Chess Clubs in Mount Vernon, Illinois. The list of addresses.
Chess Clubs in Mount Vernon IL and surrounding areas
Organized play Mount Vernon and surrounding Southern Illinois communities offer several opportunities for people that enjoy chess. This guide includes information on local chess opportunities within a 30-mile drive from Mount Vernon ranging in nature from casual to competitive.
Mount Vernon Chess Club
Where: Mount Vernon Public Library – 315 S 9th St, Mount Vernon, IL 62864
Details: The Mount Vernon Chess Club meets weekly in the library’s community room from 5:30-8:00 PM on Thursdays. This is a friendly group that are happy to let beginners join in, right through to good players. The library will offer tournament-style chess sets and clocks. On a monthly basis, players have a chance to participate in relaxed tournaments or solve puzzles and discuss strategies, all guided by more experienced player volunteers.
Centralia Chess Society
Where: Centralia Public Library – 515 E Broadway St, Centralia, IL 62801
Description: A 25-minute drive from Mount Vernon, this lively community of chess players meets every Tuesday from 6-8:30pm. The Society has regular programming and beginners classes are taught on request. It organizes 4 rated tourneys in the year and keeps emailer for chess advts & gamedealings.
Benton Chess Collective
Where: Benton Public Library – 109 N Main St, Benton IL 62812
Description: This is a family friendly chess group that meets every Saturday in the afternoon 1:00-4:00 p. The Club focuses on chess education, and has teaching sets for group lessons. It offers youth tournaments and summer chess camps. All gear is included for participants.
Marion Chess Club
Where: Marion Carnegie Library – 206 S Market St, Marion, IL 62959
Description: Thirty minutes from Mount Vernon, this established club meets Wednesday evenings 6-8:30 p.m. The group welcomes players from throughout southern Illinois and holds occasional rated tournaments. The library also has a circulating chess literature collection too.
West Frankfort Chess Circle
Where: Frankfort Community Public Library – 211 E Main St, West Frankfort, IL 62896
Details: A Casual Chess Group We meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month from 6 -9pm. The Circle has a casual atmosphere and optional coaching sessions for newbies. Books on chess were recently added to the circulating library.
Carbondale Chess Guild
Place: Carbondale Public Library – 405 W Main St, Carbondale, IL 62901
Description: Although 45 minutes from Mount Vernon, this university-town club features stiff competition for competitive players. The Guild holds tournaments of regular rated games from Sunday afternoons. Many of the members participate in state championships.
Regional Tournament Opportunities
The area is the site of several annual chess events:
- Mount Vernon Winter Open (January)
- Little Egypt Championship (April, various locations)
- Southern Illinois Summer Classic (July)
- Jefferson County Fall Tournament (October)
For those who take their chess seriously, the Illinois Chess Association sponsors state tournaments around Chicago and other large cities. Schedules may vary for holidays, and most clubs advise calling them ahead of time. For Chess players searching out the casual game, or Chess players all out for serious competition, Chess players will receive a warm welcome and many playing possibilities on the south side of Mount Vernon. A number of clubs also take part in inter-city chess matches and friendly events during the year.
