5 Best chess clubs in San Diego

5 Best chess clubs in San Diego(Updated on September 2023)

Updated on February 9, 2024

Looking to enhance your chess skills and meet fellow enthusiasts in San Diego? Joining a chess club is the perfect solution! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, the Chess Gaja academy and other renowned clubs like the San Diego Chess Club offer lessons, tournaments, and a vibrant community to help you excel in the game.

No matter what your skill level or interests, there’s sure to be a chess club in San Diego that’s perfect for you. So what are you waiting for? Start your search today!

Chess Gaja

Chess Gaja Private Limited is a leading online chess academy for all student levels and ages led by GrandMaster Priyadharshan Kannappan.

We offer online 1-1 sessions, group classes, and summer camps.

All coaches in Chess Gaja are highly accomplished, FIDE-rated coaches. If you are looking for high-quality lessons in a guided manner where a student can come in as an absolute beginner and will be handheld all the way to GrandMaster level, then Chess Gaja is the right choice.

What makes Chess Gaja stand out from its competitors, is to understand that have a look at the video of the benefits of joining Chess Gaja.

Benefits of learning with Chess Gaja

  • Coaches of all rating levels
  • Students of all ages
  • Complimentary Group Masterclasses regularly
  • Exclusive student newsletter
  • Coach of the Brazil Team for the Chess Olympiad 2022
  • Worked with 6 national champions
  • The study Schedule will be provided
  • 2 monthly academy tournaments where you get a chance to play against GrandMaster.
  • Chess book/Software suggestions will be provided
  • 120+ Students from 15+ countries 

Check out the success stories of Chess Gaja students here.

Accomplished Chess Gaja students in California

  1. Priyansh Garg
Priyansh Garg

Priyansh Garg joined the academy at the end of August 2021 with a USCF rating of 1325, and currently, he has a 2074 USCF rating. On October 2022, with his great performance in Gambito, he achieved the National Master title. He is also currently ranked 11 in the US Top 100 Ranking list.

2. Smaran

Smaran

Smaran from California, United States, started taking classes at Chess Gaja in January 2023 and had a USCF rating of 759. Currently, Smaran has a 1025 USCF rating. One of his recent powerful performances was in the SDCC MARCH SCHOLASTIC where he gained 141 rating points.

3. Ruhan

Ruhan became a part of the academy in July 2023, with a USCF rating of 1756. In just 5 months, he remarkably raised his rating to 1972 USCF. He is ranked 47th in the U-12 USCF rankings. Ruhan is taking 1-1 classes from Grand Master Priyadharshan Kannappan.

Ruhan’s performances at recent Gambito Events in San Diego have been remarkable, and we are hoping that he will soon break through the 2000 rating barrier!

Contact form: https://chessgaja.com/contactnew/

San Diego Chess Club

The San Diego Chess Club was founded in 1991 and is one of the largest clubs in the country with about 160 members of all levels. USCF-rated tournaments are held on Wednesday evenings (7 pm), Saturdays (10:30 am), and scholastic tournaments (for kids K through 12th grades) are on Sundays. They also organize multiple large annual events such as the Dreaming King Open, San Diego Open, SCCF (Southern California Chess Federation) Senior/Junior Open, and the Southern California Open.

Contact

Address – 2225 6th Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101

Phone Number – (619) 752-4377

North County Chess Club

The North County Chess Club of San Diego meets on Thursday nights and starts at 7 pm. They are USCF affiliated and play rated chess tournaments for cash prizes. They are open to players of all ages and skill levels.

Contact

Address – 2993 Mac Donald St, Oceanside, CA.

A Great San Diego Chess Meetup!

This meetup is at Del Mar Restaurant with great food and is at 5:30 pm every Wednesday at Sammy’s, Del Mar Heights! The meetup starts at 5:30 pm before Happy Hour ends for half-price on food. Anyone who is interested in Chess is welcome to join this club. This is a great choice if you are looking for casual chess play for adults in San Diego.

They are a very social group, having great times at A Great San Diego Chess Meetup. All different levels of players including a few families with kids.

Temecula Chess Club

Temecula Chess Club has tournaments Tuesday evenings and some Saturdays, as well as casual play at other times. They conduct tournaments for all levels of players. TCC holds scholastic chess tournaments in San Diego for kids called Junior Jousts. Normally, these G/15 events are held on the second and fourth Saturdays.

Contact

Address – 27403 Ynez Rd, Temecula, CA 92591, USA

Phone Number – ‭469.835.4551

Joining a chess club is a great way to improve your chess skills, meet new people, and have some fun. We have curated the top 5 chess clubs in San Diego for you to choose from according to your specific needs.

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"Every chess Master was once a Beginner" - Irving Chernev

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