♟️ About Growth Chess Center

Growth Chess Center is a chess academy, tournament organizer, and community chess hub based in Madison, Wisconsin. Operated by Growth Chess LLC, the organization provides chess classes, private coaching, school programs, camps, club activities, community events, and a substantial calendar of US Chess-rated tournaments.

Growth Chess was founded by Andrew Schley, who serves as Founder and Head Coach. Schley has worked in chess education and tournament development since 2011 and has coached students and teams at several major chess organizations across the United States. His previous roles include Head Coach and owner at International Academy of Chess in Wisconsin, Lead Coach at Bay Area Chess, Head Scholastic Coach at the Mechanics’ Institute, and Coach & Club Liaison at Chess.com.

The organization began expanding its Madison-area program in 2023, with the goal of creating a dedicated chess community for players of different ages and skill levels. Its current physical chess center is located on Regent Street in Madison.

🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities

Tournament organization is a major part of Growth Chess Center’s activity. The organization hosts regular US Chess-rated scholastic and open tournaments in Madison and at larger Wisconsin venues. Its calendar includes monthly cash-prize Opens, scholastic Swiss tournaments, Rapid and Blitz events, collegiate championships, Madison Area Chess Club competitions, seasonal weekend Opens, and state championship events.

Growth Chess has also become involved in some of Wisconsin’s most important state competitions. Its tournament program includes the Wisconsin Closed State Championship, collegiate championships, women’s events, and larger weekend tournaments with multiple schedules and rating sections. The center also supports the Madison Area Chess Club, which meets weekly for rated tournament play and casual chess. This gives local players access to consistent competition between larger weekend events.

🌱 Chess Education & Development

Chess education remains central to Growth Chess Center’s work. The organization runs after-school programs, center classes, private lessons, camps, tournament training, and school-based chess clubs. Growth Chess works with schools across the Greater Madison area and provides trained coaches, equipment, curriculum, registration support, and ChessKid memberships. Its school programs are designed for both beginners and experienced scholastic players.

The center also operates dedicated tournament-training groups for players who want more structured preparation. Training covers tactics, master-game analysis, endgames, tournament preparation, and regular competitive play. Andrew Schley’s background in elementary education strongly influences this model. Growth Chess combines competitive improvement with a broader focus on confidence, decision-making, sportsmanship, resilience, and community.

🥇 Recognition & Community Growth

Growth Chess Center received significant national recognition in 2025, when US Chess named Growth Chess Club of Madison the Medium Chess Club of the Year. The award recognized the organization’s contribution to chess activity and community development. The organization’s community role extends beyond formal classes and tournaments. Growth Chess partners with local groups and community events to introduce chess to new players and provide accessible playing opportunities throughout the Madison area.

Membership programs also provide tournament discounts, chess-club access, merchandise benefits, and additional training opportunities.

❄️ Growth Chess Winter Open 2027

The Growth Chess Winter Open 2027 takes place from January 22–24, 2027, at the Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. The tournament features Premier, Reserve, and Booster sections and a published $3,000 cash prize fund. Premier and Reserve players may choose between two-day and three-day schedules, while the Booster section is played entirely on Saturday. A separate Saturday Night Blitz tournament is also included in the weekend program.

The event continues Growth Chess Center’s model of offering multiple rating categories and flexible schedules so that players with different ratings and travel requirements can participate in the same tournament weekend.

📚 History & Development

Growth Chess entered the Madison chess community after Andrew Schley returned to Wisconsin following years of coaching in Milwaukee and California. The organization’s early goals were to provide high-quality chess education, organize tournaments for players of every level, and establish a permanent chess center in Madison. Those goals developed into a physical center, an expanding tournament calendar, school partnerships, regular club activity, and statewide championship involvement.

Today, Growth Chess Center serves both scholastic and adult players and combines education with regular competitive opportunities. Its programs range from first-time beginner classes to training for nationally competitive players and major US Chess-rated tournaments.

⚡ Growth Chess Winter Blitz — January 2027

Growth Chess Center will organize a separate US Chess-rated Winter Blitz on Saturday, January 23, 2027, as an evening side event during its Growth Chess Winter Open in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. The event takes place at the Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center, with play commencing at 8:00 PM or shortly after Round 3 of the main Open finishes, whichever is later.

The Blitz uses a four-round Swiss with double rounds at G/3+2. The announced $300 cash prize fund, based on 20 participants, includes three overall prizes and U2000, U1800 and U1600-or-below/unrated awards. Entrants register separately from the classical Winter Open, and the event has its own fee and refund conditions.