Upcoming Tournaments

This postal event is open for new entries all year-round. Sections are issued as soon as we have four players within a 400-point rating range. Two games are played with each player. There is a prize of $10 for each section winner, and results will count towards your annual Grand Prix score. This is a traditional rated postal event which does not allow the use of chess engines to aid in move selection. Moves may be exchanged via US mails or email if both players agree to use email. Multiple entries and sections are permitted.

Time Limit: 10 moves in 30 days
Entry fee: $7
Open for entries year around

Open Registration
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Postal

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Two game Postal Challenge Matches are between two players. Moves are sent by US mails unless bother players agree to the use of email. You may either specifically name your opponent if the two of you have agreed to a match, or if you are new to CCLA, or do not otherwise have an opponent available, the CCLA Tournament Directo will assign you an appropriate opponent. Thus, the CCLA Tournament Director will act as a "clearing house" to match opponents as soon as possible based upon entries. If you submit a Challenge Match entry without naming your opponent, we will match you to the first available opponent who has a rating within 400 points of your current rating. You may submit a Challenge Match entry year around and we will match you with your “named opponent” or the first available opponent in your rating range as soon as possible. Traditional rules without the use of computer engines to aid in your move selection. No prizes, by results will count towards your Grand Prix score. Multiple sections and entries permitted

Time Limit: 10 moves/30 days
Entry fee $5
Open for entries year around

Open Registration
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Postal

Register

This is the first of our popular seasonal tournaments, One round. No prizes, but results count toward your annual Grand Prix score. Entrants grouped by rating. Players paired as either a 7-player single round robin, or as a 4-, 5- or 6-player double-round robin. Total number of games played is six to ten, depending on number of entrants and pairing option. Multiple entries permitted. You may not use a computer engine to aid in move determination.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $8 per section.
Entry deadline February 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-02-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

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The Annual CCLA Server Club Championship will accept entries from the 12 highest rated CCLA members who apply by the deadline. This event will be a DUAL rated event, played on the ICCF server and according to ICCF rules. ICCF rules allow players to use chess engines to assist in determining their moves. Games in this event will receive ratings by both CCLA and ICCF. Prizes are $50 for first place and title of CCLA Server Club Champion, $25 for second place, and $10 for third place. These games will also count towards your annual Grand Prix scores.

One round only.
Time Limit: 10 moves in 30 days
Entry fee: $12
Entry deadline March 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-03-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Advanced
Platform: Server

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A one or two round event depending on the number of entrants. There are five rating classes: Master/Expert, A, B, C and D. A minimum of 3 entrants per class is required to hold a championship in that class. Classes may be combined if less than the minimum of three entries in that class. Each winner of a round one section and all players scoring 75% or better advance to the final round of their class. First place prize in the finals is $20, and all games will count towards your annual Grand Prix score.
Pairings may be single round robin or double round robin, depending on number of entrants in a class.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $10.
Entry deadline: April 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-04-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

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This is the second of our popular seasonal tournaments, One round. No prizes, but results count toward your annual Grand Prix score. Entrants grouped by rating. Players paired as either a 7-player single round robin, or as a 4-, 5- or 6-player double-round robin. Total number of games played is six to ten, depending on number of entrants and pairing option. Multiple entries permitted. You may not use a computer engine to aid in move determination.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $8 per section.
Entry deadline May 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-05-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

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Played in odd-numbered years, this is one of our most popular events. Teams will consist of six players. Team and individual applications accepted. If you apply as an individual without an assigned team, we will attempt to assign you to a team based on your rating and a team's needs. The number of divisions, teams per division and games played per opponent depend on the number of entries. Teams are assigned to divisions based on the average team rating. Each player plays one or two games against opponents on his board (Board 1 plays all other Board 1 players, etc.). No prizes are awarded, but results will count towards your annual Grand Prix score. This is a Traditional event and the use of computer chess engines to assist in your move selection is not permitted.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $10
Entry deadline: June 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-06-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register

This is the third of our popular seasonal tournaments, One round. No prizes, but results count toward your annual Grand Prix score. Entrants grouped by rating. Players paired as either a 7-player single round robin, or as a 4-, 5- or 6-player double-round robin. Total number of games played is six to ten, depending on number of entrants and pairing option. Multiple entries permitted. You may not use a computer engine to aid in move determination.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $8 per section.
Entry deadline August 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-08-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

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Open to the twelve highest-rated players who enter. This is a one round event. If there are seven or more players, you will play one game with each player; if there are less than seven players, you will play two games with each player. The winner receives a $50 first prize and title of CCLA Postal Club Champion. Second place receives $25, third place $10. Multiple entries are not permitted. A minimum of 3 entrants is required or event will not be held in that year. Moves are exchanged via postal mail or if both players agree may exchange moves via email. This is a Traditional event and the use of computer chess engines to aid in move selection is not permitted. All moves must be sent in algebraic notation unless both players agree upon another unequivocal notation such as standard descriptive, ICCF numeric, etc. at the beginning of the game.

Time limit:10 moves in 30 days.
Entry fee: $10
Entry Deadline September 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-09-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Postal

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Played annually, this special open server event is named in Herbert W. Gustafson's honor. When Mr. Gustafson passed away in 2008, he left a bequest to CCLA to support chess events like this, a semi-class event with sections of four players with two games per opponent. All games will be by server, with no chess engines allowed. The tournament is open to all residents of the United States and its territories, with no CCLA membership requirement and no entry fee. The prize for winning a section will be a $20 credit that can be used only for CCLA membership dues or, for CCLA members, as entry fees to CCLA events. Section prize is split in the event of a tie. Games also count towards your annual Grand Prix score.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee: none
Entry deadline: October 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-10-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register

This is the final event this year of our popular seasonal tournaments, One round. No prizes, but results count toward your annual Grand Prix score. Entrants grouped by rating. Players paired as either a 7-player single round robin, or as a 4-, 5- or 6-player double-round robin. Total number of games played is six to ten, depending on number of entrants and pairing option. Multiple entries permitted. You may not use a computer engine to aid in move determination.

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $8 per section.
November 15, 2025

Start Date: 2025-11-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register