Upcoming Tournaments

There are four seasonal tournaments: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Server Series. The Seasonal Server Series will now also be offered to US Chess Federation members to play in these popular quarterly tournaments. Playerscan receive rating in both CCLA and USCF, depending upon where they are members. One round. 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.

The use of chess engines to assist in moves is not permitted.

No prizes, except results count towards your Annual Grand Prix score (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw).

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.
Entry fee $8 per section. Multiple sections are permitted.

Start Date: 2026-02-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

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Two games against one opponent (one as white, one as black) played on the ICCF server.

Challenge Match opponents may be arranged and specified by the players themselves. If you do not have an opponent arranged, you also may request CCLA to act as a “Clearing House Agent” and find an opponent for you within 400 points of your current rating. Depending upon your rating, there may be a delay in finding a suitable opponent for you.

Entry fee is $5 for each player.

Offered year around. Multiple sections are permitted.

Time limit of 10 moves in 30 days.

No prizes, except results count towards your Annual Grand Prix score (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw).

No use of a computer engine is permitted to make move selection.

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

Register

The Annual Server Chess Championship will be enlarged to open up more entries to this event by accepting entries from the 13 highest rated members who apply by the deadline”. Previously this event was restricted only to players rated 2000 and higher. This event will now be a DUAL rated event, played on the ICCF server according to the ICCF rules. Games in this event will receive rating by both CCLA and ICCF. ICCF rules allow players to use chess engines in determining their moves. Entry fee will be $12 per entry. Prizes are $50 for first place, $25 for second place, and $10 for third place.

Time Limit: 10 moves in 30 days. One round only.

Closing date for entries is March 15.

This is an Advanced Event and will allow the use of computers to aid in the determination of your move.

Start Date: 2026-03-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Advanced
Platform: Server

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This postal event will be organized in sections of three to seven players based as entries are received and upon the number of entrants at the posted entry deadlines. Sections of three to six players will be double round robin, and seven player sections will be single round robin.

Entry fee is $ 7.00 per section.

Section prize is $ 10.00, with ties sharing the prize money.

Multiple entries permitted. Entry fee is $ 7.00 per section.

Moves are exchanged via US mail, unless both players agree to exchange moves via email. Time limit of 10 moves in 30 days. All games which are unreported will be closed out as unrated draws at the end of 30 months from the start date on the assignment sheet and will be closed out as an unrated draw. Either player may request adjudication of the game(s) involved, on or within one week prior to the close-out date. Extensions of play may be requested of the Tournament Director as noted in Rule 28. 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. No use of a computer engine to aid in move selection is permitted.

Start Date: 2026-03-15
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, but the 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 a one or two round event depending on the number of entrants in each class. 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, depending on the number of entrants. 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. Pairings may be single round robin or double round robin, depending on number of entrants in a class. The use of chess engines to assist in moves is not permitted.

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

Start Date: 2026-04-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register

There are four seasonal tournaments: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Server Series. The Seasonal Server Series will now also be offered to US Chess Federation members to play in these popular quarterly tournaments. Players can receive rating in both CCLA and USCF, depending upon where they are members. One round. 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.

The use of chess engines to assist in moves is not permitted.

No prizes, except for CCLA members results count towards your Annual Grand Prix score (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw).
Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.

Entry fee $8 per section. Multiple sections are permitted.

Start Date: 2026-05-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register

There are four seasonal tournaments: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Server Series. The Seasonal Server Series will now also be offered to US Chess Federation members to play in these popular quarterly tournaments. Players can receive rating in both CCLA and USCF, depending upon where they are members. One round. 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.

The use of chess engines to assist in moves is not permitted.

No prizes, except for CCLA members results count towards your Annual Grand Prix score (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw).

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.

Entry fee $8 per section. Multiple sections are permitted.

Start Date: 2026-08-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register

Open to the thirteen highest-rated players who enter by the deadline of September 15 each year. The winner receives a $50 first prize and title of CCLA Champion. Second place receives $ 25.00, third place $10.00. Multiple entries are not permitted. A minimum of 3 entrants is required, or event will not be held in that year.

Entry fee is $10.

Moves are exchanged via US mail, unless both players agree to exchange moves via email. Time limit of 10 moves in 30 days.

The use of chess computer engines to aid in move selection is not permitted.

NOTE: All games which are unreported will be closed out as unrated draws at the end of 30 months from the start date on the assignment sheet and will be closed out as an unrated draw. Either player may request adjudication of the game(s) involved, on or within one week prior to the close-out date. Extensions of play may be requested of the Tournament Director as noted in Rule 28. 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. The use of chess engines to assist in move selection is not permitted.

Start Date: 2026-09-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Postal

Register

There are four seasonal tournaments: Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer Server Series. The Seasonal Server Series will now also be offered to US Chess Federation members to play in these popular quarterly tournaments. Players can receive rating in both CCLA and USCF, depending upon where they are members. One round. 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.

The use of chess engines to assist in moves is not permitted.

No prizes, except for CCLA members results count towards your Annual Grand Prix score (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw).

Time limit: 10 moves/30 days.

Entry fee $8 per section. Multiple sections are permitted.

Start Date: 2026-11-15
Director: Michael Buss
Type: Traditional
Platform: Server

Register