About KCC
About Kings Chess Club
Kings Chess Club (KCC) is a chess club in Riyadh, founded in 2023, for everyone who loves playing chess over the board.
Kings Chess Club
Kings Chess Club (KCC) was founded in Riyadh in 2023 and has grown into one of the best-known chess communities in the city, with more than 1,000 members in its WhatsApp groups. The club has separate groups and events for men and women.
Our mission
To grow over-the-board chess in Riyadh by organising welcoming, well-run events where every player, from first-time tournament players to experienced competitors, can play regularly, improve and enjoy the game.
What we do
- Tournaments every two weeks, including KCC Arenas and FIDE-rated tournaments.
- Workshops: monthly professional workshops to sharpen your skills.
- Chess nights and social events for the whole community.
- Ladies events and a women-only group.
- KCC Elo ratings and KCC Arena titles that follow your progress.
How a KCC Arena works
A KCC Arena is one continuous playing period, for example from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM. There are no rounds: you play as many games as you can.
Join
Register for the arena in the KCC Arena Portal.
Get paired
When the arena starts you get an opponent, your colour and a board number.
Play
Play your game over the board at the venue.
Report
You and your opponent each report the result. Matching reports are confirmed at once.
Next game
Your score and KCC Elo update and you are paired again, until the arena clock runs out.
There are no rounds: a win is worth 1 point, a draw ½ and a loss 0. The system prefers opponents you have not met yet, with a similar score, and balances colours. If the two reports differ, a KCC organizer decides the result.
KCC Elo
KCC Elo is the club rating used in the KCC Arena. It is separate from FIDE ratings.
- New players start with a KCC Elo rating of 1200.
- After every confirmed game both ratings change with the standard Elo formula (K = 32): beating a stronger opponent earns more points, losing to a lower-rated one costs more.
- Only confirmed results count. Disputed or unfinished games never change anyone's rating.
- KCC Elo is separate from FIDE ratings.
KCC Arena titles
KCC Arena titles are independent titles awarded by Kings Chess Club and earned only through KCC Elo, from National Master (NM) up to Grandmaster (GM): NM → CM → FM → IM → GM. They are not FIDE titles and have no connection to FIDE title eligibility or FIDE ratings.
Open titles
| Title | Name | Minimum KCC Elo |
|---|---|---|
| NM | National Master | 2100 |
| CM | Candidate Master | 2200 |
| FM | FIDE Master | 2300 |
| IM | International Master | 2400 |
| GM | Grandmaster | 2500 |
Women's titles
| Title | Name | Minimum KCC Elo |
|---|---|---|
| WCM | Woman Candidate Master | 2000 |
| WFM | Woman FIDE Master | 2100 |
| WIM | Woman International Master | 2200 |
| WGM | Woman Grandmaster | 2300 |
A title also needs at least 30 confirmed KCC games. Once a player achieves a title, they keep it, even if their KCC Elo later falls below the threshold. Female players can hold the women's titles and the open titles; the highest title reached is shown.
KCC Arena titles are independent titles awarded by Kings Chess Club, based only on KCC Elo. They are not FIDE titles and have no connection to FIDE title eligibility or FIDE ratings.
Our community
KCC welcomes players of all ages, backgrounds and strengths. Follow our News and Tournaments & Events pages to see what is coming up, and create a free KCC account to join our arenas and events.
Visit us
Play with us in Riyadh
King Salman Social Center
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Tournaments every two weeks and monthly workshops. Dates and times are on the Tournaments & Events page.