Chess Clubs in Texas

January 31, 2023

Chess in Texas has a long history, with the first chess clubs being established in the late 19th century. One of the earliest known chess clubs in Texas was the Houston Chess Club, which was founded in 1884.

In the early 20th century, chess in Texas began to gain popularity, with several other chess clubs being established in cities such as Dallas, San Antonio, and Austin. The Dallas Chess Club, for example, was founded in 1901, and the San Antonio Chess Club was established in 1920.

In the 1920s and 1930s, Texas produced several notable chess players, including International Master Herman Steiner, who was born in Galveston in 1908 and later went on to become one of the strongest chess players in the United States.

Another notable chess player from Texas was Dr. George Koltanowski, who was born in Belgium but moved to Texas in the 1920s and went on to become a well-known chess player and promoter. He was famous for giving simultaneous exhibitions and blindfolded chess where he played multiple games at once without looking at the board.

In the post-war period, Texas continued to produce strong chess players, with notable champions such as International Master John Donaldson, who was born in Dallas in 1955, and Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan who was born in Damascus, Syria but later immigrated to the United States and lived in Texas.

Chess clubs and tournaments continue to thrive in Texas today, with many local and state-wide tournaments and events being held regularly. The Texas Chess Association is the governing body for chess in Texas and promotes the game throughout the state.