Kirk A. Tribes for President, Texas Chess Association

06/11/2025

Hello Friends,

We are hereby suspending our campaign for TCA President until further notice and instead supporting the current Officers duly elected at this time.

Should something change in the future, we'll keep you posted.

Follow the Texas Chess Association at texaschess.org/.

Help Keep the Texas Chess Calendar Going After 8 years of excellent service, Lori Balkum will be stepping down as the TCA Clearinghouse Coordinator at the end of June. We’re incredibly grateful for all she’s done to keep the tournament calendar accurate and reliable. Now we’re looking for a ne...

05/17/2025

Hello Friends,

It has been a while since my announcement back in April. Here is an update of some groundwork we plan to layout:

We want to introduce our Back to Basics tour!

1. The organization should belong to "We the People". The Membership should be the foundation bedrock of the Texas Chess Association.

2. We are envisioning bringing the Texas Chess Association back to basics, simplified. Review the Bylaws and procedures and recommend a more simplified approach. Too often over time, regulation builds on top of regulation and before you know it, the processes become too bureaucratic in nature. Our goal will be to review and eliminate unnecessary rules and burdens in place, while keeping structure and organization intact.

3. When was the last time you could recall the top chess players in the world? USA? State of Texas? If you are an everyday fella like me, you can barely remember who the World Champion is...

Our point is, we will bring the focus back to the everyday common chess players from around the entire State. Think about who coached/mentored you? A Mom that wouldn't give up on you learning that tricky Knight move? A schoolteacher that sponsored a scholastic chess club and represented your chess team at a local area tournament? A friend that knew a friend that taught you? Chances are, it was done by someone that never was or sought to be in the spotlight, yet they served faithfully over the years with patience and made you the chessplayer that you are today.

Chess has forged wonderful friendships over the years and we hope to build on that community, in a much larger sense.

Make chess great again!

04/02/2025

Welcome to our campaign page, Kirk A. Tribes for President, Texas Chess Association.
It is my joy to welcome you and I look forward to getting to know each and every one of you. I have been involved in the chess arena for many years starting in my youth. Through the years, many wonderful people have helped me and influenced me along the way to become the man that I am today, and for the friendships I have made, I'm the most thankful.

Chess has proven to have such a positive impact on folks all over the world over the years, especially young kids. The Texas Chess Association has had a longstanding reputation as being the premier chess organization in the State of Texas, since 1935. As your next President, it will be my goal to carry forward the reputation, by preserving peace and maintaining the public trust you have in our organization.

Together, we will accomplish great things for Members of the Texas Chess Association.

Send a message to learn more

04/02/2025

Hello Friends,

I, Kirk A. Tribes do hereby announce that I will seek the nomination of the Office of President of the Texas Chess Association (TCA) for 2026-2027. (Elections next year).

My experience related to chess:

Current TCA Adult member & Audit Committee member.

USCF Membership rating 1646.

Co-Founder & 1st Chairman (Aug. 2023)
Vice Chairman (2024-current)
Board Director (2024-2027 term)
Kingdom Authority Chess Club of Beaumont, TX.

Director & CEO (March 2023 - August 2023)
Beaumont Chess Club

Founder & President 2000-2005
Lamar University Chess Club

In the various roles I have held, my service has included promoting chess for all ages. We have over the years forged some of the best friendships as a result and together serving as your next TCA President, we can continue on the Legacy that has made the Texas Chess Association such a great organization since 1935!