North Carolina Chess Clubs
This listing of Post Covid Live chess clubs is the latest greatest of “live, in your face clubs” in North Carolina, meeting now. If you notice *** (three asterisks) in the notes following a listing, that means we were unable to officially verify the info on that club, so be very careful to check websites and current info prior to attending. Should you have any corrections, changes, or additions, please contact Roz Katz at rozbkatz@gmail.com, or you can call: 919.237.2002
Asheboro Chess Club
Address: Asheboro Public Library, 201 Worth Street in Asheboro.
In person play times: Tuesday 6pm to 9pm
Contact: Tom Hales, chess@triad.rr.com, phone 336-460-6882, Website: Asheboro Chess Club
Asheville Chess Club
Address: Asheville Community Center, 37 East Larchmont Road, Asheville, NC 28804
In person play times: Wednesday 6:30pm to 9:30pm
Contact: Joseph Quinlan, vincentvanjoe@gmail.com, phone: 828-776-1918 Website: Ashville Chess Club
Bailey – Highway 264 Chess Club
Address: 8180 Stoney Hill Church Road, Bailey, NC
In person play times: Fluid schedule (loosely based on Firehouse schedule), generally tournaments run on Fridays – beginning at 9am with games in 60.
Contact: Gordon Ray, phone: 252-292-6324
Notes: This group used to be “retired guys” although Gordon assures me that all are welcome. Other names associated with this club are Wilson Chess Academy and Gallberry Games.
The current venue is a brand new senior center – they are increasingly well-attended and LOTS OF FUN!
Boone – Appalachian State University Chess Club
Address: App State’s Campus, 263 Locust Street, Boone, NC 28508, room 136 of Plemmons Student Union
In person play times – Monday 5pm to 7:15pm
Contact: Nicholas Steward, appstatechess@gmail.com
Notes: Our members play online on both chess.com and lichess.org. We accept new members through this email and in person our meetings. Our club is free to join and open to all, but is predominantly comprised of App State students. We also have a club group message of about 90 people on the platform GroupMe. This provides a place for chess discussion, sharing games, sending challenges, and for our admins, sending quick notifications about the club.
Burlington Chess Club
Address: Smitty’s Ice Cream 107 East Front St., Burlington, NC 27215
In person play times: Sunday 2pm to 5pm.
Contact: Charles Roberson, croberson2@triad.rr.com , Website: Burlington Chess Club
Notes: During the height of the pandemic, we met online on Lichess.org and we have an online chess team that participates in the 2020 world chess league. We are considering adding another day per week and it would be online.
Carolina Shores Chess Club (formerly Myrtle Beach/Calabash)
Address: Southwest Brunswick Branch Library, room 125, at 9400 Ocean Highway, Carolina Shores, NC.
In person play times: Tuesday 1pm to 4pm.
Contact: Terry Newman, terrynewman@atmc.net or (910)755-7140.
Notes: No membership required, everyone welcome. Sets and clocks provided.
Carrboro Chess Club
Address: Carrboro Century Center, 100 N Greensboro St. Carrboro NC 27510 in Activity Room 1
In person play times: Tuesday 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Contact: John Kovalchik, john.n.kovalchik@gmail.com
Cary Chess Club
Address: Caribou Coffee, 109 SW Maynard Rd, Cary, NC 27511 (corner of Kildare Farms Rd & Maynard Rd).
In person play times: Wednesday 5pm to 9pm. The first Wednesday of each month we have an unrated G/15 starting at 5:30pm.
Contact: Keith Carson, krcarsn1@aol.com
Notes: We are focused on casual chess, all folks welcome, no dues. Some players have ratings, many don’t. We have about 15 active members. We have one new member, age 6, very strong for his age. Would hope you could meet him… Come visit sometime!
Charlotte Chess Center & Scholastic Academy
Address: 10700 Kettering Drive, Unit E , Charlotte, NC 28226
https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/
Tuesday: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Friday: 6:00pm – 10:00pm
Sunday: 12:30pm – 4:30pm
For special events on weekdays and weekends see our events calendar.
Durham – Triangle Area Chess Club
Note: This club has merged with the Triangle Chess Center. Contact: Gary Maltzman, tachessclub@gmail.com
Durham/Morrisville – Triangle Chess Center
Address: 5920 S. Miami Blvd, Morrisville 27560
In person play times: Saturday 1pm to 5pm and Wednesday 5:30pm to 8pm
Contact: Coach Bill Clausen (919) 272-8017 improve@trianglechess.com, Website: TriangleChess.com
Notes: No Membership Dues- so technically we do not have members but we have worked with over 7,000 people in the last 10 years. 97% tied to youth services.
Durham – Downtown Durham Chess Club
Address: Durham County Main Library, 300 N Roxboro St, Durham, NC
Beginning May 21st, meetings will be every 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturday of the month.
In-person play times: Saturday from 1:30pm until 5:30 pm.
Contact: Phil Nousak, pnousak@mindspring.com, phone: 919-323-9020
Library Contact: John Davis, jwdavis@dconc.gov, phone: 919-560-0125, Website: https://durhamcountylibrary.org/
Durham County Main Library 919-560-0100
Participation is free and unrated.
Conrad Conero, the founder and former president of the club, will continue sending his wonderful newsletter to all members of the Downtown and North Durham clubs.
Durham – North Durham Chess Club
Address: North Durham Regional Library, 221 Milton Road, Durham, NC
Beginning May 28th, meetings will be every 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month.
In-person play times: Saturday from 1:30pm until 5:30 pm.
Contact: Phil Nousak, pnousak@mindspring.com, phone: 919-323-9020
Library Contact: Emily Tobias, etobias@dconc.gov, phone: 919-560-0231, Website: https://durhamcountylibrary.org/
North Durham County Public Library 919-560-0140, the information desk is 919-560-0236
Participation is free and unrated.
Conrad Conero, the founder and former president of the club, will continue sending his wonderful newsletter to all members of the Downtown and North Durham clubs.
Fayetteville Chess Club
Address: Tim’s Pizza, Eutaw Village Shopping Center, 2734 Bragg Blvd, Fayetteville, NC 28303
In person play times: Tuesday 5pm to 8pm
Contact: Kirk Bobbitt, fayettevillechessclub@gmail.com
Granville Chess Club – Creedmoor
Address: South Granville Public Library, 1550 South Campus Drive, Creedmoor, NC27522
Note: This club is no longer meeting due to Covid restrictions. The hope is that they will open in the future. The library phone number is 919-528-1752
Greensboro Chess Club
Address: Lewis Recreation Center, 3110 Forest Lawn Drive, Greensboro, NC 27455
In person play times: Wednesday 6:30pm to 9:45pm
Contact: Jacob Parrish, phone 980-298-7656, website: greensborochess.org
Greenville Chess Club
Address: Barnes & Noble Greenville Blvd (264 By-Pass) and Evans Street
Notes: This club is no longer meeting, but Barnes & Noble would enjoy welcoming a new club. Many of the previous members attend the Highway 264 club.
Greenville/Winterville - Family Chess Club Address: Apt to Learn, 650 East Firetower Road, Suite B, Winterville, NC 27890 In person play times: Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm. One hour we have lessons and then we have free play. The club also meets on Wednesday from 6pm to 9pm. Contacts: Jerry Skinner, President, howlandbakerjarvis@yahoo.com phone: 252-209-4148, and Steven Smith, VP phone: 252-258-6961. NCfamilychessclub@gmail.com. Notes: The emphasis here is on families: kids, Moms and Dads – although all are welcome. The kids are aged 3 and up. Boards are provided, dues are $10 per year. The club is a USCF affiliate and they run lots of tournaments, due to their active TD.
Henderson/Vance Chess Club
Address: Clearview Church Fellowship Hall, 3485 Hwy 158 Business, Henderson NC.
In person play times: Thursday nights from 5:30 till?????
Contact: Rudolph Abate, phone 252-738-0375, chessclub@embarqmail.com; Website: www.vhchessclub.com/
Notes: We play rated games. All Beginners, Experts, and in between are welcome. 3R SS tournaments once a month, see flyer on Open and K-12 tabs of this website.
Please call before coming in case of rescheduling for church functions.
Hendersonville Chess Club
Address: Hendersonville Presbyterian Church, 699 North Grove St., Hendersonville, NC 28792
In person play times: Tuesday 6pm to 8pm
Contact: Kevin Hyde, achievememttesting.com
Notes: Open to all ages, all time control variants are played.
Hillsborough Chess Club
The Eno House – 903 Eno Street, Hillsborough
In person play times: Thursdays 6:30-9:00 p.m.
Open to all ages and skill levels. Youth must be accompanied by parent/guardian
Contact: John Timmel cell: 919-593-1459 email: hillsboroughchess@gmail.com
Jacksonville Chess Club
Address: 804 New Bridge St (Youth Center), Jacksonville, NC 28540
In person play times: Tuesday 5:30pm-10pm
Contact: Sara Walsh, jacksonvillechess@gmail.com Phone: (910)-546-5250, Website: Jacksonville Chess Club
Kernersville Chess Club
Address: Panera Bread, 970 S Main St, Kernersville
In person play times: Tuesday 6:30pm to 9pm
Contact: Keith Hooker, kvilletd@aol.com
Lake Norman Chess Club – Charlotte/Cornelius
Address: McAlister’s Deli, 19930W.Catawba Ave. off 177 exit 28, Cornelius
In person play times: Sunday 2pm
Contact: for e-mail and website: Lake Norman Chess Club
Lumberton Kings & Queens – Lumberton
Notes: the contact we have is Al Floyd and the phone number listed is incorrect. Please notify us if you have any information about this club. ***
Marion Chess Club
Address: Marion Senior Center (next to YMCA), 100 Spaulding Road, Marion, NC
In person play times: Tuesday 5:15pm to 7:45pm
Contact: David Myers, dgmyers1234@gmail.com
Notes: Casual play and open to all ages. The club also conducts a USCF Rated Tournament, every month, on the 1st and 2nd Tuesdays, of each month, August – December. ***
New Bern ChessClub
Address: Books-a-Million,3005 Clarendon Blvd, New Bern
In person play times: Monday 6:30pm to 10pm
Contact: Nolan Tomboulian, phone 252-675-0176
Raleigh Wine, Beer & Chess Meet
Address: 521 W. North Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
In person play times: Sunday 2pm to 8pm.
Contact: none listed, although the amazing bartender seems to keep players in line.
Notes: Should you be looking for a quiet, sedate place to think, this is NOT FOR YOU. Loud music, loud players, smack talk – no kids and no food. Just come in, or stay outside and set up your board. Someone will sit down to play. Players come and go – the time passes quickly.
Sanford Knights Chess Club (formerly Sanford Community Chess Club)
Address: Karma Coffee 131 Wicker St. Sanford NC 27330
In person play times: Saturday 10am to noon, we also meet on Tuesday from 5pm to 7pm at alternating locations
Contact: Jeff Brueck chessSNC@gmail.com, also brueckjl@yahoo.com
Notes: Open to age 8 and above. They currently host monthly scholastic tournaments.
Southern Pines – Community Congregational Church Chess Club (5c’s)
Address: 141 North Bennett Street, Southern Pines, NC, 28387
In person play times: Thursday 5:30pm to 7:30pm
Contact: Michael Dubbs, dubb_z@yahoo.com, phone 910.885.3170.
Note: Although this is a new club, it shows a good steady attendance of roughly a dozen each week and promises to grow rapidly.
In addition to his regular club duties, Michael teaches scholastic students at The Academy of Moore County and for the Moore County Christian Home School Association.
Wake Forest Chess Club
Address: Wake Forest Coffee Company, 156 S White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587.
In person play times: Monday 5pm to 8pm
Contact: Brian Mannette, mannetteb@gmail.com
Notes: Many of our members use GameKnot to play online in addition to meeting on Monday evenings. We currently have a tournament going on.
This is a true coffee house experience. Our games are very competitive, but not rated.
Waynesville – Smokey Mountain Chess Club
Address: Hazelwood Presbyterian Church in Waynesville, 368 Hazelwood Ave, Waynesville, NC 28786. The church is across the street from the Hazelwood Post Office, and parking is behind the church. We meet in the fellowship hall. In person play times: Thursday 1pm until dinner time.
Contact: Leon Sallards, phone: 828-246-3022, website: Smokey Mountain Chess Club.
Notes: All players are welcome. Please bring chess sets and clocks if possible.
Wilmington Chess Club
Address: Long Leaf Park. 314 Pine Grove Dr, Wilmington, NC 28409. We usually meet at Picnic Shelter #4. Sometimes we meet at Shelter #5 or #6 depending on where space is available. I put up a blue Wilmington Chess Club banner. We will probably need to move the club indoors when the weather gets cold around December. In person play times: Sunday 1pm to 4pm
Contact: Jimmy Sneeden, jimmysneeden@gmail.com
Notes: Players of all ages and skill levels are welcome. No need to bring chess pieces or board.
Wilmington – UNC Wilmington Chess Club
Address: 601 College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403
In person play times: Monday 7pm
Contact: DrewM727, tlr5835@uncw.edu or Chris Freekin at seahawkchess@yahoo.com
Notes: ***
Winston-Salem Chess Club
Address: Miller Park Recreation Center, 400 Leisure Lane,Winston-Salem.
In person play times: Thursday from 6pm to 9pm.
Contact: Darryl Benbow, darrylbenbow@winston-salemchess.org, Phone: 336-922-3176, website: Winston-Salem Chess Club.
Notes: Mask wearing is required. We average 12 members each week. We have a total of 75.