The Rock River Valley has a proud chess history including at least three national champions and six high school team championships. Three USCF national tournaments have been hosted in Rockford.

The Rockford area has at least two dozen scholastic chess clubs that compete regularly in the Rockford Chess Challenge, as well as many regional, state, and national events.

Monday nights is 'chess night' at the Barnes and Noble at Perryville and State.

The website of the Rockford Chess Association (www.rockfordchess.org) includes news, tournament listings, tutors, a guide on how to start a club, and other useful links. It has a particularly good set of instructional material, including both lessons and handouts, many of which are included as links in this website’s section called “Starting a Chess Program.”

The Route 20 Chess Club, based in Freeport, serves northwest Illinois and southwest Wisconsin.  The club  maintains an active website (http://route20chess.blogspot.com/) with a calendar of events, annotated games, tournament results, standings on the club ladder, ratings of local players, and photos.

The principal scholastic organizer in Rockford is Chuck Beach. For more information: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..