The Berkeley Chess School

08/15/2026

Places to play this weekend: A Cash 💰 Quad tomorrow, Sat, Aug 15th @ 1 pm @ the Berkeley Chess ♟ Center! G/30 with a 15 second increment, 1 in 4 will win $80! It could be you 💁‍♂️💰!!! $45 early bird 🐦 entry fee ends tonight @ 11:59 pm! And on Sunday @ 1 pm @ 1532 Webster Street in Alameda, a K-12 Quad! Chess ♟! Trophies 🏆! Medals 🏅! FUN 🥳! $50 Early bird 🐦 entry fee ends tonight at 11:59 pm. Register @ https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/

07/25/2026

The fun happens all summer 🏖️ long! K-12 Quad tournament tomorrow, Sat, Jul 25th @ 1 pm at the Berkeley Chess Center! Chess ♟! Trophies 🏆! Medals 🏅! FUN 🥳! $45 Early bird 🐦 entry fee ends tonight at 11:59 pm. Register @ https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/event/bcs-k-12-quads/

07/15/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to super GM (and BCS alum!) Hans Moke Niemann (currently ranked 5th in the United States and 19th in the world!) who will make his Olympic debut representing the United States at the 46th Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this September. We wish Hans a long and illustrious Olympic career and BCS stands ready and able to bathe in more reflected glory (BCS alum GM Sam Shankland has scored the most points for team USA in its history)!

06/27/2026

The fun happens all summer 🏖️ long! K-12 Quad tournament tomorrow, Sat, Jun 27th @ 1 pm at the Berkeley Chess Center! Chess ♟! Trophies 🏆! Medals 🏅! FUN 🥳! $40 Early bird 🐦 entry fee ends tonight at 11:59 pm. Register @ https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/event/bcs-k-12-quads/

06/24/2026

NM Theodore Coyne teaching the Advanced ♟️Class at BCS summer camp! If you're looking for options for the week of the 4th of July holiday 🎆, BCS camp is in session! Chess♟️, sports🏀, & FUN 🥳! Early bird🐦discount ends tonight @ 11:59 pm for next week's session, register @ https://www.berkeleychessschool.org/programs/camps/

06/20/2026

If you're home for the long Juneteenth (😊🇱🇾!) weekend, join the BCS Cash 💰 Quad tomorrow, Sat, Jun 20th @ 1 pm @ the Berkeley Chess ♟ Center! G/30 with a 15 second increment, 1 in 4 will win $80! It could be you 💁‍♂️💰!!! $40 early bird 🐦 entry fee ends tonight @ 11:59 pm! Register @

Players will be divided into groups of 4 by rating, or, if no rating, then by Age. First place in each group will Receive $80! (winner take all!) 3 rounds Total. Rounds are 1pm, Round 2 as soon as round 1 finishes, Round 3 as soon as Round 2 finishes G/30 with a 15 second increment All Tournament

06/19/2026

A special summer camp treat! IM Julio Kaplan, former Puerto Rico National Chess Champion, founder of Heuristic Software (pioneering AI and chess game development company), and BCS instructor emeritus (though maybe he could come back???), stopped by to see the new building! It was great to see you Julio! (pictured here with Mr. Chess!)

06/11/2026

K-12 Quad Tournament this Sat, June 13th @ 1 pm at Grace Presbyterian Church in Walnut Creek! A great way to start the summer! Chess ♟! Trophies 🏆! Medals 🏅! FUN 🥳! $40 Early bird 🐦 entry fee ends Friday at 11:59 pm. Register here:

Please Join us for the Walnut Creek K-12 Quads! First time tournament players will be grouped with other first-timers and experienced tournament players will play with others of similar rating. 3-round Quad tournament USCF-rated event -- Current USCF membership is required to participate Drop-off we...

06/05/2026

Congratulations🎉 to IM Timothy Taylor, the 2026 CalChess Senior State Champion! Tim won 1st Place 🏆with a score of 4.5/5 at the Berkeley Chess School last weekend, with a brilliant game in Round 1 with two piece sacrifices! Tim will represent NorCal at the 9th Annual John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions in Grand Rapids, MI, Aug 3 - 6, 2026! Best wishes for a great tournament, Tim!

06/05/2026

Congratulations 🎉 to WIM Laurie Qiu, the 2026 CalChess Women's State Champion! Laurie won 1st place 🏆 with a score 4.5/5 among an incredibly strong field of competitors (including 5 WFMs & 2 WIMs!) at the Women's State Championship at the Berkeley Chess School last weekend. GREAT tournament, Laurie, with many more wins to come 🏆!🏆!🏆!