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Hamden Chess Club

2025-2026 Kids Team

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Gift Certificates!
$25 | $50 | $100

HCC Upcoming Events & Tournaments
(For a full listing, see the Events page)

HCC New Year's Day Open House Thu., Jan 1, 2026 1:00-4:00PM

HCC January Game-in-45 Challenge Sat., Jan 24, 2026 1:00PM

HCC January Action Quads Mon., Jan 26, 2026 6:30PM

HCC January U1200 Beginner Open Sat., Jan 31, 2026 1:00PM


The Playwright Irish Pub & Restaurant (across street) offers a free beverage for with entree or burger purchase (show copy of tournament flyer)

NEW YEAR'S DAY OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 1:00-4:00PM


Enjoy chess with fellow enthusiasts. Rousing game replays on the big screen, music,
free cookies and hot chocolate. Come out and play (hopefully win) your first games of the New Year!

Open to all ages and chess levels - Whether a casual player or serious competitor this is a great space to meet new people, test your skills, and enjoy a shared love of the game

FREE - Just show up - no registration needed.

[Please note this is in lieu of a First Friday chess social event in January].



Come join the fun!

2025-2026 Hamden Chess Team
Flyer and Schedule

For kids of all rating levels, organized by National Master Jordan Groff (Coach Jordan). This team is for Scholastic chess players who wish to play in regional USCF tournaments in CT and nearby states during the course of the year.

Online Sign Up

National Master Jordan Groff (Coach Jordan) has several
new lesson time slots available (posted 12-15-25)

Reserve yours today

New HCC Membership Benefit:

The books listed are available for purchase, and HCC Members may borrow up to two books at a time for up to
30 days. from the HCC Chess book collection.
https://www.librarycat.org/lib/HamdenChessClub

Hamden Chess Club named Connecticut Chess Club of the Year for 2023 (and 2021) by Connecticut State Chess Association
Upcoming USCF and weekly online Tournaments, Adult Casual Play are listed on Events page

Chess Classes
for Kids (Year-Round)


*Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Classes - Eight class times offered each week

*Engaging learning, tournament play within each week's group

*Online and In-Person Options

*Includes option to participate tournaments at reduced rate; free online chess club participation

Sign Up

Hamden Chess Club

*Casual Play and USCF Tournaments


*In-Person Activities:
Casual Play Mondays & Thursdays; Monthly USCF- Rated tournaments for kids and adults
*Online Activities: 10+ tournaments each month with prizes
*HCC library borrowing access
*151 HCC members


 Sign Up

Chess Classes for Adults
(Fall, Winter, Spring)


Classes meet one evening
(two hours) per week

Winter/Spring 2026 Courses:

*Chess for Beginners
*Chess Tactics and Calculation
*Chess Endgames - Tactics & Strategy
*Chess Openings
Sign up online at Hamden Adult Education or at PMCA for Adult Chess Classes

Upcoming Adult Chess Classes in partnership with Hamden Adult Education
(Offered in Winter/Spring 2026):

WINTER/SPRING 2026(Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30PM)
Taught by NM Jordan Groff

*Chess for Beginners (Feb 4, 11, 18; 6:30-8:30PM)
*Chess Tactics and Calculation (Mar 4, 11, 18; 6:30-8:30PM)
*Chess Endgames: Tactics & Strategy (Apr 8, 15, 22; 6:30-8:30PM)
*Chess Openings: (May 6, 18, 20; 6:30-8:30PM)

  • Sign up for Adult Chess Classes at Hamden Adult Education web site at the respective course links or in-person at PMCA. The entire course catalog of Enrichment courses will be listed at: www.hamdenadulted.com.

Class Location: Play More Chess Academy, 1227 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06517

Congratulations:

Congratulations to our recent winners of HCC online and OTB tournaments (in Bold):

Dec 17: Omkar Maralappanavar
Dec 15: HCC December Action Quads: David Bernat (1st- Quad 1); Omkar Maralappanavar (1st-Quad 2/Sm Swiss); Nicholas Watrous, Ravendra Nohar, Gabi Rosenstein (Tie-2nd-Quad 2/Sm Swiss)
Dec 13: HCC December U1200 Beginner Open: Christopher Runcie (1st); Donald McAndrew, Wesley Clark, Daniel Svolik, Dixon Yee (4-way tie, 2nd); Trophies: Top U900: Christopher Runcie; Top U600: Dixon Yee; Top Female: Arinna Xie
Dec 10: Omkar Maralappnavar
Dec 3: Omkar Maralappanavar
Nov 24: Alan Watrous
Nov 22: HCC November Game-in-45 Challenge: Open: Alex Emmons, Kushagra Bhargava (2.5/3.0 Tie-1st/2nd); Top Female: Sarah Thomas; U1600: Michael Cuppernull, David Diaz (3.0/3.0 Tie-1st/2nd); Biggest Upset of Tournament: Donald McAndrew
Nov 19: Omkar Maralappanavar

As of Dec 18, 2025 $41,530 has been distributed in cash and prizes at the adult and kids tournaments (OTB and online) since our first tournament. See USCF cross tables for HCC tournaments and HCC Online tournaments on Lichess for cross-tables and lists of past tournaments.

Join the HCC, participate in our next tournament, and win a prize!

Recent News:

Newsletter:

Subscribe to our mailing list to find out about chess events, tournaments, chess classes and activities in the Hamden/New Haven area. You will receive our monthly newsletter at the beginning of the month.

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Play More Chess Academy
1227 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06517
Email: info@PlayMoreChess.com | Phone: 203.680.8456