Dear Chess Families & Friends,

Today we will see the completion of the first full week of our Fall Semester, and it's wonderful to see our teams and clubs back together. Registration remains open (see full club schedule below), so please invite your friends and classmates.

We're all set to launch the new season of competitive training and play in our 10th year, starting next week (see video below), and we have a complete schedule of strong training opportunities for players of all levels, from all teams both within ICN and without.

All of our training events, be it Camps, Grand Prixs, or Team Tournaments, build off the club & classroom lessons and activities, and better prepare our players & teams for monthly team tournaments, and then for the NY State All-Girls in November, Grade Nationals in December, but also for the trio of big spring championships: NY States, All-Girls Nationals, and Elementary Nationals in Baltimore in May 2026.

We're excited to launch our new 2025-2026 Camp & Tournament season with next week's school closure camp days, Tuesday & Wednesday, September 23 & 24:

School Closure Camps + Festivals:

Also, our full schedule of Grand Prixs and Team Tournaments are ready to roll

Saturdays:

Weekly => USCF Rated Saturday Scholastic Grand Prix- Open to All Players

Sundays:

We're also happy to announce that we're launching Wednesday evening programs in both Manhattan & Brooklyn, each with two groups: our original Masters Prep class, and our new Middle School Open class, for 6+ grade players of all levels. It starts in October, so get ready!

Here are some details about our programming:

ICN Saturday Grand Prix happens at four locations around the city, and features AM and PM sessions to work around schedules (3 rounds of game/25 d5), with many kids staying for the day and playing both sessions, for a total of six rated games, with game analysis between rounds.

ICN Saturday Elite Quads happen at two locations (St Luke's in Manhattan, and PS 32 in Brooklyn), and features three rounds of game/60 d5 with game analysis. Players must be 1000+ USCF for the full day Quads. Our St Luke's site now features two different playing time options for Saturdays!

ICN School Closure Training Camps are full-day drop-off camps including lunch, with rated games, analysis, lessons, outdoor activity, art, and much more.

ICN Monthly Team Tournaments happen the last Sunday of every month, and feature full-day drop-off tournament play with game analysis and team coaching, giving our teams a chance to build momentum for the bigger travel events.

Lots of big stuff coming, looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

If you have any questions about our events, please reach out.

Thanks,

Ian

Fall Program Schedule:

School based Chess Club & Team sessions will start directly after-school. Pickup will be at 5:00 pm with a 6:00 pm late-pickup option at most programs.
All programs will follow the NYC school calendar.
School based programs are open to only students attending those schools.
Saturday Grand Prix start at 9:30 am
Monthly Team tournaments start at 9:30 am

Mondays:

Tuesdays:

Wednesdays:

Thursdays:

Fridays:

Fall Chess Camp and Tournament Guide