12th Annual Super Bowl Pregame Chess Tournament

A Championship Day for Chess and Football

On February 9, 2025, before the Philadelphia Eagles captured a thrilling Super Bowl victory in Las Vegas, chess players gathered at the South Jersey Innovation Center (SJIC) for the 12th Annual Super Bowl Pregame Chess Tournament.

This long-standing tradition served as the perfect pregame event, featuring four rounds of rated chess just hours before kickoff. Later that evening, the Eagles celebrated football glory, while earlier that day the region's top chess players showcased their talent across the board.

In a fitting coincidence, Eagles running back and chess enthusiast Saquon Barkley helped bring home the Lombardi Trophy only hours after 56 local players competed in Cherry Hill, making it a memorable day for both football and chess fans

Tournament Highlights

The tournament welcomed 56 rated players from across the region and featured three competitive sections:

• Open
• U2000
• U1400

Players competed in four rounds of rated chess, with rising talents and experienced competitors battling for top honors.

Open Section Results

The Open Section featured an impressive field of 14 masters, including

• International Master and U.S. Senior Champion Nikoloz Manadze
• Three FIDE Masters

New Jersey National Master Ansh Shah delivered an outstanding performance, finishing with a perfect 4.5 points.

Peter Minear of Pennsylvania followed closely behind with 4.0 points after four competitive rounds.

Continuing a Chess Tradition

South Jersey Innovation Center continues to serve as a leading destination for competitive chess and STEM education throughout the region.

SJIC hosts:

• Rated chess tournaments every other Sunday
• Rated events on Wednesday evenings
• Rated events on Friday evenings

These tournaments provide opportunities for players of all skill levels to compete, improve, and become part of a growing chess community.

A Memorable Super Bowl Sunday

As the tournament concluded and players packed up their chess boards, many headed home to watch the Philadelphia Eagles secure their Super Bowl victory.

For South Jersey, it was a day to celebrate both strategic brilliance on the chessboard and championship success on the football field Super Bowl Sunday filled with checkmates, touchdowns, and unforgettable memories.