2025 in Review
SCC 2025 highlight 1 SCC 2025 highlight 2 SCC 2025 highlight 3 SCC 2025 highlight 4 SCC 2025 highlight 5 SCC 2025 highlight 6 SCC 2025 highlight 7
SUMMIT CHESS CLUB
"win or learn"
Carmel, Indiana · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit · Est. 2023

More than a
chess club.

Chess. Community. Carmel.

Summit Chess Club was formed with a simple idea — to promote the game of chess and guide players from their very first move all the way to the tournament stage. Whether you've never touched a chess piece or you're chasing a rating, SCC is your home.

Upcoming Events →
♟
Free Club
No membership fees. Open to all ages and skill levels.
📅
Weekly Play
Thursdays at Carmel Christian Church and Sundays at CCPL.
🏆
Rated & Free Tournaments
USCF-rated events plus free community tournaments monthly.
😊
Player Friendly
No late fees, play-up fees, or hidden club fees. Ever.
📈
Learn & Grow
Lessons, practice, and tournament prep for all levels.
🤝
Community First
Building a strong, inclusive chess community in Indiana.
Grandmaster Visits

World-class talent, right here in Carmel.

Since 2023, Summit Chess Club has hosted four Grandmasters for simuls and one-on-one blitz battles — giving our members a rare chance to sit across the board from world-class talent. Click any flyer to view it full-size.

♞
GM Sam Khanin
Chess Simul
July 16, 2026
View Flyer →
♚
GM Lorenzo Lodici
Simul & Blitz
March 12, 2026
View Flyer →
♛
GM Sam Khanin
Blitz Battle
Aug 21, 2025
View Flyer →
♜
GM Elshan Moradiabadi
Chess Simul
March 6, 2025
View Flyer →
♝
GM Alexander Lenderman
1-on-1 Blitz
Aug 16, 2023
View Flyer →
Event Recaps

Watch the highlights.

Relive our recent events — from a charity simul to a full day of chess at the library.

Checkmate Cancer 2026
Full Recap
A Day of Chess — IndyPL
Full Recap
Sponsors & Donors

Thank you to our sponsors & donors.

We are forever grateful to our proud sponsors of Checkmate Cancer 2026.

Individual Donors
Robert Banta • David Airey • Kevin Lee • Mrs. Minner • Riley McCulloch • Sahitya Mallipeddi & Abhiram Maddela • Nathaniel Criss • Tony Passwater • Jay Carr • Ganapathi Vaddadi • R Michael Dugdale • Terrence LeMaster • Gabriel Hawkins & John Martin Hawkins • James Ramp • Donald Winslow • Anonymous Donors • All Participants
Meet & Play

Come play with us.

Weekly meetups and free monthly events — no registration required, all skill levels welcome.

📅

Thursdays · 6:00 – 8:30 PM

Carmel Christian Church. Casual games, practice, and club activity open to adults and kids of all ages.

All Ages Welcome
📚

Sundays · 2:30 – 4:30 PM

Carmel Clay Public Library. Youth-only sessions for scholastic players to learn, practice, and improve.

Kids K–12 Only
🎯

Free G10 OTB Tournament

A free casual over-the-board G10 tournament held during Thursday club hours every month. No entry fee, no pressure.

Free · Every Month · Thursdays
💻

Free Online Tournament — chess.com

Monthly free online tournament on chess.com. Top 3 finishers each win a 1-month Chess.com Diamond membership!

Free · Online · Top 3 Win Diamond ♦
Featured Event
Upcoming · July 2026

Checkmate Cancer 2026 ♜

A charity chess event benefiting the American Cancer Society — GM simul with Grandmaster Sam Khanin plus two USCF-rated tournaments on July 18. All proceeds support cancer research.

GM Simul
July 16 · Carmel Christian Church
Tournament Day
July 18 · Kid City USA · Westfield, IN
Entry Fees
Scholastic $20 · Open $25

Two sections on July 18 — register for the one that fits you:

Scholastic (K–12) · $20
Checkmate Cancer 2026 — Scholastic
Open (All Ages) · $25
Checkmate Cancer 2026 — Open
Tournaments

Compete. Improve. Repeat.

USCF-rated and casual tournaments — for serious competitors and newcomers alike. Past tournaments are removed automatically.

Jul
16

Checkmate Cancer 2026 — GM Simul

Carmel Christian Church · GM Sam Khanin · Open to all · Charity event

Charity Event
Jul
18

Checkmate Cancer 2026 — Scholastic (K–12)

Kid City USA · Westfield, IN · Entry: $20

USCF Rated
Jul
18

Checkmate Cancer 2026 — Open

Kid City USA · Westfield, IN · Entry: $25

USCF Rated
Jul
25

A Day of Chess — IndyPL Central Library

Indianapolis Public Library · Free · Rated & Unrated sections

Free · USCF RatedRegister
Oct
3

National Chess Day — Scholastic (K–12)

Carmel Christian Church · Carmel, IN · Entry: $20

USCF Rated
Oct
3

National Chess Day — Open (Adults & Kids)

Carmel Christian Church · Carmel, IN · Entry: $25

USCF Rated
Oct
17

Day of Chess at IndyPL — Books & Rooks

IndyPL Central Library · Indianapolis, IN · Free · Rated & Unrated sections

Free · USCF Rated
Recap

Tournament Recaps.

Results, highlights, and stories from past SCC events — newest to oldest.

🏆
IndyPL · July 2026
Another Fantastic Day of Chess at IndyPL — Central Library
July 25, 2026 · 160+ players · GM Sam Khanin Simul
Read full recap →
📚
ISCA · March 2025
A Fantastic Day of Chess at IndyPL — Central Library
March 15, 2025 · 140+ players · Rated & Unrated sections
Read full recap →
🏆
ISCA · October 2024
2024 National Chess Day Open — 91 Players, 3 Sections
October 12, 2024 · Pro, Reserve & Novice sections
Read full recap →
♕
Bibliophilica · October 2023
2023 National Chess Day Open
October 2023 · SCC's inaugural National Chess Day tournament
Read full recap →
📷
Facebook · 2023
Tournament Highlights & Photos
Early SCC tournament gallery & community highlights
View on Facebook →
Community

Thanks for your support.

Summit Chess Club is grateful to these organizations that have supported our programs and mission.

01
Carmel Christian Church
02
Carmel Clay Public Library (CCPL)
03
Indianapolis Public Library (IndyPL)
04
Kid City – Westfield
05
Indiana State Chess Association (ISCA)
06
Scholastic Chess of Indiana (SCI)
07
Hindu Temple of Central Indiana (HTCI)
08
Tamil Sangam of Central Indiana (TSCI)
Leadership

Run by players, for players.

SCC is built and run by dedicated chess enthusiasts who care about growing the game across Indiana.

Nikhil Murugan

Nikhil Murugan

Founder & President

Secretary — Indiana State Chess Association (ISCA), Certified USCF Tournament Director, Chess coach, and Chess Journalists of America (CJA) Judge. Founded Summit Chess Club at age 14. 2024 US Junior Open (U15) Champion, Recipient of the 2026 USCF Scholastic Chess Ambassador Award.

Track Record
Since 2023
76
Tournaments directed
2,671
Player entries
42
SCC-branded events
34
For partner orgs
TD Roles Held
65Chief TD
9Asst/Floor
2Online TD
Alex Zhang

NM Alex Zhang

Volunteer Coach

USCF National Master & FIDE Candidate Master. 2026 Champion of the Denker National Tournament, bronze medalist — 2025 Pan-American Youth Chess Festival, and multi-time Missouri state champion. Qualified for the U.S. Junior Championship and FIDE World Youth Championship.

♟

Volunteer with Us

Tournament Directors & Coaches

We're always looking for passionate players willing to help tournament direct, coach, or assist at events. Reach out if you'd like to get involved and give back to the chess community.

Get In Touch

We'd love to hear from you.

New to chess, looking to enter a tournament, or want to sponsor an event? Reach out anytime.

✉️
📞

Phone / Zelle

(463) 248-0190
💳

Donations & Entry Fees

Check to Summit Chess Club
Zelle: (463) 248-0190
paypal.me/SummitChessClub

👥

Connect With Us

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