Sunrise: Proud Winner of the U.S. Chess Federation's "2015 Chess City of the Year" Award!

Chess in the educational environment has been a popular topic among researchers – many of whom report a strong correlation between learning to play chess and academic achievement. According to a landmark 2000 study published in the journal “Research in the Schools,” students who received chess instruction scored significantly higher on all measures of academic achievement, including math, spatial analysis, and non-verbal reasoning ability.

The City of Sunrise has collaborated with community partners to promote the scholastic benefits of chess by encouraging the development of after-school chess clubs in all schools; providing privately donated chess sets to each Sunrise public school; establishing an “adopt a chess club” program; and hosting family fun chess nights at local restaurants. In addition, the City facilitates the following chess initiatives:

Open-Play Chess
Free open-play chess sessions are held each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Sunrise Athletic Complex (SAC) Multipurpose Center (11501 NW 44th Street, Sunrise 33351). People of all ages and skill levels, including those who have never played chess, are invited to participate in supervised open play. Thanks to the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess, free instruction is provided.

Open-play chess creates year-round opportunities for friendly competition and learning, and supplements the work of school-based groups in Sunrise. For more information, call (954) 747-4600.

10th Anniversary!

This free and friendly series of meet-ups, spearheaded by Sunrise Mayor Michael J. Ryan in cooperation with Mayors from throughout South Florida, draws attention to the benefits of chess in both the academic environment and in our community. 

Each Mayors' Chess Challenge event provides an opportunity for players of all ages, novices and experts alike, to join in the fun with elected officials and community leaders. Instructors from the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess are on hand to help those new to the game. 

See below for the 10th annual 2024-2025 schedule:

City of Deerfield Beach
September 7, 2024 - 10 am to noon
Hillsboro Technology Center
50 Hillsboro Technology Drive
954-571-7550
or 954-480-4263

Town of Davie
September 14, 2024 - 10 am to noon
Pine Island Multipurpose Center
3801 South Pine Island Drive
954-797-1076

City of Sunrise
September 28, 2024 - 10 am to noon
SAC Multipurpose Center
11501 NW 44th Street
954-747-3250

City of Weston
October 5, 2024 - 10 am to noon
Weston Community Center
20200 Saddle Club Road
954-389-4321

City of Lighthouse Point
October 12 2024 - 9 am to 11 am
John Trudel Community Center
4521 NE 22nd Ave
954-784-3439

City of Southwest Ranches
October 19 2024 - 10 am to 2 pm
Southwest RanchesTown Hall
13400 Griffin Road
954-343-7452

City of Tamarac
November 2, 2024 - 10 am to noon
Tamarac Community Center
 8601 West Commercial Blvd.
954-597-3620

City of Delray Beach
November 9, 2024 - 10 am to noon
Delray Beach Community Center
50 NW 1st Ave.
561-243-7250 x5204

City of Parkland
January 25, 2025 - 9 am to 11 am
Recreation and Enrichment Center
10559 Trails End
954-757-4107 or 954-757-4121

City of Plantation
February 8, 2025 - 10 am to noon
Volunteer Park
12050 W Sunrise Boulevard
954-797-2141

City of Pompano Beach
February 15, 2025 - 10 am to 1 pm
Sample McDougald  House
150 NE 10th St.
954-786-4148

City of Boca Raton
February 15, 2025  - 10 am to 1 pm
Boca Raton Public Library
1501 NW Spanish River Boulevard
561-393-7963

City of Miramar
February 22, 2025 - 9 am to 11 am
Sunset Lakes
2801 SW 186th Ave
954-602-3198

City of North Lauderdale
March 1, 2025 - 10 am to noon
North Lauderdale Teen / Recreation Center
701 SW 71st Avenue
954-724-7061

City of Coconut Creek
March 15, 2025 - 10 am to noon
Recreation Complex
4455 Sol Press Blvd.
954-545-6633

City of Dania Beach
March 22, 2025 - 10 am to noon
TBA
954-924-6800 xt 3730

City of Hollywood
April 5, 2025 - 9 am to 11 am
Driftwood Community Center
3000 NW 69th Avenue
954-967-4241 xt 4241

City of Lauderhill
April 12, 2025 - 11 am to 1 pm
Veterans Park
7600 NW 50th Street
954-777-2040

City of Coral Springs
April 19, 2025 - 10 am to noon
Mullins Hall
10170 NW 29th Street
954-346-4429

City of Pembroke Pines
May 10, 2025 - 9 am to 11 am
Club 19 at Pembroke Lakes 
Golf & Racquet Club
10500 Taft Street
954-392-2127

City of Oakland Park
May 17, 2025 - 9 am to 11 am
North Andrews Community Center
250 NE 56th Ct.
954-630-4370

For general event questions, please call (954) 747-4600.  

Free “Champions of Chess” Student Tournament
The City of Sunrise began hosting its annual Champions of Chess tournament in 2012. This free event for students in elementary, middle and high school is facilitated by the Sunrise Center of Excellence in Chess. Visit https://sunrisechesscenter.org for information.

"First Move” from America's Foundation for Chess
During the 2013-2014 academic year - and for the first time in Broward County history - students in second and third grade received formal chess instruction as part of their school curriculum. This innovative pilot program involved 40 classrooms at Village Elementary, Banyan Elementary and Discovery Elementary - all in Sunrise - and was a collaboration of the School Board of Broward County, the America’s Foundation for Chess “First Move” program, and the City of Sunrise Police Department. The award-winning, standards-aligned "First Move" uses chess as a learning tool to enhance the core curriculum while improving students’ critical thinking and test taking skills. Through this program, students nationwide have demonstrated better understanding of math concepts at an earlier age and developed gains in reading and comprehension. 

Thanks to Mayor Ryan’s advocacy and the overwhelming support of administrators, faculty, parents and students, “First Move” adopted in second and third grade classrooms in public schools countywide.

For more information about First Move, visit firstmove.org.

National and Local Recognition
Sunrise's scholastic chess initiative has been recognized for excellence by prominent organizations.

• Sunrise was named Chess City of the Year for 2015 by the United States Chess Federation (US Chess). The City was selected for this prestigious honor by the Executive Board of US Chess “in recognition of the positive impact [Sunrise] citizens have made on chess in America.” 
• The U.S. Conference of Mayors named Sunrise one of “Most Livable” Cities in America for 2015 on the strength of its scholastic chess programs and Mayor Ryan's support of community-based chess.
• The Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance - Broward County's leading economic development organization - presented Sunrise with its 2016 Education Partnership Award. The award recognized the role of chess as an economic development tool - developing the critical thinking skills the next generation needs in order to innovate and succeed in the workforce.