The Augusta Chess Association tournament is preparing for the Soul City Open Chess Championship next month.
Matthew Mallay with the Augusta Chess Association said this is the organization’s first city-wide event, and it will be held in meeting room B at the Augusta-Richmond County Public Library in downtown Augusta on Sept. 9. The event will feature dual-rated chess, which is different from classical chess.
“Classical chess is like hours long. This will be 25-minute games. That way we can fit in several games and have enough games to actually declare a winner essentially,” Mallay said.
Chess has been played in downtown Augusta for years, but the rated chess has mainly been in Columbia County, Mallay said. With the tournament, the group is hoping to get the chess matches back downtown. He added that the rated chess is a more formal setting than other chess.
“The goal here is to bring in outside eyes. Either it’s chess players from the area or people who are just interested in chess or just kind of display the chess community in a way,” Mallay said.
Anyone can sign up for the Soul City Open Chess Championship, but because it’s rated chess they have to be a member of the U.S. Chess Federation, Mallay said.
“The tournament itself is open to members of the U.S. Chess Federation, but you can sign up that day, you don’t have to be an established member,” Mallay said.
There is no limit to the number of people who can enter, Mallay said, before adding the room can hold close to 200 people.
There will be different brackets based on skill levels, along with trophies and cash prizes for open/champion, U1200, scholastic K-8 and city residents, Mallay said.
Mallay added the tournament is a way to grow the over the board chess community. He added that playing over the board chess is a different experience than online chess, which has become more popular.
“The option to do something at a city-wide level, promote for it and try to bring as many people as we can, which will kind of put some of that focus back on the real-life application of it as opposed to playing online,” said Chris Lemmons with the Augusta Chess Association.
As for why people should come, Mallay said there is a large chess community in the area and it’s always more fun with more people.
“If you’re interested in playing chess or you are playing chess with your three friends, it’s way more enjoyable to play chess with your 25 friends,” Mallay said. “The other piece is when you play chess with, like every person that plays chess here is the best chess player in their family or their work, chess tournaments are the chance to go to the next step.”
The Soul City Open Chess Championship will be Saturday, Sept. 9 at the August Public Library. The first round will begin at 10 a.m. The cost for the tournament is $30. To register, visit the Augusta Chess Association Instagram and Facebook page.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
