Welcome to the Chicago Academic Chess website. This website provides information on our programs to players, coaches, parents and schools.

About Us

Empowering our students to make their own moves, succeed in college and career, and become leaders in their community

Academic Chess is a partnership between CPS Academic Competition Department and the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation.

At Academic Chess we are more than a chess league, we provide students from diverse communities across the city with the opportunity to learn, play, and compete in chess at no cost. Our program focus on the integration of social, emotional, and academic development to give students a better chance of thriving in school, career, and life.

Our students participate in after school chess clubs, play in tournaments, attend summer learning, and go on exploration trips around their city and across the country.

Remember, it’s not just about winning, it’s the joy of learning, playing and being apart of our chess community.

Programs

Learn. Play. Grow. Transform. Lead.

Students play in local, regional, national, and inter-national tournaments

After-School chess clubs and competitive chess tournaments for K-12 students

Promoting non-violence and increase positive relationships with youth and police

Through summer programing we are able to extend the work we do during the summer

Bridging the gender divide in chess and empowering female high school chess leaders

In the classroom chess program for 2nd and 3rd grade students during the school day

Impact

Changing students lives on and off the board

60,000+ Students Taught

250+ Schools Engaged

250+ Tournaments Held

School Year 23-24

CPS Academic Chess Programs

  • 110 Schools
  • 2360 K-12th grade students
  • 85 elementary schools
  • 25 high schools
  • 600+ students participated in the regional Greater Chicago K-12 Chess Championship
  • 100+ Students from 24 schools played the US Chess Federation’s High School National Championship
  • 50+ CPS students participated in the KCF All-Girls National Chess Championship –
  • 60+ CPS students participated in the inter-national Pan American Youth Chess Championship

Cops & Kids Chess Initiative

  • 25 Schools
  • 310 5- 12th grade students
  • 25 weekly classes between October – March
  • 92 students from 11 schools, and 9 police officers played in the December event
  • 140 students from 16 schools, and 14 police officers participated in the year end event

Summer Programing

  • 3-week camp for 25 High School students
  • 2-week camp for 30 5-8th graders
  • 1-week camp for 16 5-12th grade girls
  • Two 1-week intercession camps for 34 5-12th graders

Tournaments

  • 3849 participants at in-person tournaments
  • 1087 participants in online tournaments
  • CPS All-Stars – 344 players from 46 schools
  • CPS Jr Prep Bowl – 258 players from 36 schools
  • Cops & Kids Holiday Tournament – 92 students from 11 schools
  • CPS Kings & Queens – 294 players from 56 schools
  • CPS High School Championship – 190 players from 16 schools
  • CPS K-8 Playoffs – 535 students from 62 schools
  • CPS K-8 Championship – 108 players from 23 school
  • Cops & Kids Year End Event – 140 players from 16 schools
  • Weekly online Blitz Oct – May
  • Monthly online rapid Oct – April

African-American standouts reap benefits of chess

Why Chess

There is nothing like chess to help students improve academically and socially, enhance STEM skills, develop critical thinking, improve concentration, and build self-confidence, while building their confidence and learning to win and lose in a safe environment.

We believe in the power of chess to change lives. To date, we have taught more than 60,000 of Chicago’s most underserved children, inspiring them to greater achievement. Each day, we are proud to help kids grow, one move at a time. Our impact is demonstrated by classroom teachers and student responses to our annual surveys:

  • 94% Chess had a meaningful positive impact on students.
  • 91% Chess developed students’ analytical and logical skills.
  • 89% Chess improved students’ math skills.
  • 94% Chess helped my students concentrate better.
  • 91% Girls and boys are equally interested in chess in my class.
  • 97% Off students want to participate in chess next year.
  • 93% Chess enhanced my students’ cooperation skills.

Our Team

David Heiser
Chess Consultant
Executive Director
Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation
daheiser@cps.edu
c: 773-844-0701

Darrell Ivy
Academic Competition Coordinator for Chess
Office of Student Support & Engagement
divy10@cps.edu
c: 773-414-2619

Arlecia Taylor
Director Academic Competitions
Office of Student Support & Engagement
ajtaylor@cps.edu

Contact Us

Thanks for your interest in the CPS Chess programs.

  • If you’re interested in participating in one of our programs, please contact Darrel Ivy.
  • If you’re interested in participating in our tournaments, please contact David Heiser.
  • If you’re interested in volunteering, please contact David Heiser or Darrel Ivy.
  • For assistance with ASPEN, please contact Markus Payne.
  • If you’re interested in donating, please click here.
  • For all other inquiries, please contact David Heiser.

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Events

Event Date Time Location
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Nov 19, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Nov 26, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Dec 03, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Cops & Kids December Tournament Cops & Kids December Tournament Saturday - Dec 07, 2024 9:00 AM TBA
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Dec 10, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Dec 17, 2024 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Winter K-12 Online Tournament Winter K-12 Online Tournament Monday - Dec 23, 2024 10:00 AM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Jan 07, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Jan 14, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
MLK Day K-12 Online Tournament MLK Day K-12 Online Tournament Monday - Jan 20, 2025 10:00 AM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Jan 21, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
High School Championship High School Championship Saturday - Jan 25, 2025 8:30 AM Simeon High School
Kings & Queens K-8 Tournament Kings & Queens K-8 Tournament Saturday - Jan 25, 2025 8:30 AM Simeon High School
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Jan 28, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Feb 04, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Greater Chicago K-12 Championship Greater Chicago K-12 Championship Saturday - Feb 08, 2025 10:00 AM McCormick Place West Building
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Feb 11, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Presidents Day K-12 Online Tournament Presidents Day K-12 Online Tournament Monday - Feb 17, 2025 10:00 AM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Feb 18, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Feb 25, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Elementary K-8 North & South Playoffs Elementary K-8 North & South Playoffs Saturday - Mar 01, 2025 9:00 AM Senn High School
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Mar 04, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Mar 11, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Elementary K-8 Championship Elementary K-8 Championship Saturday - Mar 15, 2025 9:00 AM TBA
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Mar 18, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Mar 25, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Spring K-12 Online Tournament Spring K-12 Online Tournament Monday - Mar 31, 2025 10:00 AM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 01, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
All-Girls National Championships All-Girls National Championships Friday - Apr 04, 2025 - Apr 06, 2025 2:00 PM McCormick Place West Building
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 08, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 15, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 22, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Cops & Kids Culminating Tournament Cops & Kids Culminating Tournament Saturday - Apr 26, 2025 9:00 AM TBA
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - Apr 29, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 06, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
SuperNationals Trip SuperNationals Trip Thursday - May 08, 2025 - May 12, 2025 12:00 AM
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 13, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 20, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday Knights Rapid Tuesday - May 27, 2025 6:00 PM Online At ChessKid.com
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