Chicago Chess Foundation

Today, we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a leader whose pursuit of justice, equity, and community is a guiding principle at the Chicago Chess Foundation.

Our mission is rooted in the belief that every child deserves access to opportunity, mentorship, and spaces where they can grow with dignity and confidence. Dr. King reminded us that change is built through collective action and investment in young people, especially those who have been historically marginalized.

As we reflect today, we recommit ourselves to building stronger, more equitable communities one move, one student, and one act of care at a time. ♟️🖤

Happy Holidays from all of us at the Chicago Chess Foundation ♟️

As the year comes to a close, we’re grateful for every student, parent, coach, donor, and supporter who made this season meaningful. Thank you for being part of our community and helping young people make strong moves on and off the board.

Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a bright new year ahead!

Thank you to every student, parent, coach, and volunteer who joined us at Gwendolyn Brooks College Prep for last weekend’s scholastic chess tournament.

From early-morning check-ins to final moves on the board, the day was full of focus, sportsmanship, and growth. We saw students challenge themselves, support one another, and walk away proud, win or lose.

Events like this don’t happen without a community that believes in kids and their potential. We’re grateful to everyone who helped make the day run smoothly and to the families who continue to show up for their young players.

On to the next move! ♟️💙

We want to give a special shoutout to Cesi and Jelena from who provided free flu vaccines at our tournament this weekend 🙌

At CCF, we believe in holistic approaches to community health, as well as sharpening minds with chess! ♟️ 💙

Have a little one (or big kid) expressing interest in chess? Or maybe your young scholar wants to brave the road to becoming a titled player?

With the holiday season around the corner, here are some gift ideas curated by CCF!

1) Time Controls - As players progress in skill and competition, time controls become a big part of the game. There are dozens of clocks to choose from on the market, which can be overwhelming, but we recommend searching for one that fits the personality of your player. Something sleek and digital? Perhaps something sophisticated and analog?

2) Portable Chess Board - Having a board you can roll up and take anywhere is so handy for a young player. These boards are made of neoprene, the same material as a mousepad, so it's lightweight and easy to manage.

3) AI Chess Board - If your chess player loves new tech, there are a number of AI-powered chess boards with dozens of cool features like game analysis. These are often on the costlier side, but their capabilities are impressive!

4) Chess Books - Reading is so important for growing minds, so why not add a chess book to their library? Perhaps something biographical, like Judit Polgar's "The Queen of Chess?" Maybe KylaZhao 's Middle-Grade Fiction hit "May The Best Player Win?" You can never go wrong with strategy books, too!