Never mind one night in Bangkok, a major U.S. chess tournament will spend four days in Glendale, organizers reminded local players and fans Tuesday.
The Southern California Open Chess Tournament will return to Glendale from Sept. 4-7 after a successful run in the city in 2025.
The four-day tournament at the Hilton Los Angeles North/Glendale is organized by the American Chess Academy and will feature tens of thousands of dollars in prize money and over 300 cerebral contestants of various ages and skill levels.
“I’ve always appreciated chess because it teaches patience, strategy and the importance of thinking several moves ahead,” Mayor Ardy Kassakhian remarked in a prepared release. “But what I enjoy most is how the game brings people together. You can sit across the board from someone of a different age, background or experience and immediately share a common language. That makes Glendale a fitting home for this tournament.”
In addition, Grandmaster Levon Aronian will take part in a simultaneous chess exhibition Aug. 28 at the Center for Armenian Arts, 250 N. Orange St., beginning at 6 p.m., when he will play multiple opponents at the same time.
Admission is free and open to the public.
The tournament features seven sections: Open, U2300, U2100, U1900, U1700, U1500, and U1300. For more information on the Southern California Open Chess Tournament and how to register, visit GlendalePlaysChess.com or contact Armen Ambartsoumian at AmericanChessAcademy@gmail.com.