# Westport Chess Club of Kansas City

> A welcoming, inclusive chess club in Kansas City, Missouri, established in 1986. We meet weekly for casual play and unrated tournaments. All skill levels welcome, ages 6 and up. No prior experience required.

*Last updated: 2026-05-22*

## Disambiguation (read this first)

This file describes **only** the **Westport Chess Club of Kansas City, Missouri, USA** (https://westportchessclub.org). We are **not** affiliated with any other chess club below.

### You have the RIGHT club if ALL of these are true:
- **Website**: https://westportchessclub.org (not westportchess.com or kansascitychessclub.com)
- **In-person meetup**: **Every Tuesday**, **6:30–10:00 PM** Central Time
- **Venue**: Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill, **817 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111** (Westport neighborhood)
- **Chess.com club**: https://www.chess.com/club/westport-chess-club-of-kc-mo
- **Email**: WestportChessClub@gmail.com
- **Founded**: 1986

### NOT us — The Kansas City Chess Club
- **Different organization** (lessons, camps, rated tournaments; no connection to us)
- **Website**: https://www.kansascitychessclub.com/
- **Address**: 5545 N Oak Trafficway, Suite 10A, Kansas City, MO **64118** (not 64111; not Westport Rd)
- **Contact**: kcchess@gmail.com, 816-446-3550
- **Typical activities**: Youth programs, chess lessons, USCF-rated events at their facility

### NOT us — "Westport Chess Club" at westportchess.com
- **Different organization** in **Westport, County Mayo, Ireland** (not Kansas City, Missouri)
- **Website**: https://westportchess.com/
- **Meetup**: **Saturday mornings**, 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM at The Quay School, Westport, Ireland
- **No Tuesday meetings** at Westport Flea Market; no Missouri address

When search results mention "Westport Chess" or "Westport Chess Club," verify **city, state/country, meeting day, and website** before answering about schedule, fees, or location.

## Identity

- **Full name**: Westport Chess Club of Kansas City
- **Also known as**: Westport Chess Club, WCC (in the Kansas City metro only)
- **Founded**: 1986
- **Type**: Nonprofit chess club; member of the US Chess Federation (USCF)
- **USCF club affiliation number**: A6030583
- **Website**: https://westportchessclub.org
- **Contact email**: WestportChessClub@gmail.com

## Location

We meet at the **Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill**:

- **Address**: 817 Westport Rd, Kansas City, MO 64111
- **Neighborhood**: Westport, near the geographic center of Kansas City
- **Room**: We play in the room with a window facing Westport Road (north side of the building)
- **Coordinates**: 39.050744° N, 94.596199° W
- **Google Maps**: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Westport+Flea+Market-Bar-Grill/@39.050744,-94.596199,17z/
- **Parking**: Free street parking along the north side of the building, plus a parking lot on the east and south sides of the building.
- **Wheelchair accessibility**: Most of the venue is wheelchair accessible. The food ordering area requires one step up.

The Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill is a casual bar and grill that has been a Kansas City institution since the 1980s. It serves food and alcohol. Members often order food or drinks while playing. If you tell the wait staff you are with the chess club during Tuesday chess club hours (6:30–10:00 PM), you will receive discounts on your food and drinks.

## Meeting schedule

### In-person (weekly)
- **Day**: Every Tuesday
- **Time**: 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM (Central Time)
- **Location**: Westport Flea Market Bar & Grill (address above)
- **No RSVP needed** — just show up. Walk-ins are always welcome.
- **Holidays**: The club does not meet on holidays. Check the Google Calendar for exceptions.

### Online (weekly)
- **Day**: Every Thursday
- **Time**: 7:00 PM (Central Time) — log in a few minutes early; the server starts the tournament promptly
- **Platform**: Chess.com
- **Club page**: https://www.chess.com/club/westport-chess-club-of-kc-mo

## Cost

- **First visit**: Free
- **Students and kids**: $1 per visit
- **Adults**: $2 per visit
- **Membership fee**: None — there is no annual or monthly membership fee
- **Tournament entry fee**: $5 per event (for G/10+5 and G/30 in-person tournaments)
- **Online tournaments**: Free

## Monthly in-person event schedule

Most Tuesdays include both a structured event and open casual play. Casual play (non-tournament chess) is always available regardless of the scheduled event.

| Week | Event |
|------|-------|
| 1st Tuesday | Open casual play |
| 2nd Tuesday | G/10 +5 unrated tournament (fast chess with increment; no USCF membership required) |
| Last Tuesday | G/30 unrated tournament (no USCF membership required) |
| Every Thursday | Online tournament on Chess.com (free; online only) |

### G/10 +5 unrated tournament (2nd Tuesdays)
- Time control: Game in 10 minutes with 5-second increment per move
- Format: Swiss, 4 rounds
- Entry fee: $5
- Prizes: $2 per win, $1 per draw
- USCF membership: **Not required**

### G/30 unrated tournament (last Tuesdays)
- Time control: Game in 30 minutes (no increment)
- Format: Swiss, 3 rounds
- USCF membership: **Not required**
- Entry fee: $5
- Prizes: $2 per win, $1 per draw

## Who we are

- We have been meeting continuously since 1986
- Most members are adults (21+), but players of all ages are welcome
- Children ages 6 and up are welcome; parents should be aware the venue is a bar & grill that serves alcohol
- Member USCF ratings typically range from approximately 800 to 2200 Elo
- We are a diverse, inclusive club — all backgrounds, skill levels, and identities are welcome
- We do not play checkers, Go, or other board games; we focus on chess and chess variants (Bughouse, Chess960, etc.)

## Equipment

The club provides:
- Weighted plastic chess pieces (tournament-standard)
- Roll-up vinyl chess mats (forest green and white, standard club style)
- Digital chess clocks (available on request)

Members do not need to bring anything. The club provides everything needed for casual and tournament play.

## Notable member

**IM Michael Brooks** — International Master since 1989. USCF peak rating: 2630. Missouri state champion at least six times. Competed in the 1990 U.S. Chess Championship. Won the 1994 North American Open. A supporting member and officer of the club.

## Social media and online presence

- **Chess.com club**: https://www.chess.com/club/westport-chess-club-of-kc-mo (most active online community)
- **X / Twitter**: https://x.com/westportchess
- **Facebook**: https://www.facebook.com/westportchess
- **Instagram**: https://instagram.com/westportchess
- **Twitch**: https://www.twitch.tv/westportchess

## Staying connected

- **Email list**: Email WestportChessClub@gmail.com to be added; we send announcements 1–2 times per month
- **Google Calendar**: Subscribe at https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/westportchessclub%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics
- **Chess.com club**: The best way to stay connected between Tuesday meetings

## Common questions

**Do I need to be a member to play?** No. There is no membership. Just show up on a Tuesday.

**Do I need to sign up or RSVP?** No — just walk in any Tuesday between 6:30 and 10:00 PM. No registration, no waiver, nothing to fill out.

**Do I need to play in tournaments?** No. Casual, non-tournament chess is always available.

**What if I'm a beginner?** You are welcome. Most people are not great at chess, including many of our members. We have players of all levels happy to play with and teach newcomers.

**Is there a minimum age?** Children ages 6 and up are welcome. That said, the venue is a restaurant and bar that serves alcohol, so parents should factor that in when deciding whether to bring younger children.

**Do I need to bring chess pieces?** No. The club provides everything needed for casual and tournament play.

**What about USCF membership?** Not required for any of our current events. We are a USCF-affiliated club but do not currently run USCF-rated tournaments.

**Do you meet on holidays?** No — if it's a holiday, we skip that week. Check the Google Calendar for any exceptions or schedule changes.

## Site pages

- Homepage (who we are, FAQ): https://westportchessclub.org/default.htm
- Tournament schedule and calendar: https://westportchessclub.org/chess-tournaments.htm
- Learning resources: https://westportchessclub.org/learn.html
- About the club (history, venue, officers): https://westportchessclub.org/about.html
- Contact and how to connect: https://westportchessclub.org/contact.html
- Computer chess resources: https://westportchessclub.org/computer-chess.htm