United States

Chess Clubs in Oklahoma

Oklahoma chess centers on Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with a state association that has crowned a state champion since 1946 and a scholastic program that helped produce the state's first International Master.

603
Oklahoma USCF players
The state scene

The Oklahoma Chess Association is the state's US Chess affiliate, publishing the bi-monthly Oklahoma Chess Magazine and running the annual Jerry Spann Memorial & Oklahoma Open State Championship. It is named for the Oklahoma City businessman who served as USCF president from 1957 to 1960 after successfully promoting the 1956 U.S. Open in downtown Oklahoma City. Club play is anchored by the Oklahoma City Chess Club and by Tulsa's club scene, including a long-running Friday-night group and the Tulsa Midtown Chess Club's monthly tournaments. The Oklahoma Scholastic Chess Organization (OSCO) runs the state's K-12 tournament circuit, which has fed a run of strong young talent, most notably Advait Patel, who became Oklahoma's first International Master and a repeat state champion. The state title, contested since 1946, was long dominated by Béla Rózsa, a ten-time state champion whose name is now attached to the association's annual Rózsa Trophy for the state's top players.

  • Play the Jerry Spann Memorial & Oklahoma Open State Championship, the state's marquee Swiss event with Championship, Reserve, and Amateur sections.
  • Join casual and rated games at the Oklahoma City Chess Club or with Tulsa's Friday and Saturday club meetups.
  • Follow the Oklahoma Chess Association's calendar and OSCO's scholastic circuit for youth events across the state.
Notable names tied to Oklahoma chess
J

Jerry Spann

Oklahoma City chess promoter who championed the 1956 U.S. Open in OKC and served as USCF president from 1957 to 1960; the state championship is held in his memory.

A

Advait Patel

Oklahoma's first International Master, a multiple-time Oklahoma Open state champion and one of the state's highest-rated players.

B

Béla Rózsa

Ten-time Oklahoma state champion and longtime University of Tulsa music professor; the OCA's Rózsa Trophy is named for him.

USCF Chess in Oklahoma by the Numbers

Official USCF rating list · August 1, 2026

603
USCF-rated players
839
Median rating
2399
Top rating
Top rated players in Oklahoma
  1. 1Amburgy, Ryan2399
  2. 2Pamatmat, Jarod John2295
  3. 3Amburn, Thomas2200
  4. 4Braunlich, Thomas David2200
  5. 5Alexander, Joshua2197
See full Oklahoma USCF stats

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Chess Clubs in Oklahoma

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