State Chess Champions
Organized in 1947, the Tennessee Chess Association held its first Open that year over the Memorial Day weekend. However, from 1948 through 1955-56, the event was held over New Year’s weekend. Since then, the Championship has been held over Labor Day Weekend.
The Champions are listed by decade for ease of viewing. Some of the material
on this page is excerpted from A History of Tennessee Chess, by Peter Lahde.
For information about purchasing this fine book, contact the author at 2609
Sailboat Court, Nashville, TN 37217.
(615) 361-4588.
| 1947 1948/49 |
Robert Coveyou* J.B. Mullinex |
*Charter Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
| 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1954/55 1955/56 1956 1957 1958 1959 |
L. C. Norderer Jerry Sullivan* L. C. Norderer Jerry Sullivan* M. Southern* & J. Sullivan Robert Coveyou Robert Coveyou* Jerry Sullivan* Jerry Sullivan* Robert Coveyou* Robert Coveyou* |
*Charter Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
| 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 |
Jerry Sullivan* Robert Coveyou* Emanuel Tsitseklis Robert Coveyou* James Wright** Dave Burris Dave Burris Dave Burris Robert Coveyou* James Sweets** |
*Charter Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
| 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 |
James Wright** Douglas Ralston Juan Aristorenas John Hurt** Kenny Thomas Kenny Thomas Emanuel Tsitseklis Luis Torres Marty Appleberry Marty Appleberry |
** Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
| 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 |
Leonard S. Dickerson C. Jones & K. Thomas J. Sentef & P. Harless M. Carey & S. Pickard J. Moore & L. Dickerson Charles Maddigan Ronald Burnett Ronald Burnett Charles Schulien Charles Schulien |
** Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
| 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 |
Curt Jones D. Sirias, M. Ishee, & J. Wheeler Rea Hayes**, R. Burnett, & J. Cale Ronald Burnett GM Sam Palatnik GM Sam Palatnik Peter Bereolos GM Sam Palatnik P. Bereolos, L. Dickerson, & T. Andrews GM Sam Palatnik, & Todd Andrews |
** Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
| 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 |
GM Sam Palatnik GM Sam Palatnik Peter Bereolos Peter Bereolos Peter Bereolos, Ronald Burnett Todd D Andrews Todd D Andrews Todd D Andrews, Peter Bereolos Todd D Andrews, Ronald Burnett Ronald Burnett, Patrick Tae, David Justice ????? |
** Member, Tennessee Chess Association Hall of Fame.
