Chess in Bangkok: tournaments, classes and places to play
In Bangkok, chess is easiest to find at tournaments: rated and rapid events, some of them for juniors, held in shopping malls and international schools. Academies and private coaches teach children and adults, many school programmes take only their own pupils, and a handful of cafés and bars keep boards for a casual game.
Where to play 14
Tournaments 35
Academies 13
Schools & clubs 21
Shops 6
Chess960 in Bangkok
Chess960, also called Fischer Random, shuffles the pieces on the back rank before each game, so prepared openings stop mattering and both players think from the first move. In Bangkok it is played only now and then. If you want to try it online first, there is ch960.com.
Chess960 events linked to Bangkok organisers, each with its listing:
- Gallery page 'Thailand Chess Championship 960 & Bughouse 2020' (2nd edition) on the Unisus site; page text 'การแข่งขัน Head and Hand และ Bughouse Chess'; venue, date and organiser not stated on the page — 2020 (edition title); gallery page dated 08/10/2023
- K Village Grand Prix, Chess960 section: an over-the-board Chess960 tournament, 10 min + 5 s, run next to the Rapid (3 May) and Blitz (4 May) sections by the organiser of The Rooky series —
How each listing is checked
Every listing rests on sources we opened ourselves: the organiser's own page, a federation or rating record, an event listing, a press report or a directory. Each fact links to its source and the day we read it.
Where no source states something, the listing says so instead of guessing. The About page explains the flags, the dates and how to send a correction.
Something missing or out of date?
Send a new tournament, class or place to play, or a correction to a listing, through the form. A link to a page that shows it helps most.