Chess Tournaments in Minnesota

The Minnesota State Chess Association (MSCA) is the state's US Chess affiliate and runs the Minnesota Open, an annual Swiss tournament held every February that has reached its 133rd edition. Competitive over-the-board play is anchored in the Twin Cities, where the Chess Castle of Minnesota (now at Southdale Center in Edina) serves as the area's largest and most active venue, while Saint Paul Chess Enthusiasts hosts casual weekly meetups open to all levels. The state's profile got a major boost when Wesley So, a three-time U.S. Chess Champion, moved to Minnetonka and kept representing the U.S. from there. Homegrown talent includes IM John Bartholomew of Eagan, the first Minnesota-born-and-raised player to earn the International Master title, and GM Andrew Tang, who grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs and graduated from Wayzata High School. Both were later inducted into the Minnesota Chess Hall of Fame, which the MSCA maintains to recognize players, coaches, and organizers who've shaped chess in the state.

• Play in the Minnesota Open (MSCA's flagship annual Swiss, now in its 133rd year and held every February) or the Minneapolis Open, both US Chess-rated events open to all strengths.
• Get regular over-the-board games at the Chess Castle of Minnesota in Edina, the Twin Cities' most active club, or at Saint Paul Chess Enthusiasts' casual weekly meetups.
• Follow the Minnesota Chess Hall of Fame, which each year recognizes players, coaches, and organizers who've shaped the state's chess scene.