The MSCA is now officially recognized by the IRS as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization!! This prestigious status enables donors to make tax deductible contributions to the MSCA. You can read more about the project particulars and survey the supporting documentation at our new “Donate” page. Congratulations to the MSCA Board on their teamwork to achieve this status. The project was launched in 2025 under the leadership of past MSCA President Mike Benson and concluded in 2026

The 61st Annual Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Championship , a cornerstone of Minnesota's youth chess scene, wrapped up this past weekend (March 7-8, 2026) at the Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas in St. Paul. Drawing a record-breaking 383 players —the largest field in 26 years—the event showcased incredible talent across four sections: K-12 (High School), K-8 (Middle School), K-5 (Elementary), and K-3 (Primary). This Swiss-system tournament served as the k

The 133rd Minnesota Open , Minnesota's premier and oldest chess tradition, wrapped up this past weekend (February 20-22, 2026) at the Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park, drawing a strong field of players from across the state and beyond. This historic event, featured a 6-round Swiss system with time control of G/90 +30 seconds increment. It served as a key qualifier, awarding 15 spots to the 2026 Closed State Championship . With $9,000 in prizes paid out, the tournament deli

I had the wonderful experience of reading and reviewing Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer , an outstanding chess book by IM John Donaldson. The amount of effort that has gone into this book is truly impressive, and it significantly deepens a reader’s understanding not only of chess, but of the kind of thinking that leads to winning more games. Inside the Mind of Bobby Fischer contains an incredible amount of material drawn from Fischer’s own writings, including My 60 Memorabl

Minnesota's January freeze was no match for the heat generated at Roseville Skating Center this weekend (Jan 17-18)—what an incredible turnout! Photo credit: Jiten Patel (more on our Facebook page !) We reached 179 players , nearly filling our 180 cap for a vibrant, packed-house event. The hall buzzed with focus during rounds, animated discussions afterward, and the warm community feel that defines chess in our state. US Chess Results 🔥 Prize Winners 💰️ Big thanks to

Congratulations to Leonard Johnson on winning a 3-way playoff to represent Minnesota at the Irwin national tournament of senior state champions! Props to our other co-champions Okey Iwu and Tim Radermacher who made it a close contest . 👏

The MSCA Board consists of 7 volunteer Directors who serve 2-year terms. The terms are staggered such that each year at our February Annual Membership Meeting we elect either 3 or 4 Directors to serve our chess community. Board members and other volunteer positions are listed on our “ about ” page. At our February 20, 2026 Membership Meeting there will be 4 Director roles up for election. Some of the skills that have proven to be helpful on the MSCA Board in the past incl

Thanks to Jenny Bourne for sharing all the photos in this post! Eastview High School and the MSCA proudly hosted the returning 2025 Apple Valley Scholastic, a standout event in Minnesota’s scholastic chess calendar. Led by coach Bob Dettmer and the Eastview Chess Team, with Sarah Wahl and Jenny Bourne directing, the tournament unfolded smoothly from start to finish. 141 players participated in the 5-round, 4-section Swiss tournament. Twenty-six players competed in the open se