Brandmair

Check out the Columbia Chess Club, in South Carolina.

I'm James Brandmair, and my journey with chess started when I was ten, learning the basics from my dad. That early experience sparked a lifelong passion, leading me to start chess clubs in middle and high school and share the game with others. Though I didn’t enter the tournament scene until 2021, at 28, I quickly immersed myself in competitive play, participating in over 170 events and directing nearly 200.

In 2021, I decided to reboot the Columbia Chess Club (CCC) to bring chess back to the community after the pandemic. Since then, I’ve worked hard to create a welcoming and active chess community here in Columbia, SC. The Club has grown remarkably, breaking records with the 2022 Columbia Open as South Carolina's largest open chess event and, most recently, opening a dedicated space for players at the end of 2023. I’m proud of what we’ve built, and I’m committed to keeping chess accessible, exciting, and competitive for everyone who joins us.