Tunnelvision LIV is scheduled for March 13, 2027 at Columbia Chess Club – 6169 St Andrews Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC 29212, United States. The tournament is organized by Columbia Chess Club and this page consolidates the currently verified information needed for entry and travel planning.
The event has been researched as a full player-facing listing rather than a short calendar card. That means the page keeps the confirmed playing format, section structure, schedule, entry conditions, prize treatment, exact venue, coordinates and practical arrival information together in one place.
Players should still complete a final check with the organizer shortly before departure. Late changes to entries, pairings, hotel blocks or operational details are possible, but the venue coordinates in this record were checked against the specific building/property rather than a generic city point.
📋 Event Details
| 🏆 Tournament | Tunnelvision LIV |
| 📅 Dates | March 13, 2027 |
| 🌍 Country | United States |
| 📍 Venue | Columbia Chess Club – 6169 St Andrews Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC 29212, United States |
| ♟️ Format | Four-round Swiss dual-rated for US Chess Quick and Classical. |
| 👥 Organizer | Columbia Chess Club |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
G/45 +5.
Four-round Swiss dual-rated for US Chess Quick and Classical.
Players should read the final regulations for the exact tie-break order, default-time rule, electronic-device restrictions, bye procedure and any rating-list date used for section assignment. Where an event combines rapid/quick and classical rating categories, the organizer’s rating-submission statement should be treated as definitive.
| Playing control | G/45 +5. |
| Competition structure | Four-round Swiss dual-rated for US Chess Quick and Classical. |
| Section/rating logic | Championship 1600+; Under 1600; Under 1000. Adjacent sections may be combined for pairings if needed, while original-section prizes remain separate. |
💰 Prize Fund
$1,000 guaranteed: Championship $400 total, U1600 $300, U1000 $300. Because the full fund is guaranteed, `_prize_fund` is $1,000.
| MyChess `_prize_fund` | $1,000 |
| Treatment | A value is stored only when the overall cash amount is fixed or guaranteed. Projected, entry-dependent, trophy-only and score-based structures are described without turning them into a misleading guaranteed headline. |
♟️ Sections / Groups
Championship 1600+; Under 1600; Under 1000. Adjacent sections may be combined for pairings if needed, while original-section prizes remain separate.
Before registering, compare the published section rule with the rating list, age, grade or federation membership that applies to this edition. When play-up is permitted, confirm the fee and the maximum rating gap. When it is prohibited, selecting a higher group in error can require organizer intervention.
| Published groups | Championship 1600+; Under 1600; Under 1000. Adjacent sections may be combined for pairings if needed, while original-section prizes remain separate. |
| Player check | Confirm eligibility and current capacity on the live registration page before paying. |
🗓️ Schedule
Round 1 10:30; Round 2 12:50; Round 3 14:40; Round 4 16:30.
Arrive early enough for registration, equipment setup and pairing corrections before the first round. For events with accelerated schedules or rounds listed as “ASAP,” do not build travel plans around an assumed fixed finish time; the actual pace depends on when the prior round clears.
| Event dates | March 13, 2027 |
| Published timetable | Round 1 10:30; Round 2 12:50; Round 3 14:40; Round 4 16:30. |
| Planning note | Keep the final playing window free until the last round and awards have finished. |
📝 Registration
$40 early / $50 late, online only, maximum 74 players. National Master and higher titled players receive free entry under the published conditions.
Registration should be considered complete only after any required payment, membership/FIDE ID validation and organizer confirmation. If the event is capacity-limited, a submitted form or hotel booking alone does not necessarily guarantee a place unless the organizer states so.
| Current entry terms | $40 early / $50 late, online only, maximum 74 players. National Master and higher titled players receive free entry under the published conditions. |
| Before payment | Check the deadline tier, refund policy, membership requirement, section rule and any onsite-registration limitation. |
👤 Organizer
| Organizer Name | Columbia Chess Club |
| Contact Person | James Brandmair |
| info@columbiachess.org | |
| Phone | +1 803 569 0938 |
📍 Venue
Columbia Chess Club – 6169 St Andrews Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC 29212, United States
The Columbia Chess Club is in the shopping-center property at 6169 St Andrews Road. The site provides ample parking and onsite concessions.
The coordinates stored in this import are 34.056451, -81.163714. They are intended for the tournament venue itself or the verified property/address containing it, which is essential for MyChess.Events map, route and nearby-accommodation features.
| Venue | Columbia Chess Club – 6169 St Andrews Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC 29212, United States |
| Latitude | 34.056451 |
| Longitude | -81.163714 |
| Venue / coordinate check | https://nextdoor.com/pages/mikinos-diner-columbia-sc/ |
✈️ How to Get There
The club is northwest of downtown Columbia near the Irmo/Harbison area. Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the nearest commercial airport. Players can also reach the area by car from Charlotte or other Carolinas cities.
Players travelling from outside the area should compare airport or rail arrival time with the first mandatory check-in, not only with Round 1. For one-day tournaments, an overnight stay can be worthwhile if the event starts early; for hotel tournaments, staying onsite can remove a morning-transfer risk.
Drivers should navigate using the full venue address shown above. In large school campuses, parks, hotel complexes or shopping centers, allow additional time to locate the actual tournament room after reaching the property.
ℹ️ Other Information
Top boards are expected to be live-streamed. One half-point bye is available under the series rules when requested on time. Restaurants in the same shopping center make the event practical for a full one-day schedule.
MyChess.Events keeps confirmed 2027 information separate from assumptions based on older editions. If a current event has not yet published an exact prize total, round time, section boundary or registration tier, that field is deliberately left conservative rather than copied from a previous year.
Player Planning Checklist
| Section / eligibility | Championship 1600+; Under 1600; Under 1000. Adjacent sections may be combined for pairings if needed, while original-section prizes remain separate. |
| Time control | G/45 +5. |
| Registration | $40 early / $50 late, online only, maximum 74 players. National Master and higher titled players receive free entry under the published conditions. |
| Schedule | Round 1 10:30; Round 2 12:50; Round 3 14:40; Round 4 16:30. |
| Venue | Columbia Chess Club – 6169 St Andrews Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC 29212, United States |
| Travel | The club is northwest of downtown Columbia near the Irmo/Harbison area. Columbia Metropolitan Airport is the nearest commercial airport. Players can also reach the area by car from Charlotte or other Carolinas cities. |
| Prize treatment | $1,000 guaranteed: Championship $400 total, U1600 $300, U1000 $300. Because the full fund is guaranteed, `_prize_fund` is $1,000. |
Official Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Official / primary source | https://columbiatunnelvision.com/ |
| Official / primary source | https://columbiachess.org/ |
| Venue / coordinate source | https://nextdoor.com/pages/mikinos-diner-columbia-sc/ |
Final Pre-Travel Verification
For Tunnelvision LIV, first confirm the current entry status and the exact registration terms: $40 early / $50 late, online only, maximum 74 players. National Master and higher titled players receive free entry under the published conditions. Then verify the section you intend to play: Championship 1600+; Under 1600; Under 1000. Adjacent sections may be combined for pairings if needed, while original-section prizes remain separate..
The currently published schedule is: Round 1 10:30; Round 2 12:50; Round 3 14:40; Round 4 16:30. Use the organizer’s current page on the week of the tournament to confirm that these times and the venue have not changed.
The tournament venue stored in MyChess.Events is Columbia Chess Club – 6169 St Andrews Road, Suite A, Columbia, SC 29212, United States. The map pin should remain attached to this specific venue during import and should not be replaced by a city-centre coordinate.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $1,000
Organizer
♟️ About Columbia Chess Club
Columbia Chess Club is an active chess organization based in Columbia, South Carolina. The club provides regular casual play, US Chess-rated tournaments, FIDE-rated competition, chess instruction, scholastic programs, camps, and major state-level events. Moreover, it operates from its dedicated chess facility at 6169 St. Andrews Road in Columbia.
The club traces its history to October 3, 1871, when chess players met in Columbia to establish a formal organization. Washington Muller became the first president, while Isaac Edward “Eddie” Orchard served as Secretary and Treasurer. In June 1872, the club arranged the first known published chess tournament in South Carolina. Therefore, organized chess activity connected with the Columbia Chess Club reaches back more than 150 years.
James Brandmair currently serves as President of Columbia Chess Club. He is also a US Chess Senior Tournament Director and FIDE National Arbiter. Brandmair helped reboot the club in August 2021 after the pandemic disruption. Since then, the club has significantly expanded its tournament calendar, scholastic programs, coaching, and dedicated playing facilities.
🏆 Tournament Organization and Competitive Activity
Tournament organization forms a major part of Columbia Chess Club’s current activity. The club operates rated tournaments throughout the week as well as larger weekend competitions.
Its regular Tunnelvision series offers a guaranteed $1,000 prize fund each month. The competition normally uses Championship, U1600, and U1000 sections. In addition, games from leading boards are broadcast through online chess platforms and the club’s streaming channels.
The club also runs weekly Quad Night tournaments. Players enter four-player groups based primarily on US Chess rating, which creates balanced competitive sections. Meanwhile, Thursday evenings combine casual chess with rated rapid, blitz, and classical competition.
The club’s larger tournament-organizing activity expanded rapidly after 2021. In particular, the 2022 Columbia Open set a new attendance record for an open chess tournament in South Carolina at that time. Consequently, the club developed from a regular local meeting group into one of the state’s most active tournament organizations.
🌟 2026 South Carolina Chess Championship
Columbia Chess Club organizes and hosts the 2026 South Carolina Chess Championship from October 16–18, 2026 at its permanent St. Andrews Road facility. The event celebrates 100 years since the inaugural South Carolina Chess Championship in 1926.
The championship is restricted to South Carolina residents. It consists of a Championship section for players rated 1600 and above and a separate U1600 section. Players can choose either a two-day or three-day schedule.
The main Championship games use G/90 with a 15-second increment per move and count for both US Chess and FIDE rating. Meanwhile, the U1600 competition receives US Chess rating. The Championship section also requires participating players to hold a FIDE ID.
The organizers advertise a $5,000 prize schedule based on 70 entries, with at least half of the listed prizes guaranteed. In addition, the event includes a separate South Carolina Blitz Championship on Saturday evening.
The 2026 event has additional historical importance. The first South Carolina Chess Championship took place in Columbia on July 26, 1926, when William Hickman Morton won the title and became the first president of the newly established South Carolina Chess Association. Therefore, the 2026 tournament marks the centennial year of organized South Carolina state championship chess.
The South Carolina Chess Association remains closely connected with the championship and holds its annual meeting during the tournament weekend. However, current US Chess event information identifies Columbia Chess Club as the tournament organizer, while the dedicated championship website directs all event enquiries through the club.
🧒 Scholastic Chess and Youth Development
Youth development represents another major part of Columbia Chess Club’s program. The club provides structured developmental classes for beginners and aspiring tournament players, including separate sessions for younger students and older players.
Every Tuesday, the club also runs Kid’s Night. Beginners can play casual chess, receive introductory help, and enter accessible rated or unrated competitions. Therefore, young players can begin without previous tournament experience and gradually move into official US Chess competition.
The club also organizes the Palmetto Scholastic Chess League (PSCL). This monthly series includes High School, Middle School, and Elementary School sections. Moreover, players can represent their schools and compete for both individual and team awards.
For first-time tournament players, the club offers an especially practical entry point. Selected PSCL registration options include a first US Chess membership, which removes an administrative barrier for new competitors.
Columbia Chess Club has also taken responsibility for major statewide scholastic events. It organized the 2026 South Carolina Scholastic Chess Championship at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center and hosted the associated state finals. In addition, the club hosted the 2026 South Carolina Girls’ Chess Championship.
🎓 Chess Training, Camps and Player Development
Columbia Chess Club maintains a structured coaching program for players at different stages of development. Developmental classes cover opening principles, tactics, middlegame concepts, basic endgames, time management, and tournament preparation.
The club’s coaching team includes players with extensive competitive and instructional experience. Among them is National Master Mike Sailer, a multiple-time state champion. James Brandmair also provides instruction while combining coaching with his tournament-directing responsibilities.
In addition, the club organizes chess camps. Its 2026 Foundations Chess Camp targeted developing players, while the Intermediate Chess Camp served competitors with existing rated tournament experience.
The club expanded this development pathway again in 2026 by introducing its first Columbia Chess Club Travel Team. The program gives motivated and improving players opportunities to travel together to competitions outside the club. Consequently, the training structure now connects lessons, local tournaments, camps, and broader competitive experience.
🏅 Recognition and Community Development
The club’s recent growth received national recognition in 2025, when the United States Chess Federation named Columbia Chess Club its Chess Club of the Year in the Large Club category.
The award followed several years of expansion in tournaments, coaching, scholastic chess, technology, and community activity. Moreover, the club operates a dedicated playing facility with chess equipment, purpose-built playing tables, spectator areas, and technology for displaying tournament results and broadcasting leading games.
Columbia Chess Club also maintains an active digital presence. It publishes a weekly newsletter, operates online community groups, and streams tournament activity through YouTube and other chess platforms.
At the same time, the club remains open to casual players. Its main Thursday meeting includes free casual chess alongside rated competition. Therefore, the organization combines a high-volume competitive calendar with accessible community chess for players who simply want to visit and play.
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