Puddletown Blog – Page 3 – Puddletown Chess

Introducing: Nicholas Bruha, our newest volunteer!

We’re thrilled to welcome National Master Nicholas Bruha as the newest member of our volunteer team! Nicholas is currently a sophomore at Northwestern University, where he’s pursuing a double major in economics and biology. Despite his academic workload, he continues to give back to the chess community—a game he’s been passionate about since 3rd grade.…

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05/01/2025

Education / Learnings

Swissys Explained: How do we Determine Tournament Pairings

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…

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04/30/2025

Tournaments

February Tournament Got a Big Upgrade: Live Quiz Competition!

Tournaments at Puddletown Chess are always exciting, but in February, we decided to add a fun twist! Before each round, I surprised players with a quick quiz about our chess community. The questions highlighted cool facts about our club, and the winners walked away with gift cards! Here’s a recap of…

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04/26/2025