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CCLA's email tournaments may have the same tough opponents you meet in our postal tournaments -- or brand new opponents via the internet -- 10/40 time limit but the games finish a lot faster! For the complete list of email tournaments see Schedule of Email Events.

All CCLA tournaments use a time limit of 10 moves in 30 days. All moves are sent in algebraic notation unless both players agree upon another unequivocal notation (standard descriptive, ICCF numeric, etc.) at the beginning of the game.

GRAND NATIONAL - This event, in various formats, has been played in CCLA every year since 1933 ! A three-round event, experts and masters have the option of entering the second round directly. Four-player, 2 games per opponent in round one; 7-player sections, one game with each opponent in rounds two and three.. A 4.0 - 2.0 or better score in the first round qualifies for Round 2, but a total of 108 GN points in Rds. 1 and 2 is needed to advance to Round 3 (In Rd 1, wins are worth 10 pts and draws 5 pts; in Rd 2, wins are worth 14 pts and draws 7 pts; in Rd 3, wins count 18 pts and draws 9 pts). Section assignments for round 1 are made at the end of each month; section assignments for rounds 2 and 3 occur when there are sufficient qualifiers to fill the next 7-player section. First prize is $250 and trophy, with many other prizes available. Entry fee is $10 per section, plus an additional $5 for players who qualify (or who enter directly) for round 2. To see the list of past Grand National Champions, click on  CCLA  Archives.

CCLA CHAMPIONSHIP and LEADERSHIP - The annual Leadership dates from 1916. Since 1985, the eleven highest-rated entrants each year are paired and the winner receives the title of CCLA Champion, a $50 first prize, trophy and a place in either the North American Invitational, an ICCF event, or the finals of the U.S. Correspondence Chess Championship, now a USPCF event. Other entrants are assigned by rating into seven or nine-player Leadership sections and play one game with each opponent. Section prizes are $14 for 1st, $8 for second and $6 for third. Entry fee is $8 per section; deadline for entry is September 15th. To see the list of past CCLA Club Champions, click on  CCLA  Archives.

CCLA NORTH AMERICAN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS - This annual event was originally begun by the legendary "Dean of American Chess" Hermann Helms in 1914 and has retained its current format since the 1920's. Helms, working as chess editor of the Brooklyn Eagle received that letter from Bobby Fisher's mother and the rest, as they say, is history. A two-round, annual event for masters, experts and classes A through E. Each winner of a Round 1 section (and all ties for first place) receives $10 and a place in the class championship (final round.) Winners receive $20 and the title of CCLA North American Class Champion. Entry fee is $8 per section; entry deadline is February 15. To see the list of past Class Champions, click on  CCLA  Archives.

CCLA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP - The number of divisions, teams and games played per opponent is strictly a function of the entries. Teams are assigned to divisions based on the average team rating of their ten players. Each player plays one or two games against opponents on his board (Board 1 plays all other Board 1 players, etc.) Entry fee is $8; deadline for rosters is June 1 in odd-numbered years. There are 20 teams competing in 3 divisions in Team Championship XIII (2003 - 2005.) To view a brief history of this biennial event and list of past Divisional Team Champions, click on  CCLA  Archives.

CCLA WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP - Open and Reserve (under 1500) sections. Entry fee is $6 per section; deadline is May 1 in even-numbered years. Since this event was begun in 1948, champions have included Dorothy Muir and Dr. Christine Rosenfield, America's first ICCF International Lady Master.

CCLA SOCIAL BI-MONTHLY - Sections formed in rating order; three players per section, two games per opponent. Assignments issued Jan. 1, March 1, May 1, July 1, Sept. 1 and Nov. 1. First prize is $7. Entry fee is $5.

CHALLENGE MATCHES - 2, 4 or 6 games against the opponent of your choice; entry fees are $3, $5 and $7 respectively. Thematic matches in some openings can be facilitated through a CCLA coordinator (lists appear in the Chess Correspondent frequently.) Note: matches are arranged by the players themselves, then fees are sent in and an official match number is issued. CCLA does not arrange matches and new members cannot "enter" matches like they do other events.