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 the quiz and what we learned along the way.
How Many Students Train at Puddletown?
Our first question was about our 2025 Winter Training Program. “How many total students are enrolled across all six training levels?” Hands shot up across the room, and after a few guesses, we revealed the answer: 61 students!
It’s amazing to see how many players are training and improving their skills with us. We offer different levels, from beginner to elite, making sure everyone has a place to grow. Most of our sessions happen on Friday nights between 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM PT, and as an instructor for Level 2 and Level 3, I can say it’s always a blast!
How Much Has Puddletown Given Back to the Chess Community?
Our next question focused on the impact Puddletown Chess has made beyond just our tournaments. “As of yesterday, what is the total value of donations and services that Puddletown has given back to the community?” The answer? A whopping $51,672.01! (as of April 1st, we are past $54,000 – see below)
This number represents our commitment to making chess accessible for all. About 75% of this goes toward scholarships and free tournament entries for players who need financial assistance. The rest is donated to organizations like Portland Chess Club and the Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation (OSCF), as well as funding chess equipment for schools. It’s incredible to see how our community has grown while supporting others along the way.
How Many Pizzas Have We Served?
Chess tournaments can be long, and one of the best traditions we’ve maintained since May 2023 is serving free pizza at every tournament. But just how much pizza have we gone through? That was the next question, and the answer was pretty surprising: 337 Costco pizzas! That adds up to a mind-blowing 4,044 slices!
Offering pizza isn’t just about keeping players fed—it’s about creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere where kids (and parents!) don’t have to worry about lunch options. It’s one of those small things that makes Puddletown tournaments special.
How Many Trophies and Medals Have We Awarded?
The final question focused on another important Puddletown tradition: celebrating our players. “Since we began in September 2022, how many trophies and medals have we awarded?” The answer: 366 trophies and 718 medals!
We believe in recognizing every player’s dedication and hard work, whether they win or lose. Our awards ceremonies are a big part of what makes our tournaments exciting, and we love seeing players proudly holding up their well-earned trophies and medals.
Looking Ahead
Feb tournament’s quiz was a fun way to reflect on how far Puddletown Chess has come. From growing our training programs to giving back to the community and keeping traditions like pizza and trophies alive, we’re building something truly special.
If you missed this tournament, don’t worry—there will be more fun (and maybe even more quizzes & gift-cards) in the future! See you at the next one!
— Neev Kodarapu
