Chess Clubs in Columbia, Illinois. The list of addresses.
Columbia, IL and surrounding area Chess Clubs
Local Chess Opportunities in Columbia
Columbia Community Chess Club
Location: Columbia Public Library
Location: 815 S Main St, Columbia, IL 62236
Summary: Date and Time: Every Thursday from 6-8 PM The Columbia Community Chess Club meets in the library meeting room. This is the beginner to tourney player friendly group. The club lends chess sets and clocks, but members are permitted to bring their own equipment. Monthly netrunner game night held the last Thursday of every month.
Columbia High School Chess Team
Location: Columbia High School
Location: 201 Veterans Parkway, Columbia, IL 62236
Summary: The high school chess team competes in regional interscholastic events at league levels of competition and individuals round robins held during the season. They are generally set up for students but also have had the community out for exhibition matches and simultaneous exhibitions with local masters.
Nearby Chess Clubs
Waterloo Chess Society (15 minutes from Columbia)
Location: Waterloo Public Library
Location: 509 N Market St, Waterloo, IL 62298
Description: A local group that meets on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30. The environment is casual and friendly, with an interest in helping newer players learn. The society holds rated tournaments at least quarterly that draw players from around Monroe County.
Red Bud Chess Collective (25 minutes from Columbia)
Where: Red Bud Area Community Center
Location: 1200 E Market St, Red Bud, IL 62278
Description: Wednesday nights from 6-9 PM, This club has casual play and competitive play. The club has a lending library of chess books and DVDs for the use of its members. Monthly thematic events feature an opening or endgame.
Belleville Chess Academy (30 minutes from Columbia)
Location: Belleville Public Library
Location: 121 E Washington St, Belleville, IL 62220
Description: One of the busiest local clubs east of the Mississippi, the Academy has tailored classes designed for all skill levels from beginner groups on Mondays (elementary and junior high students) to advanced strategy sessions on Wednesdays as well as competitive play each Friday. USCF-rated tournaments are held monthly.
St. Louis Chess Club (40 minute drive from Columbia)
Address: 4657 Maryland Ave, St. Louis, MO 63108
Description: This was a premier establishment that has a wide program of master lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, regular tournaments. Although many activities are open only to members, the club welcomes visitors for various occasions and has a wonderful chess bookstore that is open to everyone.
Youth Chess Programs
Many area schools and organizations provide chess instruction for younger participants:
- Columbia Middle Chess Club (meets on Tuesday afternoons)
- Waterloo Elementary Chess After making a positive start to End of Games Day at the school by hosting 4 consecutive successful sessions this year, we return for Saturday morning sessions.
- Monroe County Youth Chess League (MCYCL)-monthly Friday meets at host locations Prostitutke I Norveska Centar Dear RCYO, Have a question for the Prositutke Here are our contact information.
Summer camps, all levels & ages 7-16 in June and July through the Columbian Park District
Tournament Opportunities
There are number of good tournaments for our locals to play:
- Monroe County Championship (Yearly event in Columbia and Waterloo)
- Metro East Scholastic Chess League meets
- More places to play St. Louis Area Chess Calendar events (many weekly options)
- Illinois Chess Association sanctioned tournaments
Getting Involved
But most area clubs, Aggregate included, are open to new players showing up on the night for the first time or two (players who are totally new to role-playing might still want to follow up with club organizers ahead of time). The Columbia Community Chess Club has free introductory lessons the first Thursday of every month. For those players interested in competitive chess, you can obtain information on joining the United States Chess Federation from any of these clubs.
For Columbians, the nearest regular tournament site is Belleville Chess Academy where the second Saturday of each month plays host to rated tourneys. The Columbia and Waterloo locations offer places for the casual player to find a friendly game, but the more serious competitor would be wise to look into nearby possibilities on the greater St. Louis chess scene.
