Progress With Chess Hosts Donation-Based Free Programs to Build and Support the Cleveland Chess Community
July 2nd, 2026
In the 2026 Summer season, Progress With Chess will host a number of free public events for the Greater Cleveland community!
Progress With Chess is a Cleveland-based 501c3 non profit organization that operates throughout the Northeast Ohio area, whose mission is to create & facilitate inclusive programs for youth that foster personal growth through the learning, playing and enjoyment of chess. As such, Progress With Chess is accepting donations for assistance in facilitating free programming for the community!
Progress With Chess will be hosting a free tournament series at Van Aken throughout the summer on Monday nights: the Blue Line Rapid – named in reference to both the quick time control format, and the final RTA stop located at the Van Aken District. All boards and clocks are provided and set by Progress With Chess staff, and although the tournament is not USCF rated, the event is run to our standards of professionalism and comfort. G7;d3, with a guaranteed minimum prize fund of $100 – capped at 40 players due to the limited seating area, registration will reopen weekly on Tuesdays at progresswithchess.org/vanaken.
As important as competitions for supporting our community are events in the service of learning – Progress With Chess is devoted to providing the highest quality chess education courses available in the Northeast Ohio area, with our classes instructed by an array of professional chess players, chess coaches, teachers and school administrators, and tournament directors. In alignment with our mission, Progress With Chess is providing a free educational event at the Lee Road Branch of the Cleveland Heights Public Library on July 9th – a lecture hosted by legendary chess player and teacher IM Calvin Blocker! Blocker will be reviewing a number of games from his very own chess career. Food will be provided before the event. Learn more and RSVP at progresswithchess.org/lectures.
In honor of USCF Life Master Pappu Murthy, Progress With Chess will be hosting a Celebration of Life on Sunday, July 12th at John Knox Presbyterian Church in North Olmsted. The event will include a simultaneous exhibition with Masters Arvind Jayaraman, Wilson Spaqi, and Ananth Pappu, as well as a blitz tournament with 3 sections, and a $100 guaranteed minimum prize fund. We hope you will join us in celebrating the life of a treasured member of our community. Register at progresswithchess.org/pappu.
We want every student and community member within our reach to have the opportunity not to just learn chess, but to excel at chess; to have the opportunity to go beyond learning how the pieces move, and to receive actual coaching from experienced chess instructors, tournament players and directors. We are honored to have such an important role in the chess community of Northeast Ohio, and we only hope that we can continue to do the game, the tradition that has uplifted all of our lives, and the lives of our students, justice in the coming years.
Progress With Chess is seeking not only to continue, but to expand our free events and programs in Northeast Ohio. Learn more and join us at progresswithchess.org/donate
Are you a teacher, parent or administrator wanting a Progress With Chess quality program at your school? Are you looking to volunteer or learn more about us? Curious about upcoming events or job opportunities? We would love to hear from you!
