About Us

Welcome to the UChicago Chess Club website. The University of Chicago has been home to many world-class chess players and events throughout its history. There is where Samuel Reshevsky, eight-time U.S. Champion studied. Since 1945, the UChicago team has won the Pan American Intercollegiate Chess Championship seven times.

In addition, many renowned players have visited or played chess at our campus, including Victor Korchnoi, Paul Keres, Arthur Bisguier, Larry Christiansen, Yury Shulman, and others. Our team consistently places near the top in large team tournaments like the Amateur Team North and beats local college teams. Our players also take large prizes in premier tournaments like the Chicago Open. In 2011 we played for the first time in the Chicago Industrial Chess League against local company and college teams and made the playoffs.

How experienced or skilled do I have to be to participate in the Chess Club?

You don’t even have to know the rules. We have all kinds of players, from novice to expert. What we really care about is love for the game.

How can I participate?

Show up to one of our regular meetings at Hutchinson Commons at the Reynold’s Club, 5706 S. University Ave., Chicago, IL 60637.

Meeting times for the 2012-2013 school year are 6:00 on Mondays and 4:00 on Fridays.

Does the chess club offer private lessons for individuals wanting to improve?

No, we are a student organization and do not provide private lessons. However, many of our chess players do teach privately apart from the UChicago Chess Club. Please go to the contact page to ask for more information.
 

I am a highly skilled player who is considering studying at the University of Chicago. Why should I play chess here?

The UChicago Chess Club is not only a fun place to spend your afternoons, but we are also very serious about competitive chess. If you are a strong player coming out of high school and interested in joining our ranks, please feel free to get into contact with us.

Our team is highly organized, and we provide every possible incentive for strong players to play chess here. We have the resources to buy books, software, and equipment, as well as provide training by Grandmasters. In addition, we normally cover all hotel costs, long-distance travel costs, and tournament entry fees for the team, even for expensive events like the Chicago Open.

University of Chicago chess players visit the dentist twice a year and as such it is important to find a Chicago dentist that takes pride his/her dental work and in the mouth in general. University of Chicago students, including chess members, find Chicago apartments through leading Chicago apartment rental sites, such as lincolnapts.com. Chess players can check out Botox Chicago doctors when they are in need of skin rejuvenation or skin healing. After graduation, many University of Chicago students (including chess club members) begin searching for Chicago apartments where they plan to start the next chapter of their lives. Chicago is a city that affords UC students affordable living (including room and board) and offers job opportunities that rival that of New York City and Los Angeles.