Thursday Chess in West Chester, PA

The West Chester Chess Club plays USCF rated OTB chess on Thursdays!   Please arrive no later than 7:15PM to register.  

  • You will need an active USCF membership to play.  You can purchase or re-activate a USCF membership at the USCF site.  Please do so at least a day before to insure that the USCF fully processes your membership.

Every four Thursdays the West Chester Chess Club runs a USCF rated swiss tournament.  You can start play in the Swiss at any time, and play as many nights as you can make.  The swiss tournaments run for 4 weeks.  You can join a swiss at any round. You do not have to start play in round 1.

On the 5th Thursday, a 30/5 Quad is run!  And then we repeat with a four week swiss.

  • Please arrive by 7:15 at the latest to register. Pairings are then set and play begins at 7:30.  
  • In the first four Thursdays, games are 1 hour and 40 minutes, delay 5.  So just one game but it can last for hours!
    • At our club's annual meeting it was decided to change the swiss tournament time control from G/100, d5 to G/90, d5. This will take effect in January 2025
  • The 5th Thursday is a quad, where you are paired with three other closely rated players.  Games are 30 minutes, 5 second delay

Club dues are $20 a year and are pro-rated depending on when you join. First visit is free!

For directions to the club, visit this page.

Below is the tentative 2025 schedule (minus any unexpected closings).  You can play any dates you can.  Each Swiss will be split into an Open Swiss and a under 1600 Swiss.

    Dates Director Event
1    Feb 22-Mar 21 Donald Anderson Kickoff Swiss/Quad
2   Mar 28 - Apr 25 Aaron Biscoe April Showers Swiss/Quad
3   May 2 - May 30 Ed Snyder Blooming Spring Swiss/Quad
4   June 6 - July 4 Donald Anderson Independence Swiss/Quad
5   July 11 - Aug 8 Aaron Biscoe Founders' Swiss/Quad
        Aug 8 is a 30/5 quad
6   Aug 15 - Sept 12 Ed Snyder Summer Swiss/Quad
        Sept 12 is a 30/5 quad
7   Sep 19 - Oct 17 Donald Anderson Halloween Swiss/Quad
        Oct 17 is a 30/5 quad
8   Oct 24 - Nov 21 Aaron Biscoe Thanksgiving Swiss/Quad
        Nov 21 is WCCC 50th Anniversery.  Food, Simul vs Tom Bartell, rated and unrated play.
9   Dec 5 - Dec 26 Donald Anderson Holiday Swiss Only
    Jan 2 2025 Ed Snyder Club Championship
    Jan 2 - end of Championship Donald or Aaron Reserve Swiss for those not in Championship

We'll have 9 tournaments (same as 2023). Anyone playing in the Open can qualify for the Championship. You only have to attend and play regularly in the Open Swiss events and win 50% of your games to qualify (same as 2023). A lot of new strong chess players joined the club in 2023 and I expect some of you may be there at the end.