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American Chess Day

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  • Timezone: America/New_York
  • Date: Sep 01 2025
  • Time: All Day
United States

Location

United States

Date

Sep 01 2025

Time

All Day

American Chess Day

On September 9, 2017, American Chess Day will be observed throughout the United States! This is a special day to celebrate chess and all of its benefits—from improving cognitive skills to teaching children how to think strategically. Whether you’re a veteran player or just getting started, now is the perfect time to get involved in this fascinating and rewarding activity. So dust off your board and pieces, and join us in marking this important occasion!

Chess, often called ‘The Game of Kings’ is one of the most well-known ancient, mental, and cultural games in the world. It is a game of strategy that allows fans in the US to use their brains. You can play chess the right old way with another player in person, or on the computer with opponents worldwide.

Did you know that a lot of skilled chess players were needed to build and decipher the enemy’s strategy during the Second World War?

Did you also know that a Venezuelan study revealed that participants’ IQ scores increased after four months of learning and playing chess? Playing Chess is definitely an incredible way to build your mental health!

American Chess Day

To honor the game of Chess, American Chess Day is celebrated every year on the 1st of September in the United States. On this day, Chess enthusiasts and new players all over America commemorate their passion for the and by playing chess sets and defeating their opponents. It is a day where Chess fans in the US have an opportunity to celebrate their love for the past. 

Do you love the game of Chess? Or are you willing to know what this game is all about? The chess game definitely is one of the best games to broaden your thinking capacity. So ensure to keep reading to know more about the game of chess!

History of American Chess Day

The game of chess can be traced back to CE Asia, especially in India, and China, and traveled to other parts of the world by traders. The game spread across Asia and Europe over the coming centuries and finally evolved into what we now call chess around the 16th century. One of the early masters of the game was a Spanish priest named Ruy Lopez. The Chess competition originated from an Indian game called ‘Chaturanga’. Over the centuries, rules of the game have been changed and new sets of proper rules and regulations have been formed to maintain universality.

The founding father of American Chess Day is credited as Benjamin Franklin. Franklin, remembering his early days, wrote and published the first American manual on chess ‘The Morals of Chess’ in 1802, lauding the intellectual stimulation that the game of chess brings.

From October 6th to November 10th, 1857, the first American Chess Congress won by Paul Morphy was held in New York. The last American Chess Congress was in August 1923 and there were nine editions of the American Chess Congress altogether. The United State Chess Federation started in 1939.

In 2021, GM Wesley So was the American Chess Champion after winning the tiebreakers in the playoff. After 11 rounds of competition, So, Fabiano Caruana, and Sam Sevian shared the first position in the 2021 U.S. Chess Championship. Bobby Fischer, Paul Morphy, Fabiano Caruana, and Hikaru Nakamura amongst others are all legendary chess players from the US!

On a checkers-style board where Chess is played wherein players are involved in intense matches to win the game and progress on the leaderboard. September 1st has been recognized as an unofficial holiday to celebrate the game of chess and to honor Benjamin Franklin.

chess board

How People Celebrate American Chess Day

People Spread a Word about American Chess Day

On this day, fans in the US spread the word about American Chess Day with the hashtag #AmericanChessDay.

Chess players teach new players

People take advantage of the day to share the game with someone who has never played. They begin by acclimatizing the new player to the board and all its parts. They teach them how each piece ranks and how each piece can move across the board.

People play Chess Games with their friends and families

People invite their friends and family, to spend some time together playing a mini chess tournament together to celebrate this great holiday. 

People learn to play chess

People who are enthusiastic about the game of chess using this day as an opportunity to learn the game from experienced chess players.

Players attend Online Chess Tournament

While some play this indoor sport with their friends, other players attend online chess tournaments to celebrate this fun occasion.

People visit the Chess District in the New York City

People take a stroll through the Marshall Chess Club, one of the oldest chess clubs in the United States (founded in 1915), and a frequent venue for the American Chess Championship.

chess board

Importance of American Chess Day

People are inspired to develop foresight

The chess game can be compared to a real-life situation. It helps to make the best decisions and create favorable outcomes for our lives.

Chess Game exercises both sides of the brain

Playing Chess helps to challenge the brain to exercise logic. Researchers have found out that there is a positive correlation between the level of IQ and playing or learning chess. A study also revealed that games that require participants to use their brains, especially older players, help participants become less likely to develop dementia.

Chess helps to build essential skills

American Chess Day helps to create awareness about the Chess game, which makes people keep playing the game even after that special day and for a long time. Tactical, strategic, visual and attention skills are aided by the game of Chess. It also helps to build problem-solving skills. 

Chess helps to build one’s mental agility 

In a game of chess, as you are thinking of your immediate next step and your steps after that, at the same time you are anticipating your opponent’s next moves. This, therefore, helps build your mental agility.

It instills positive moral values in the younger generation.

Chess teaches children from an early age that their choices have consequences—both good and bad. It helps them to be able to decide between good and wrong.

It brings people together 

American Chess Day brings people together from different backgrounds over a common bond and passion for the game.

chess pieces

What to Give On American Chess Day

Host a Chess Tournament Online

Do you have friends who love chess the same way you do? Get them all together and then pair everybody to the games. Put in place tournament support, and advance the winners to the championship match. Formalize it with chess clocks, and donate a trophy to the winner!

Start a Chess Club

There are chess clubs all over the United States and have players of all skill levels and all walks of life. Having checked the US Chess club directory and you’ve found out there’s no club in your area, you could start your own!

Conclusion

Every year on the 1 of September, American Chess Day is celebrated. If you are a chess lover, don’t just celebrate this special day by participating in a  chess tournament or in a friendly match with friends,  make history by gathering like-minded individuals who enjoy this delightful game!

It’s a time to show off your skills in the game of chess on American Chess Day. Use this day as an opportunity to share the game with someone who has never played before. Celebrate American Chess Day with a community of chess players, whether you are a newbie or an experienced chess player.

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