
The Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, also known as the Pan-Am or Pan Ams, is an annual tournament open to teams from colleges and universities in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The tournament has been held since 1946, with the number of participating teams varying over the years. For example, the 1965, 1967, and 1969 tournaments saw around 50 teams compete, while the 2019 edition featured 63 teams, and the 2025 tournament had 91 teams in attendance. The Pan-Am is a highly regarded intercollegiate chess championship, attracting powerhouse programs and top players from across the continent.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Number of teams | 91 |
| Number of teams with average ratings over 2500 | 10 |
| Winner | University of Texas Rio Grande Valley A-team (UTRGV-A) |
| Second place | University of Texas at Dallas’s B-team (UTD-B) |
| Third place | Saint Louis University (SLU-A) and Webster University (tied) |
| Number of Grandmasters | 30 |
| Number of International Masters | 22 |
| Number of players | 520 (in 1975) |
| Number of teams per year (1962-1967) | 25 |
| Number of teams per year (1968-1971) | 50 |
| Number of teams per year (1972-1978) | 108 |
| Number of teams in 2019 | 63 |
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What You'll Learn
- The 2025 Pan-Am was the largest edition since 1976, with 91 teams competing
- The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley won the 2025 Pan-Am
- The Pan-Am is open to colleges in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean
- The 2019 Pan-Am was the strongest ever, with 33 Grandmasters and 20 International Masters
- The Pan-Am is not governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association

The 2025 Pan-Am was the largest edition since 1976, with 91 teams competing
The Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, also known as the Pan-Am, is the foremost intercollegiate team chess championship in the Americas. It is open to teams from universities, colleges, community colleges, and technical colleges from North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The tournament began in 1946 and has been held annually since, usually taking place between December 27 and 30.
The popularity of the Pan-Am soared following Bobby Fischer's victory at the 1972 World Championship. During the 1960s and 1970s, participation in the tournament grew about tenfold, with an average of nearly 108 teams per year from 1972 to 1978. The highest turnout during this period was 123 teams (520 players) in 1975.
The 2025 Pan-Am was the largest edition of the tournament since 1976, with 91 teams competing. The tournament was hosted by the Charlotte Chess Center and held from January 2 to 6 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley A-team (UTRGV-A) took first place with a perfect 6/6 score. This was UTRGV's second Pan-Am championship, following their first victory in 2015. The UTRGV-A team included three Grandmasters (GMs) and two International Masters (IMs).
The Pan-Am is conducted under US Chess Federation (USCF) rules and is rated by both USCF and the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The tournament has been dominated by teams from schools offering chess scholarships since the 1990s. The 2025 tournament featured ten teams with average ratings over 2500, including Mizzou, Webster University, UTRGV, Saint Louis University, UTD, Texas Tech, Stanford, the University of Chicago, and Yale.
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The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley won the 2025 Pan-Am
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) has a rich history of success in chess. The university's Vaqueros chess team has risen through the ranks over the last decade, establishing itself as one of the best collegiate teams in the nation and, arguably, the world.
In 2025, UTRGV continued its winning streak by claiming the top spot at the Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, also known as the Pan-Am. This marked the university's second Pan-Am title, with their first victory occurring a decade earlier in 2015.
The 2025 Pan-Am was a highly competitive tournament, with 91 teams in attendance, making it the largest edition since 1976. Among these teams were notable chess powerhouses such as Mizzou, Webster University, Saint Louis University, and Texas Tech. UTRGV's A-team entered the competition with the third-highest average rating of 2606 and a strong roster that included three Grandmasters (GMs): Viktor Gazik, Gleb Dudin, and Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux. They were joined by International Masters (IMs) Juraj Druska and Irakli Beradze.
UTRGV-A demonstrated exceptional skill and strategy throughout the tournament, ultimately achieving a perfect score of 6/6. Their victory in the Open section solidified UTRGV's position as a force to be reckoned with in the world of collegiate chess. This win also highlighted the dedication and talent of the university's chess team, which has become an integral part of the university's identity.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley's triumph in the 2025 Pan-Am serves as a testament to the university's commitment to fostering excellence in chess. With a talented team, dedicated coaching, and strong support from the campus community, UTRGV has solidified its place in the history of intercollegiate chess competitions.
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The Pan-Am is open to colleges in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean
The Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, also known as the Pan-Am, is an annual tournament open to colleges in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The tournament began in 1946 and has been held under various names and formats. It is hosted by the United States Chess Federation and is open to teams of four players and up to two alternates from the same college or university.
The Pan-Am has grown significantly over the years, with attendance averaging nearly 108 teams per year from 1972 to 1978, with the highest turnout being 123 teams (520 players) in 1975. The tournament has been dominated by colleges from the United States, but in recent years, colleges from Canada, such as the University of Toronto and McGill University, have also participated and won.
The 2019 Pan-Am was the largest edition of the tournament since 1982, with 63 teams competing. The 2025 Pan-Am, hosted by the Charlotte Chess Center, was the largest edition since 1976, with 91 teams participating. The tournament was won by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) A-team, which also won the 2015 edition.
The Pan-Am is a prestigious tournament that draws powerhouse chess programs from across the Americas and the Caribbean. Colleges with long-established chess traditions, as well as rising forces in collegiate chess, compete in this tournament.
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The 2019 Pan-Am was the strongest ever, with 33 Grandmasters and 20 International Masters
The Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, also known as the Pan-Am, is the foremost intercollegiate team chess championship in the Americas. The tournament is hosted by the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and is open to teams from post-secondary schools in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The Pan-Am usually takes place annually from December 27 to 30 and has been held in the United States most of the time, with Canada hosting four times.
The 2019 Pan-Am was considered the strongest tournament ever. It featured 63 teams, including an impressive 33 Grandmasters and 20 International Masters. Additionally, players from 40 FIDE federations and 10 teams with average US Chess ratings over 2500 participated. This made it the largest Pan-Am tournament since 1982, until it was surpassed in 2023.
Grandmaster (GM) is the highest title awarded by FIDE, the international chess governing body. It is usually achieved by obtaining three required title norms and a FIDE rating of 2400 or more. The title of International Master (IM) is given to strong chess players below the Grandmaster level, and it is typically earned through similar means as the Grandmaster title.
The 2019 Pan-Am showcased the remarkable talent and competitiveness of college chess teams across the Americas. With the participation of numerous Grandmasters and International Masters, the tournament highlighted the increasing popularity and skill level of intercollegiate chess.
Some colleges have achieved notable success in the Pan-Am over the years. For instance, Webster University dominated the tournament with seven consecutive wins from 2012 to 2018. The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the University of Texas at Dallas share the record for the most wins, having claimed victory or tied for first place ten times each.
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The Pan-Am is not governed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association
The Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, or the Pan-Am, is an annual tournament that has been held since 1946. It is the foremost intercollegiate team chess championship in the Americas. The Pan-Am is hosted by the United States Chess Federation (USCF) and is open to teams from post-secondary schools in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. The tournament usually takes place from December 27 to 30 and has been held in the United States most years, with Canada hosting four times.
The format of the tournament is a six-round fixed-roster team Swiss-system tournament scored by team points. Each team consists of four players and up to two alternates from the same school. The Pan-Am has grown significantly in popularity over the years, with attendance averaging nearly 108 teams per year from 1972 to 1978, and the highest turnout being 123 teams (520 players) in 1975. The University of Toronto was the first school to win three straight titles from 1980 to 1982, and Harvard University won four titles in five years from 1986 to 1990.
The Pan-Am has been dominated by schools offering chess scholarships, with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the University of Texas at Dallas sharing the record for most wins. The 2025 Pan-Am was the largest edition since 1976, with 91 teams competing. The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Chess Team secured its first victory at the 2025 tournament, qualifying for the prestigious President's Cup.
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Frequently asked questions
The number of colleges competing in the tournament varies each year. In 2025, 91 teams competed, making it the largest edition since 1976. The 2019 tournament featured 63 teams, which was the largest since 1982 until 2023. From 1972 to 1978, attendance averaged nearly 108 teams per year, with the highest turnout being 123 teams in 1975.
The University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) won the 2025 Pan-Am tournament. This was their second time winning, with their first championship being in 2015. Other winning colleges include the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, the University of Texas at Dallas, and Webster University.
The Pan-Am Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship is open to teams from universities, colleges, community colleges, or technical colleges in North America, Central America, South America, or the Caribbean. Each team must comprise four players and up to two alternates from the same school.











































