Chess Weekend, Inc.

♟️ About Chess Weekend, Inc.

Chess Weekend, Inc. is a US Chess tournament organizer based in the Chicago area of Illinois. Glenn Panner and Tim Just founded Chess Weekend in 2005 with the goal of improving the complete experience of playing in a weekend chess tournament. The organization focuses on professionally directed over-the-board events, including national team competitions, state championships, scholastic tournaments, major open tournaments, and FIDE-rated events. From the beginning, Chess Weekend emphasized more than pairings and results. Its founders wanted rounds to start on time, playing rooms to be comfortable and well lit, tournament directors to remain accessible, and schedules to leave players enough time to enjoy the host city. Moreover, the organization often provides boards and sets and designs tournaments around several rating sections, side events, and flexible schedules. Although Chess Weekend remains based in Illinois, it has organized events in several parts of the United States. Glenn Panner currently serves as President of Chess Weekend and is the organization’s principal public contact. He is a US Chess National Tournament Director who began directing tournaments as a teenager. US Chess named him Organizer of the Year in 2018 and Tournament Director of the Year in 2020. Meanwhile, Maret Thorpe serves as Co-organizer, and co-founder Tim Just continues to contribute extensive tournament-directing and rules expertise.

🏆 Major Tournaments and National Events

Chess Weekend maintains a substantial calendar of established US Chess events. One of its best-known recurring projects is the U.S. Amateur Team North, one of the regional qualifying events in the U.S. Amateur Team Championship structure. Chess Weekend organizes the northern event together with US Chess. Teams compete in a multi-round Swiss format, while the weekend also features the Northern Blitz Championship. In addition, the tournament emphasizes the team identity and social atmosphere that distinguish the U.S. Amateur Team series from individual open tournaments. The organization also handles the Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship. The 2026 championship took place in Oak Brook, Illinois, with Open, U2000, and U1400 sections. Moreover, the Open section received FIDE rating, while leading teams competed for qualification to the Final Four College Chess Championship. Chess Weekend continues its involvement with collegiate chess in the next cycle. Its published calendar already lists the 2027 Pan-American Intercollegiate Championship in Tempe, Arizona. Therefore, the organization’s activity now extends well beyond its original Chicago-area tournament base. Another established event is the Sevan Memorial Tournament in Schaumburg. The series honors tournament organizer Sevan Muradian and has developed into a large Thanksgiving-weekend competition. The 10th Annual Sevan Memorial Tournament is scheduled for November 27–29, 2026. Its format combines a FIDE-rated Premier section with additional rating sections and a blitz championship.

🎓 Scholastic and State Championship Activity

Scholastic chess forms another significant part of Chess Weekend’s tournament portfolio. The organization regularly works on large events for younger players and has extensive experience with both state and national scholastic competition. Among its recurring Illinois events is the Illinois K-8 State Chess Championship. The competition combines individual and school-team awards across several grade-based sections. In addition, side events have included blitz, bughouse, and other activities designed for scholastic participants. Chess Weekend’s staff brings substantial national-level scholastic experience. Maret Thorpe, the organization’s current Co-organizer, is a US Chess National Tournament Director and FIDE National Arbiter. Her tournament experience includes the Illinois K-8 Championship, US Amateur Team North, US Chess national scholastic championships, the IHSA State Championship, and the U.S. Open Championship. Glenn Panner has also directed major national scholastic events. His wider US Chess work has included championship tournaments both over the board and online. Consequently, Chess Weekend combines its own tournament calendar with a leadership team experienced in large-scale national event administration.

⚙️ Tournament Direction and Leadership

Chess Weekend’s organizing structure centers on experienced tournament directors rather than a large permanent club operation. Glenn Panner, Maret Thorpe, and Tim Just bring different areas of expertise to the organization. Panner serves as President and leads many of Chess Weekend’s major events. He began directing tournaments at age 14 and organized and directed a FIDE event while still a teenager. Later, he developed experience as a player, teacher, tournament director, organizer, and chess parent. His 2018 and 2020 US Chess awards recognize both his tournament organization and directing work. Maret Thorpe serves as Co-organizer. She entered organized chess through scholastic volunteering in 2001 and later became a National Tournament Director. Her work now covers local, state, and national events. Tim Just is a co-founder of Chess Weekend and a longtime US Chess National Tournament Director. He served as chief editor of several editions of the US Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess and has held significant roles in tournament-director education and certification. In addition, US Chess recognized him with its Outstanding Career Achievement Award in 2009 and Tournament Director of the Year award in 2012. Together, this team gives Chess Weekend substantial experience in pairings, tournament rules, scholastic events, team chess, FIDE-rated competition, and complex multi-section tournaments.

🌎 Tournament Expansion and Partnerships

Although Chess Weekend developed in the Chicago area, it has organized tournaments in other parts of the United States. Its own history notes events in Minnesota, California, and Atlantic City, New Jersey, while the current calendar demonstrates continued geographic expansion. The South Dakota Governor’s Cup provides a current example. Chess Weekend organizes the 2026 edition in Sioux Falls, where players compete for a substantial prize fund over a traditional two- or three-day weekend schedule. The event also includes a Saturday-night blitz tournament. In Illinois, Chess Weekend continues to organize the Illinois Class State Championship, the Sevan Memorial, U.S. Amateur Team North, and scholastic events. Meanwhile, its collegiate work has taken the Pan-American Intercollegiate Championship from Illinois toward its next edition in Arizona. The organization also works with US Chess, state chess associations, hotels, registration providers, local chess communities, and experienced tournament officials. Therefore, Chess Weekend functions primarily as a specialized tournament organizer rather than as a traditional weekly chess club. Its original philosophy remains visible in these events. Chess Weekend emphasizes reliable tournament administration, accessible directors, suitable playing conditions, practical schedules, and side events that add to the overall tournament experience.