CHESS TOURNAMENTS
BECOME A TOURNAMENT CHAMPION
There is something special about competing in an over-the-board, in-person, chess tournament. So much chess is played online and anonymously these days, with no opportunity to get to know your opponent and feel the highs and lows of competition. PALS chess tournaments teach children how to win and lose with good sportsmanship while having fun with their friends! Our family-friendly tournament venue provides a warm and inviting atmosphere for families and friends to spend the day together. There is seating for family members in the playing hall as well as a spacious area with tables and chairs outside the playing hall. With a wonderful playground, wifi and plenty of free parking, this is the perfect space for your future chess masters to compete!
PALS Tournament Dates: 2026-2027
WE ARE EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE HAVE TOURNAMENTS IN DENVER AND COLORADO SPRINGS THIS YEAR!
Please read before registering for our upcoming tournaments
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR SECTION:
Scholastic K-2: Good for beginners in Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd grade
Scholastic K-5: Good for beginners in 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade OR players in Kindergarten, 1st, & 2nd grade who have performed strongly in the K-2 section in previous events & want to play stronger opponents.
Scholastic 6-12: Good for players in 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, & 12th grades
K-12 Rated: Good for stronger players of all ages & grades who routinely place in the top 3 of their usual unrated sections, & want to get a United States Chess Federation (USCF) rating, while still playing for trophies. THIS SECTION IS USCF RATED AND REQUIRES A USCF MEMBERSHIP & ID NUMBER.
*Please note as of March 1, 2026 we no longer offer an Open Rated Section
New to the tournament scene or want more details about how the PALS tournament process works?
Click the links below to learn more!
Denver Location:
Central Christian Church
3690 Cherry Creek South Dr.
Denver, Co 80209
Co. Springs Location:
Hyatt at Garden of the Gods
503 W. Garden of the Gods Rd.
Co. Springs, CO 80907
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
Check-in 8:00-8:30am
Players Meeting: 8:30am
Round 1-9:00am
Round 2-10:00am
Round 3-11:00am
Lunch-12-12:25pm
Round 4-12:30pm
Round 5-1:30pm
Awards Ceremony-2:30pm
all tournament registration links are coming soon!
DENVER DATES:
#1: SEPTEMBER 26
#2: OCTOBER 24
#3: NOVEMBER 14
#4: DECEMBER 12
#5: JANUARY 23, 2027
#6: FEBRUARY 20
#7: MARCH 20
#8: APRIL 17
#9: MAY 15
CO. SPRINGS DATES:
#1 CS: OCTOBER 17
#2 CS: NOVEMBER 21
#3 CS: DECEMBER 19
#4 CS: JANUARY 16, 2027
#5 CS: FEBRUARY 13
#6 CS: MARCH 13
#7 CS: APRIL 10
#8 CS: MAY 8
AWESOME PRIZES!
PALS Chess Academy returns with a fantastic array of trophies or medals for ALL participants! Unique prizes include the Chess Queen Trophies awarded to the girls who score the most points in each section, the David vs. Goliath trophy to the lowest grade player who scores the most points in each section.
LUNCH
The lunch break is between rounds 3 and 4. There are plenty of restaurants in the area, and players may also bring a packed lunch to the tournament.
