January 25. 64th Annual Pittsburgh Chess League : Round 4. 30/90, SD/60d5. Dining Room, 1st Floor, O'Hara Student Center, 4024 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh PA 15213. Rds 3:30pm. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club & Organized by the Pittsburgh Chess League.
January 29. (QC) University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night 12-3 Quick. 4-SS. G/12d3. Dining Room C, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. USCF-Quick-rated, but no entry fee or prizes. Must register in advance. Part of the Spring 2026 University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night Specials. Rds 7:30pm - 8:05pm - 8:40pm - 9:15pm. Info/Reg: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored & Organized by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
February 1. 64th Annual Pittsburgh Chess League : Round 5. 30/90, SD/60d5. Dining Room, 1st Floor, O'Hara Student Center, 4024 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh PA 15213. Rds 3pm. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club & Organized by the Pittsburgh Chess League.
February 12. (Blitz) University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night 8-2 Blitz. 5-SS. G/8d2 Dining Room C, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. USCF-Blitz-rated, but no entry fee or prizes. Must register in advance. Part of the Spring 2026 University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night Specials. Rds 7:30pm - 8pm - 8:30pm - 9pm - 9:30pm. Info/Reg: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored & Organized by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
February 14
Grand Prix Points : 6
2026 PA State Game/75 Championship - West. 4-SS. G/75d5. Dining Rooms A & B, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. 3 sections, $$ (695G): Championship: Open to all. EF: $35 postmarked by 2/6, $45 after. $200-100, U2000 $75, U1800 $50. Premier: Open to unrated or rated under 1600. EF: $30 postmarked by 2/6, $40 after. $$ $90-60, U1400 $50, U1200 $40, U1000 $30. Trophies to Top 2, Top 2 under 1400, Top 2 under 1200, and Top 2 under 1000. Scholastic: Open to K-12 who are unrated or rated under 900. EF: $20 postmarked by 2/6, $30 after. Trophies to Top 7, and Top 3 under 600. All: Trophies to 1st-2nd club and school teams combining 4-7 players from all sections. Reg ends 9:30am. Rds 10am - 1pm - 4pm - 7pm. PSCF required $5 OSA. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh PA 15223-2245. Checks payable to PSCF. W. Sponsored & Organized by the PA State Chess Federation & University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
February 19 & 26. University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night 30-5 Regular. 4-SS. G/30d5. Dining Room C, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. USCF-Regular&Quick-rated, but no entry fee or prizes. Must register in advance. Part of the Spring 2026 University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night Specials. Rds 7:30pm & 8:45pm each day. Info/Reg: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored & Organized by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
February 21. 9th Saxonburg Open. 6-SS. G/30d5. South Butler Community Library, 240 West Main Street, Saxonburg PA 16056. EF: $45, Registration closes February 20 @ 5pm, Online registration only at https://www.gpchess.net/tournaments. 3 Sections: Championship, Open to All, $180-$120-$80; Premier, rated under 1200 or unrated, $110-$70-$50; Scholastic, Grades K to 12 rated under 800 or unrated. Trophies to top 3. Rds 9:30am - 10:45am - 12:15pm - 1:30pm - 2:45pm - 4pm. Info: gabriel.petesch@gmail.com 412-680-1324.
February 22. 64th Annual Pittsburgh Chess League : Round 6. 30/90, SD/60d5. Dining Room, 1st Floor, O'Hara Student Center, 4024 O'Hara St., Pittsburgh PA 15213. Rds 2pm. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club & Organized by the Pittsburgh Chess League.
March 6
Grand Prix Points : 6
(QC) 2026
Pennsylvania Quick Chess Championship. 6-SS, G/8d3. Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. 4 sections, EF rec'd by 2/16: Open: $14. U1500: $13. U1100: $12. U500: $11. $$ (750G): Open: 175-100-50, U1800 $45, U1600 $40. U1500: 125-75-50, U1300 $40, U1200 $30, Unrated $20. U1100: Trophies to 1st-12th, Top U900, Top U800, Top U700, Top U600, 1st-2nd Unr. U500: Trophies to 1st-12th, Top U400, Top U300, Top U200, 1st-3rd Unr. All: EF: $20 after 2/16, PSCF required $5 OSA. Reg: 5:30-6:15pm. Rd 1: 7pm. February 2026 Regular ratings used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd 2. HR: Mention "PAST0305" for the best rate by February 19; https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=37110&Chain=13325&group=PAST0305 717-939-7841 $125 1-4 per room (Stay at the tournament site!). Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh PA 15223-2245. Checks payable to PSCF. Info: http://pscfchess.org/pascholasticchamp/ martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286.
A Heritage Event
March 7 & 8. 2026 Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championships. 5-SS. 261 Trophies!! (With 191 Individual and 70 Team Trophies). Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. 11 sections (Sat & Sun 3/7 & 3/8 unless indicated): EF: K-3 Open: (Sat 3/7 only) $32. K-6 U500: (Sat 3/7 only) $28. K-6 U800: (Sat 3/7 only) $29. K-9 U600: (Sun 3/8 only) $28.50. K-9 U1100: (Sun 3/8 only) $29.50. K-5 Open: $33. K-8 Open: $34. 6-12 U1000 and 6-12 Unrated: $30. 6-12 U1300: $31. K-12 Open: $35. Cash Scholarships: K-12 Open, K-8 Open, K-5 Open K-3 Open: 1st $500, Girl $150. All: EFs if rec'd by 2/16, $10 more rec'd 2/17-2/28, $20 more after 2/28. Advance entries must be received by March 4. February 2026 ratings used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd 2. Reg Fri 3/6 6-10pm, Sat 3/7 10-11am, Saturday at site entries get .5-bye in Rd 1. $5 charge for changes/refunds/additions to teams/bye requests after 2/16. Such changes must be made by rd 2. Payment must be received with changes. Rds (Sat 3/7 1-day sections): G/40d5; 10-Noon-2-4-6; (Sun 3/8 1-day sections): G/40d5; 9-10:45-12:30-2:15-4; (2-day sections): G/90d5; 10-2-5:30, 9-1. Bughouse: Reg on-site only until Sat 3/7 8:30pm. Rds begin Sat 3/7 8:45pm. EF: $20/team. HR: Mention "PAST0305" for the best rate by February 19; https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=37110&Chain=13325&group=PAST0305 717-939-7841 $125 1-4 per room (Stay at the tournament site!). Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh PA 15223-2245. Checks payable to PSCF. Info: http://pscfchess.org/pascholasticchamp/ martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286.
March 7 & 8
Grand Prix Points : 10
2026 Ira Lee Riddle Memorial Pennsylvania State Championship & Pennsylvania Collegiate Championship. 5-SS, G/90d5. Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg Hershey, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111. 3 sections: Open, U1800 & U1400. $$ (1875G): Open: 350-150, U2200 $125, U2000 $100; U1800: 200-150, U1650 $125, U1500 $100; U1400: 200-150, U1200 $90, U1000 $75, Unr $60. All: College Trophies: 1st-2nd in each section, 1st-2nd team (4 players combined over all sections). EF: $40 rec'd by 2/16, $50 after, PSCF required $5 OSA. Reg: 8:45-9:30am. Rds 10-2-5:30, 9-1. February 2026 ratings used. Bye: limit 1, ask by rd 2. HR: Mention "PAST0305" for the best rate by February 19; https://be.synxis.com/?Hotel=37110&Chain=13325&group=PAST0305 717-939-7841 $125 1-4 per room (Stay at the tournament site!). Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh PA 15223-2245. Checks payable to PSCF. Info: http://pscfchess.org/pascholasticchamp/ martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286.
March 19 & 26. University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night 29-0 Quick. 4-SS. G/29d0. Dining Room C, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. USCF-Quick-rated, but no entry fee or prizes. Must register in advance. Part of the Spring 2026 University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night Specials. Rds 7:30pm & 8:45pm each day. Info/Reg: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored & Organized by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
March 29. 64th Annual Pittsburgh Chess League : Round 7. 30/90, SD/60d5. Room 548, 5th Floor & Dining Rooms A & B, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. Rds 2pm. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club & Organized by the Pittsburgh Chess League.
April 2. (Blitz) University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night 5-2 Blitz. 6-SS. G/5d2. Dining Room C, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. USCF-Blitz-rated, but no entry fee or prizes. Must register in advance. Part of the Spring 2026 University of Pittsburgh Thursday Night Specials. Rds 7:30pm - 7:55pm - 8:20pm - 8:45pm - 9:10pm - 9:35pm. Info/Reg: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored & Organized by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
April 4
Grand Prix Points : 6
(QC) 2026 PA State Game/29 Championship - West. 5-SS. G/29d0. Room 548, 5th Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. 2 sections: Championship: Open to all. EF: $30 postmarked by 3/27, $40 after. $$ (690G): 200-100, U2000 $90, U1800 $80, U1600 $70, U1400 $60, U1200 $50, U1000 $40. Trophies to Top 3 under 1400, Top 3 under 1200, and Top 3 under 1000. Scholastic: Open to K-12 who are unrated or rated under 900. EF: $20 postmarked by 3/27, $30 after. Trophies to Top 7, and Top 3 under 600. All: PSCF required $5 OSA. Trophies to 1st-2nd club and school teams combining 4-7 players from both sections. Reg ends 10:30am. Rds 11am - 12:30pm - 1:45pm - 3pm - 4:15pm. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. Ent: PSCF, c/o Tom Martinak, 25 Freeport St., Pittsburgh PA 15223-2245. Checks payable to PSCF. W. Sponsored & Organized by the PA State Chess Federation & University of Pittsburgh Chess Club.
April 12. 64th Annual Pittsburgh Chess League : Round 8. 30/90, SD/60d5. Room 548, 5th Floor & Dining Rooms A & B, 1st Floor, William Pitt Union, Univ. of Pittsburgh, 5th Ave. & Bigelow Blvd., Pittsburgh PA 15213. Rds 2pm. Info: martinak_tom_m@hotmail.com, 412-908-0286. W. Sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Chess Club & Organized by the Pittsburgh Chess League.