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Sunrise Mayor-Michael J Ryan at last year’s Mayors’ Chess Challenge. {City of Sunrise}

Chess players of all ages and skill levels can test their abilities alongside one of the world’s top grandmasters at the Mayors’ Chess Challenge, returning to Sunrise.

The free event will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, from 10 a.m. to noon at the SAC Multipurpose Center, 11501 NW 44th St.

Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, the world’s second-ranked chess player and a five-time U.S. chess champion, is scheduled to attend. Nakamura has also built a global following of millions through his social media channels.

Sunrise Mayor Michael J. Ryan and members of the Sunrise City Commission invite everyone, from first-time players to experienced competitors, to participate in friendly, open-play matches with community leaders and highly rated players.

Instructors from the Sunrise Center for Excellence in Chess and representatives from the National Scholastic Chess Foundation will be available to help beginners and teach foundational strategies.

“When we as a commission began developing a community chess program, we saw how powerful chess was for critical thinking, youth empowerment and social engagement for all ages,” Ryan said.

Ryan credited Nakamura, local chess instructors, the National Scholastic Chess Foundation and elected officials throughout South Florida with helping the program reach its 12th year.

“Chess brings people of all ages and backgrounds together at the same table, and it’s our joy in Sunrise to see them learn and grow,” he said.

The Sunrise event will launch the 2026-27 Mayors’ Chess Challenge tour, which will visit participating municipalities across Broward, Palm Beach and Miami-Dade counties through May 2027.

Ryan founded the challenge to promote the academic, cognitive and social benefits of chess among young people and other residents. What began as a Sunrise initiative has expanded into a yearlong series involving more than 20 South Florida cities.

Sunrise was named Chess City of the Year by the U.S. Chess Federation in 2015.

Participants may request a Mayors’ Chess Challenge passport and have it stamped and signed by mayors at each event they attend.

Admission is free, and registration is not required. For more information or to view the complete schedule, visit sunrisefl.gov/chess or call 954-747-4600.

Upcoming dates:

City of Sunrise
September 19, 2026 – 10 am to noon
SAC Multipurpose Center
11501 NW 44th Street
954-746-3250

Town of Davie
October 3, 2026 – 10 am to noon
Pine Island Multipurpose Center
3801 South Pine Island Drive
954-797-1181

City of Weston
October 10, 2026 – 10 am to noon
Weston Community Center
20200 Saddle Club Road
954-389-4321

Town of Southwest Ranches
October 17, 2026 – 10 am to 1 pm
Southwest Ranches Town Hall
13400 Griffin Road
954-343-7452

City of Lighthouse Point
October 24, 2026 – 9 am to 11 am
John Trudel Community Center
4521 NE 22nd Avenue
954-784-3439

City of Tamarac
October 31, 2026 – 10 am to noon
Tamarac Community Center
8601 West Commercial Blvd.
954-597-3461

City of Delray Beach
November 7, 2026 – 10 am to noon
Delray Beach Community Center
50 NW 1st Avenue
561-243-7250 option 3

City of Deerfield Beach
December 12, 2026 – 10 am to noon
Hillsboro Community Center
50 Hillsboro Technology Drive
954-250-4069

City of Miramar
January 16, 2027 – 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Sunset Lakes
2801 SW 186th Avenue
954 602-3198

City of Plantation
January 23, 2027 – 10 am to noon
Volunteer Park
12050 W Sunrise Blvd.
954-797-2140

City of Parkland
January 30, 2027 – 9 am to 11 am
Recreation and Enrichment Center
10559 Trails End
954-757-4107 or
954-757-4121

City of Oakland Park
February 6, 2027 – 10 am to noon
North Andrews Gardens Community Center
25 NE 56th Court
954-630-4373

City of Pompano Beach
February 20, 2027 – 10 am to 1 pm
Sample McDougald House
450 NE 10th St.
954-786-4148

City of North Lauderdale
February 27, 2027 – 10 am to noon
North Lauderdale Teen / Recreation Center
701 SW 71st Avenue
954-724-7061

City of Lauderdale Lakes
March 6, 2027 – 10 am to noon
Hazelle P. Rogers Multipurpose Auditorium
4340 NW 36th Street
954-535-2788

City of Hollywood
March 20, 2027 – 10 am to 1 pm
David Park Community Center
108 N 33rd Ct.
954-967-4236

City of Boca Raton
March 27, 2027 – 10 am to 1 pm
Boca Raton Public Library
Downtown Library Branch
400 NW 2nd Avenue
561-393-7963

City of Coconut Creek
April 3, 2027 – 10 am to noon
Recreation Complex
4455 Sol Press Blvd.
954-545-6633

City of Lauderhill
April 10, 2027 – 11 am to 1 pm
Veterans Park
7600 NW 50th Street
TBA

City of Coral Springs
April 17, 2027 – 10 am to noon
Kiwanis Park
500 Ramblewood Drive
954-345-2107

City of Dania Beach
April 24, 2027 – 10 am to noon
C.W. Thomas Park
800 NW 2nd Street
954-924-3884 x3701

City of Fort Lauderdale
May 1, 2027 – 10 am to 1 pm
Riverland Park
950 SW 27th Avenue
954-828-5320

City of Pembroke Pines
May 8, 2027 – 9 am to 11 am
Club 19 at Pembroke Lakes
Golf & Racquet Club
10500 Taft Street
954-392-2127

City of Wilton Manors
TBA

City of Miami Beach
TBA

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