We'd love your sponsorship & assistance - Who we are

Incorporation

The club was incorporated in 1981 and has met weekly on a Tuesday Night at the Buderim War Memorial Hall since 1997 and at the Sunshine Coast Art Group Buderim.

We are growing and looking for a larger place.

We are a small club, currently, nearing 100 members, we are out-growing our current club facilities at the BWMCA. If you would like to sponsor our club for Tuesday evenings by providing an area for our tournaments we would greatly be indebited. On an average we have just under 40 players on Tuesdays. If you or your business would like to sponsor our tournaments on Tuesday evenings please contact us to discuss.

Our Interests

Not only do we hold clubhouse tournaments, our club has organised interschool tournaments with our affliates for both primary and secondary since 1990, In the recent age championship over 200 hundred students attended the last tournament held at the Mt Creek State School, this tournament is designed to give schools a chance to work out their school teams. Our representative tournament will be held later this year, and the top two teams in both primary and secondary will go on to represent the Sunshine Coast at the Queensland Championships.

Opportunities

In the past, we have held friendly tournaments that encourage families to learn, play and socialise. We held one earlier this year in the BATS Theatre and we got over 30 non-members attending, young and old, so we now know that there are still people wanting to play on weekends. These tournaments also give children opportunities to improve their Queensland ratings by playing adults, without the need to travel to Brisbane or the Gold Coast, ratings are important criteria that the Queensland Chess Association of Queensland use to select students for their Elite Training Squad.

Our immediate goals

We would like to have more friendly day competitions, help juniors achieve their goals, and allow elderly chess players to play chess during the day, as they don’t like to drive at night. We would like to regulary have our Chess on the Beach activities continue and evolve.

Community spirit

We have a strong affiliation with the community as a whole and provide support including our Aboriginal People and LGBTI communities.

Volunteering for our cause

More Volunteers Needed!

If you love what our organization stands for and love to assist in furthering the art of Chess in our community, we welcome you to join our team. There are so many opportunities to assist.

Please call to have a discussion on how you can help us

President: Christopher A. Koloszar +61 449 914 747

president@suncoastchess.com.au

Our Working Committee Members & associates

President - Christopher A. Koloszar

As the devoted president of the Suncoast Chess Club since 2018, I’ve poured my heart and soul into transforming our club into a thriving hub for chess enthusiasts. Tirelessly, I’ve championed events and tournaments, bridging generations—from the young prodigies to the seasoned players. My love affair with chess began when my father taught me the game, back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. To me, chess isn’t just a game; it’s a symphony of memory, mental acuity, and life lessons. It blends artistry, scientific precision, and the thrill of competition, all while bringing joy to those who play. As the proud leader of this vital community on the Sunshine Coast, I stand alongside my passionate committee members, ready to make every move count

Vice President - Maya Burke

Chess is the quintessence of life. It has undoubtedly woven a deep, and infinite passion into my heart. The love I have towards chess glows brightly like moonbeams guiding sailors towards the horizon. Beyond the games, chess has opened my eyes to a world of concerning disconnect which has become ever more prevalent in a world where technology over pursues our downtime. I fear a shift in what we once knew as ‘quality time’ drift and transition into a chaotic symphony of isolation. Through this observation, I feel passionate about changing the way we interact with each other. I hope to gently encourage others to see the strength in chess and eventually remove its status as “the ordinary and boring household pastime”. I smile and frown at the thought of voluntarily spending my weekends studying openings and practicing games: that is because I understand, with each win, there is loss, and with each loss there is growth and

though this knowledge is inevitable, that is incredibly exciting to me. Chess is an inspiring orchestra of laughter, growth and spirited love. It is purposeful and creative. There is knowledge and deep thought.

While I hope we waddle away from the swirling pools of isolated communities, and quiet disconnection, it is my passion to celebrate chess as more than a pastime.

Secretary - Glenn Ingham

When people ask me Why is Chess so important? I often quote Bobby Fischer: ‘Chess is Life’ Chess might not be for everyone, but I have had a fascination with chess since I was 5. When it comes down to it, chess is a game of learning, logic, and legalities where two people try to out muscle each over 64 squares on a board. What is really intriguing in chess is what is known as’ The Shannon Number’. The Shannon Number is the possible number of variations in a game of chess.

What is interesting is that the Shannon Number exceeds the number of atoms in the known universe. That is a big number which is why chess is so fascinating. Not only that but the history of chess that goes back 1500 years is like life, full of love, intrigue, and politics.

When I moved to the Sunshine Coast in March 2023, I came to the Sunshine Coast Chess Club not knowing what to expect.

The club is vibrant, full of enthusiasm and caring people with similar interests. I am proud to be involved in a club bringing like-minded people together who enjoy the fun, spirit and community that the club and chess have to offer. As Spock said to Captain Kirk:

“I’ll have you checkmated on you next move.”

Treasurer - Harry Hirst

From the moment my father introduced me to chess as a young boy, I’ve been captivated by its intricate dance of strategy and intellect. Sixty years have passed, yet my passion for the game still burns brightly. Now, more than ever, I play with the fervent hope that it will stoke the embers of my remaining mental powers. Chess isn’t just a game—it’s my sanctuary, my mental gymnasium, and my timeless companion. As a proud member of the Suncoast Chess Club, I sit on the Board of the Green Cloth, ready to make every move count.

Tournament Director (Acting) - Aidan Leask

Coming Soon!

Junior Development Officer - Tony Powell

Coming Soon!

What we do!

Family Day events

We host Family Day Events open to all young & old, all genders, and abilities.

Promotion of womens and girls events

We host Women's and Girls Events each year.

Organizing Junior Invitational events

Our Kids on the Coast are amongst the talented. We select and invite the best of the best to our once a year event.

Joint Hosting for Chess Day of Excellence events

Suncoast Chess Club Incorporated works with our Sunhine Coast Regional Schools to jointly host a special day of excellence for the students.