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American Chess Day

Celebrate American Chess Day with friends and family - sharpen your skills, compete in tournaments, and enjoy the classic game of chess!
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When it is?
September 1
Location Icon
Country
United States
Introduction

Get ready to celebrate American Chess Day on September 1! This special day was created in 1994 to honor the popular game of chess, which has been around for over 1500 years. Chess is an incredibly fun and challenging game that can be played by anyone from beginner level players to grand masters. It's also a great way to exercise your brain and sharpen your strategic thinking skills. So get out there and play some chess this American Chess Day!

History of American Chess Day

American Chess Day Dates

American Chess Day Timeline

<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1880s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Chess Comes to America</div><div class='timeline-text'>The game of chess was brought to America by European immigrants in the 19th century, establishing firm roots and a growing fanbase.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1936</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>U.S. Championship Established</div><div class='timeline-text'>The U.S. Chess Championship, a premier chess tournament began in 1936, paving the way for professional chess in the United States.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1972</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Fischer Wins World Championship</div><div class='timeline-text'>American Grandmaster Bobby Fischer wins the World Chess Championship in 1972, boosting the popularity of the game in the U.S.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1994</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>"American Chess Day" Inception</div><div class='timeline-text'>"American Chess Day" is established in 1994, providing a designated day of recognition for the game of chess in the U.S.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2016</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>American Team Wins Chess Olympiad</div><div class='timeline-text'>The American team wins the Chess Olympiad in 2016, displaying the strength of American chess on the international stage.</div></div></div>

How to Celebrate American Chess Day

<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Organize a tournament</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite your friends and family, or even the local community to join in a friendly chess tournament. You can make it competitive, or just have a casual match up.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a themed chess set</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or maybe an Avengers fan? Create your own unique chess set using characters from movies, books, tv shows and more!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Learn about the history of American chess</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Spend some time researching the history of American chess and how it has evolved over the years. This is a great way to gain an appreciation for the game.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Try different variations of chess</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>From Crazyhouse to Chess 960, there are plenty of variations on the classic game of chess. Try out something new and see if it becomes your new favorite.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Challenge someone to a game</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>This one’s obvious but necessary! Find someone willing to play against you and challenge them to a game. It doesn’t have to be anything serious — just enjoy playing and celebrate American Chess Day!</p></div></div>

Why American Chess Day is Important

<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Improves focus & cognitive skills</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Playing chess helps to build concentration and strategic thinking, strengthening problem solving skills and memory recall. It can also help with general intelligence and creative thinking, as players must think critically to analyze the board and plan ahead in order to achieve victory.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Teaches sportsmanship</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Chess teaches players important principles such as respect both for oneself and for others, patience and self-discipline - all vital aspects of good sportsmanship. It also emphasizes that winning isn't everything; learning from mistakes is just as important!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Connects people from all over the world</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>American Chess Day serves to not only celebrate our nation’s love for the game but to connect people from any background or culture who share a passion for the game. In today’s modern society it has never been easier to make friends on the other side of the country—or even the globe —through chess clubs, tournaments and online matches.</p></div></div>

5 Unveiled Facts About American Chess Day

<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Benjamin Franklin was an avid chess player</h3><p class='facts-content'>One of the American founding fathers, Benjamin Franklin, was passionate about chess and even wrote an essay titled "The Morals of Chess," highlighting the game's educational benefits.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>There are over 2000 chess tournaments held in the U.S. each year</h3><p class='facts-content'>Chess is widespread across the United States, with thousands of tournaments from local to national level held yearly. This reflects the popularity and growing interest in the game.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The United States has produced many Grandmasters</h3><p class='facts-content'>As of 2021, there are over 90 American chess players who hold the esteemed title of Grandmaster, the highest title a chess player can attain.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The U.S. has one of the oldest chess clubs in the world</h3><p class='facts-content'>The Mechanics' Institute Chess Club in San Francisco is one of the oldest continuously operating chess clubs globally, established in 1854.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The world's largest chess piece is in the United States</h3><p class='facts-content'>Located in St. Louis, Missouri, the World Chess Hall of Fame boasts the largest chess piece in the world, a king standing at 20 feet tall.</p></div></div>

American Chess Day FAQs

When is American Chess Day?

American Chess Day is celebrated on September 1 every year. In 2024 American Chess Day will occur on a Sunday.

American Chess Day Dates

Year
Date
Day

2023

Sep 1

Friday

2024

Sep 1

Sunday

2025

Sep 1

Monday

2026

Sep 1

Tuesday

2027

Sep 1

Wednesday

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