https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMg_0uDCZIk&t=1s Hey everyone! I wanted to take a moment to talk with you about a leadership change at Puddletown. Zoey and Austin have recently decided to step away from Puddletown. It’s definitely a very sad moment for all of us, especially for me and Neev. All 4 of us worked very…
For most of Puddletown’s history, we’ve been an online-first nonprofit. Zoom training program, online tournaments, homework help, office hours, webinars - you name it, we’ve done it….virtually. And don’t get me wrong: it worked. But over time, we started hearing the same request again and again from students, parents, volunteers, and…
When we were first brainstorming names for our nonprofit more than 3 years ago, we had a lot of ideas. And I mean a lot. Some of them sounded like tech startups. Some sounded like chess clubs from the world of Harry Potter. And, weirdly enough, some of them included the…
At Puddletown, we’ve learned something important: leadership doesn’t grow out of perfect plans. It grows out of chaos. When you’re working with kids, chess boards, clocks, pizza boxes, and a tournament hall full of buzzing energy, things will go sideways. And that’s exactly where spontaneous leadership shows up. The Tournament Tiebreaker…
At Puddletown, people often ask us: Why focus on certain groups of kids? Why make a special effort for girls and non-binary students, for kids from low-income families, or for kids growing up in rural communities? Isn’t chess supposed to be for everyone? It is supposed to be. But the reality…
At Puddletown, we’ve learned something important: there’s no single “type” of chess kid. Some kids want to hang out and casually move pieces around. Others want to climb the rating ladder as fast as possible. Some fall in love with puzzles, some with tournaments, and some just with free pizza at…
At Puddletown, volunteers are not just helpers—they're the backbone of everything we do. When people hear about our nonprofit, they often ask how we’ve managed to grow so fast or how just four teenagers can organize training & tournaments for hundreds of kids across the world. The real secret? Volunteers. From…
Puddletown 3rd Anniversary Tournament Recap This weekend marked our 3rd anniversary, and we celebrated in style during our September tournament. We had the 3rd largest gathering of Puddletown players with exactly 150 participants! Notably, 9 new players participated in their first-ever USCF-rated tournament! Thank You to Our Sponsors 🙏 A big…
In today’s world, having a strong online presence is essential, even for a youth-led organization like ours. When we started Puddletown Chess, we didn’t just want to create a place for students to learn the game. We wanted to build a community. That meant reaching players, families, and partners beyond the…
At Puddletown Chess, we don’t just teach chess—we build a community where everyone has the opportunity to learn, compete, and grow. A big part of that mission is making sure chess is accessible to all, no matter their background. That’s why donations play a huge role in what we do. Over…
At Puddletown Chess, we believe chess should be for everyone—no matter where you come from, what your background is, or how much experience you have. That’s why we’ve set up several scholarships to help players who might not otherwise have access to training, tournaments, or a chess community. We want to…
When we first started hosting tournaments, we focused exclusively on scholastic players—kids up to grade 12. It was all about creating a space for young players to compete, learn, and improve their game. But as our tournaments grew in size and reputation, something interesting happened: many adults wanted to join in…
Hey Puddletown gang! If you’ve ever played in a Puddletown Chess tournament, you’ve probably heard us say, “Pairings are up!” before each round. But have you ever wondered how those pairings are made? Why do you sometimes play someone way stronger or way weaker than you? And why don’t you get…
During our most recent tournament, on March 15th, I shared three heartwarming stories that embody the spirit of humility and gratitude within our Puddletown Chess community. Story#1: A Young Player's Generosity On his birthday last May, one of our remarkable young chess enthusiasts chose to donate $100 of his own hard-earned…
Spring Symphony II 2025 (March) Puddletown Chess Tournament was a tremendous success! Notably, 11 players participated in their first-ever USCF-rated tournament! This was one of the top 10 largest events we've hosted in Puddletown so far. We look forward to continuing to serve the community with top-quality chess tournaments and training!…