes
3rd round: ASAP after 2nd round finishes
No closing ceremony, prize will be sent by PayPal after the end of the tournament.

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $25 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/wednesday-quad-2025-oct-15/ 
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES:
●  $50 for 1st place in each quad

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance. We reserve the right to charge a $10 service fee for cancellations. 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins. 

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns.