IM Danny Rensch visits Tunnelvision XL!
.png/:/cr=t:0%25,l:0%25,w:100%25,h:100%25/rs=w:400,cg:true)
When registering for the tournament, you can purchase your copy of Dark Squares: How Chess Saved my Life. Dark Squares is a memoir by International Master and Chess.com co-founder Danny Rensch, chronicling his traumatic upbringing in an abusive cult, his rise as a chess prodigy whose talent was exploited by the cult leader, and how the game ultimately became his lifeline, leading to resilience, recovery from a severe medical crisis, and co-founding the world's largest online chess platform. Often described as Educated meets The Queen's Gambit, it emphasizes survival, trust, and chess as a path to redemption.
Auther IM Danny Rensch will be on hand at the end of the tournament for a Q&A, book signing, and simultaneous exhibition.
*Q&A Starts at 6:30 p.m. with Simul. Exhibition to follow. Visitors not playing in the tournament are welcome to show up beforehand for the meet and greet and signing, and can purchase a copy of the book on-site.
Tunnelvision Tournament Series
Bringing tournament chess to the Midlands
The Columbia Chess Club presents the Tunnelvision series as a recurring monthly tournament serving chess players in South Carolina and surrounding locales. The tournament aims to be held on the middle of each month as a 4-Round G/45;+5 event. Live results/standings and DGT LiveCloud broadcast of the top board(s) are expected at each tournament. Registration is limited based on equipment and venue, see individual tournament details for more information.
$1000 Guaranteed at each event.
Upcoming Schedule
Tunnelvision XL, January 17, 2026
Tunnelvision XLI, February 21, 2026
Tunnelvision XLII, March 14, 2026
Tunnelvision XLIII, April 18, 2026
Tunnelvision XLIV, May 16, 2026
Tunnelvision XLV, June 13, 2026
Tunnelvision XLVI, July 11, 2026
Tunnelvision XLVII, August 8, 2026
Tunnelvision XLVIII, September 12, 2026
Tunnelvision XLIX, October 10, 2026
Tunnelvision L, November 14, 2026
Tunnelvision LI, December 19, 2026
For information about past Tunnelvision Tournaments, see the Archives (October 22, 2022 - Present).
Active US Chess Federation membership is required, and can be purchased/renewed at uschess.org/join-us-chess.
Considering Tunnelvision as your first chess tournament? Great! We've put together a guide to help first-time players.
Questions? Contact info@columbiachess.org
Note: we reserve the right to combine adjacent sections to ensure no two players will play each other twice during a tournament. But, if two sections are combined, prizes for top finishers in each original section will still be awarded separately.
