♟️ About Black Square Chess

Black Square Chess is a Tasmanian chess education and tournament organization founded in 2021 by James Briant. Starting with a small number of after-school lessons in Hobart, the organization has expanded into a statewide school chess program. Its activities now combine regular coaching, interschool competitions, junior championships, rapid events and competitive opportunities for adults. Black Square Chess also collaborates with the Tasmanian Chess Association on major state and national events. The organization works with primary and secondary schools across Tasmania, offering chess instruction that can introduce beginners to their first games and support more experienced students. Its official website describes programs reaching more than 150 schools, while a 2026 founder interview reported activity at more than 200 schools. These figures reflect different published updates rather than a fixed daily enrollment count. Training and competition are designed to reinforce one another. Black Square Chess has become an important participant in Tasmania's expanding junior chess ecosystem. Alongside classes, it runs tournaments in Hobart, Launceston and other regions, providing the next competitive step for students. The company also maintains an online chess equipment store and publishes tournament entry details. Its programs encourage students to develop skills through both instruction and over-the-board play.

👤 James Briant and the Organization's Beginnings

James Briant founded Black Square Chess in 2021 after seeing opportunities to offer chess lessons through local schools. In a 2026 interview with The Hobart / Launceston Magazine, he described beginning with a handful of after-school classes before more schools requested the program. Over the following years, the organization's activities expanded across Tasmania. Briant has also taken a leading role in interschool and state championship tournaments. His responsibilities extend beyond running an independent education business. The Tasmanian Chess Association lists James Briant as its tournament director and one of its state junior chess coordinators. He is also the chief organizer of the 2027 Australian Junior Chess Championships in Hobart. This overlap of school coaching, tournament delivery and association administration places him in a distinctive position within Tasmania's chess community.

🎓 School Chess Coaching Across Tasmania

School chess remains at the center of Black Square Chess's work. The organization provides structured teaching through participating schools, allowing children to learn the rules, develop calculation habits and improve their practical play. Its program aims to take students from basic chess knowledge toward independent tournament competition. Coaches work within school environments where classes can form part of a broader enrichment program. The company's website names school programs in communities including Hobart, Bellerive, Blackmans Bay and other parts of the state. Participants may train weekly and then represent their schools at interschool events. These competitions provide a practical motivation for students to keep improving. Families can enroll through the Black Square Chess website and follow the information supplied for their own school.

🏫 Interschool Tournament Program

Interschool tournaments are a defining feature of Black Square Chess. The organization arranges competitive events for primary and secondary schools, dividing the schedule by regions and school terms. Its published 2026 calendar includes tournaments in Hobart City North, Hobart City South and secondary-school categories. Schools are asked to submit player teams in advance, making the competition part of the broader scholastic program. The interschool system provides an opportunity for students to compete for their schools rather than only as individual club players. The company's published results name Hobart City High and New Town Primary among winners in 2025. Its 2026 interschool finals were scheduled for October and November at venues including The Hutchins School and Scotch Oakburn College. The program links classroom learning with regional championship events.

🏆 Tasmanian Junior Chess Championships

Black Square Chess also organizes major junior competitions outside the school team calendar. The 2026 Tasmanian Junior Chess Championships took place on October 3–4 at Sacred Heart College in New Town, Hobart. The event included age groups from Under 8 to Under 18 and a longer time control of 30 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Younger players were encouraged to learn the practice of recording moves. The championship regulations also provided information about entry, playing times and prizes. Coaches were available to review recorded games after play, connecting tournament experience with instruction. This approach makes the weekend event an extension of the organization's coaching philosophy. Players can learn from their games while competing for Tasmanian age-group titles.

⚡ Rapid Chess and the Black Square Invitational

The organization runs rapid events as well as classical junior competitions. Its 2026 Tasmanian Junior Rapid Championship was scheduled for July 5, with a ten-minute plus five-second increment format. The championship included Open and Girls prize categories across junior age groups. Such tournaments introduce the demands of timed competition without the length of a classical weekend. Another notable event is the Black Square Invitational. The founder's 2026 tournament report described the first edition, held in December 2025, as a way to recognize the progress of Tasmanian players. The event grouped competitors by ACF Rapid rating, with leagues named Master, King, Queen, Rook and Bishop. It attracted 148 competitors, offering a distinctive tournament structure for different rating levels.

🌏 Australian Junior Chess Championships 2027

Black Square Chess joins the Tasmanian Chess Association as co-organizer of the 2027 Australian Junior Chess Championships. The event will take place at The Hutchins School in Hobart from January 12 to 20, 2027. It will be the first time Tasmania has hosted the national junior championships since 2010. James Briant is listed as chief organizer on the official championship website. The championship includes Open and Girls classical categories from Under 8 through Under 18, as well as junior blitz and problem-solving competitions. Separate playing schedules accommodate the different age groups, while national-title eligibility depends on federation registration. The program will attract players from Tasmania, mainland Australia and potentially overseas. It is an important example of Black Square Chess's expanding tournament organization work.

♟️ Opportunities for Adults and Families

Although the organization began with school chess, its public calendar now includes events for adults. The Hobart Chess Cup and Black Square Blitz competitions appear in its tournament listings, alongside youth championships. This wider calendar allows parents, teachers and experienced club players to become involved in over-the-board competition. It also provides additional pathways for players who have progressed through school-based coaching. The organization sells chess boards, pieces and clocks through its website, supporting players who want to practice at home. Families can use the equipment and coaching services alongside tournament participation. The activities are connected by the same aim of helping players move from learning chess toward enjoying and improving at competitive games. Official tournament notices provide the details for each event.

🤝 Cooperation with the Tasmanian Chess Association

Black Square Chess works alongside Tasmania's state chess body to deliver championships and increase participation. James Briant also holds association tournament and junior-coordination roles, strengthening this working relationship. The 2027 national junior championships are a prominent joint project, with both organizations explicitly named in official publicity. The distinction matters: Black Square Chess is an operating chess education and event organization, while TCA is the state governing association. The two organizations complement each other through different types of expertise. TCA contributes statewide governance, affiliated clubs and championship administration. Black Square Chess brings school networks, coaching experience, tournament delivery and direct communication with junior competitors. Together, they support an expanding program for Tasmania's chess community.

🔗 Official Website and Event Information

The Black Square Chess website contains coaching enrollment, equipment and tournament information. Its interschool events page shows regional school competitions, while the Tasmanian Junior Championships page provides an example of its major junior tournament work. Players can also follow the official 2027 national championship website. Tournament-specific enquiries are handled through the published event contacts.