Columbia Chess Club Newsletter 1/12/26

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Columbia Chess Club Newsletter

Tunnelvision XL This Saturday with IM Danny Rensch!

In This Issue:
  • IM Danny Rensch to visit Tunnelvision XL This Saturday
  • This Week's Club Events
  • January PSCL Results
  • January Time Trouble RAPID Results
  • Weekly Results Corner
  • Student Members Crush It in Charlotte
  • Become a Member / Get an Icon / Sponsor a Table / Support Us Free
  • From the Discord
  • Some Chess Content - Game of the Month!
  • On the Horizon Schedule
View the Club Calendar >
IM Danny Rensch to visit Tunnelvision XL
IM Danny Rensch Q&A / Simul
When registering for Tunnelvision XL on January 17, 2026, you can purchase your copy of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved my Life. Dark Squares is a memoir by International Master and Chess.com co-founder Danny Rensch, chronicling his traumatic upbringing in an abusive cult, his rise as a chess prodigy whose talent was exploited by the cult leader, and how the game ultimately became his lifeline, leading to resilience, recovery from a severe medical crisis, and co-founding the world's largest online chess platform. Often described as Educated meets The Queen's Gambit, it emphasizes survival, trust, and chess as a path to redemption.
 
Auther IM Danny Rensch will be on hand at the end of the tournament for a Q&A, book signing, and simultaneous exhibition.  *Q&A Starts at 6:30 p.m. with Simul. Exhibition to follow. Visitors not playing in the tournament are welcome to show up beforehand for the meet and greet and signing, and can purchase a copy of the book on-site.
This Week's Club Events
5:15 p.m. Developmental Class K-8 (register)
6:15 p.m. Developmental Class HS-Adult (register)
4:45 p.m. Kid's Night
Suited for K-12 players who are new or rated under 1000, we offer a rated tournament with a medal to the winner, an unrated tournament for new players with a USCF membership to the winner, and free casual play.
Kid's Night Registration
6:30 p.m.: Quad Night! G/25+5. Quads place you in a group of four players as closely rated to you as possible, with three rounds to determine the winner. $20 Entry fee can win $40 ($45 for a perfect score). You must be registered by 6:20 p.m. to participate, so don't wait until it's too late!
Quad Night Registration
6 p.m. Advanced Class (register)
5:30 p.m. Blitz II: 4 rounds of G/5.

6:30 p.m. Classical Month Week 3: Upper Section G/60+15, Lower Section G/45+5, join any week! Scholastic students looking to make a competitive leap should consider participating in our lower section with a quicker time control, meaning games will be done by 8 p.m.!
Main Meeting Registration
Tunnelvision XL this weekend with a special visit by IM Danny Rensch, who will be doing a book signing/Q&A, and a simultaneous exhibition!
Register for Tunnelvision XL
January PSCL Results

A capacity crowd of 74 players at the Columbia Chess Club as the 2025-2026 Scholastic Chess Season is in full swing. The battles were intense, and the energy was high. Congratulations to all our winners!

High School

1st Place Team: River Bluff High School
2nd Place Team: Governor's School for Science and Mathematics

Individual Winners:
1st Place: Tyler Murrah
2nd Place: Rushaan Sotimagar
3rd Place: Owen Lovingood
4th Place: Gabriel Vera
5th Place: William Harbison

Middle School

1st Place Team: Lakeside Middle School
2nd Place Team: Dent Middle School

Individual Winners:
1st Place: Aaryav Saha
2nd Place: Alexander Arkhipov
3rd Place: Vivaan Biswal
4th Place: Thomas Kemp Jr.
5th Place: Mokshith Bodla

 
Elementary School

1st Place Team: New Providence Elementary
2nd Place Team: Pellham Road Elementary

Individual Winners:
1st Place: Abhiraj Saha
2nd Place: Sav Strickland
3rd Place: Grayson Thomason
4th Place: Jaswitha Saravakota
5th Place: Elizabeth Jordan

Superlatives

Best Female Performance: Charlotte Jordan

Biggest Upset: Oliver Su

Best Debut: Jasmitha Saravakota

Youngest Participant: Alvin Jordan


USCF Rating Report

Final Standings

Photo Album

YouTube Archive

January Time Trouble RAPID Results

Our first Time Trouble RAPID is in the books, congratulations to all of our winners. Our next Time Trouble will be on February 7, 2026!

1st: Brian Jerauld
2nd: Thomas Kemp Jr.
3rd (tie including all class prizes on 3 points): Carson Norton, Chase Norton, Christopher Harrison, Owen Lovingood, Pedro Mass, Sean Miller, Shaun Jason, Thomas Kemp Sr.

 

Rating Report

Final Standings

Photo Album

YouTube Archive

Weekly Results Corner
Kid's Night: 
We had an amazing Kids Night with over 22 kids participating! Special thanks to Coaches Sean and Brandon for teaching in the lobby, and to Coach James for directing the tournament. Shoutout to Gavin ONeill for winning a US Chess membership as our unrated winner! Congratulations to Robert Mareska for taking the medal in the top section and Alvin Jordan for earning the medal in the lower section.

Kid's Night Rating Report
Quad Night
Congratulations to Paul Copeland for winning our super quad night! Special shout out to James Brandmair for his two upset wins against players 355 and 140 higher rated.

Quad Night Rating Report
Thursday Main Meeting
We had an incredible turnout, with both new faces and returning players kicking off their New Year, New Chess resolutions. Congratulations to Dan Quigley and Tyler Murrah, who went undefeated to win our Rapid Tournament!
 
Upset highlights from the night:
Rio Saha – 511-point upset
Abhyudaya Raj – 522-point upset (Classical Lower Section)
John Wagner – 433-point upset
Beckham Adams – 363-point upset
Tyler Murrah – 139- and 149-point upsets
Dan Quigley – 137-point upset
Neil Noronha – 155-point upset (Classical Upper Section)
 
Classical Standings Update:
Top Section: Arnav Singh leads the month with 2 points
Lower Section: Edward Gize leads with 2 points

Quick Rating Report
Become a Member / Get an Icon / Sponsor a Table / Support Us Free!
Become a Member: Help support the Club and take advantage of special pricing and exclusive perks!
Get an IconGet your portrait added to the Columbia Chess Club stream - be sure to upload before your next event!
Sponsor a TableHave a brass plaque with custom engraving permanently installed on the edge of one of our tournament tables. (6 remain)
Donate to the Club: The Club remains volunteer operated and is bolstered by generous donations from the community. Consider donating and check out our Donor List recognizing those who have given to support the club's mission to grow chess in the midlands and throughout South Carolina.
Support the Club for Free: Consider one of the many ways to support the Club for free by patronizing our affiliate sponsors when you buy chess equipment, premium Chess.com accounts, and support us on social media.
From the Discord
Join our Discord to be part of our community chat.
Some Chess Content - Game of the Month!
FM Kelvin Sanchez offers his analysis on December's Game of the Month from Tunnelvision, featuring  Brandon Tregde vs Tanay Sanghani in the Championship section
On the Horizon
Saturday, January 17, 2026:
Saturday, February 7, 2026:
Saturday, February 7, 2026:
Saturday, February 21, 2026:
See Club Calendar for Full List of Upcoming Events

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