Chess Along the US-Mexico Border!

After a successful debut last year, one of the most exciting cross-border chess events made its return, bringing together players, families, and organizers for another unforgettable weekend of competition and community.

The Binational Chess Championship returned to Agua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, this year for its second edition. Held over three days at the city’s Multipurpose Center, the FIDE and Mexican Chess Federation-rated tournament was once again a collaboration between AP players, the Mexican Chess Federation, Cochise Chess, and local partners. This year, fifty-five kids from across Mexico played for free, sponsored by Cochise Chess Executive Director Nick Mueller.

Left to right: Antonio Lugo Estrada, Nick Mueller, and Jesus Peña. Photo credit: Speedy Photography.

Why is it called the Binational Chess Championship?

Two teenagers from AP, Jesus Peña and Antonio Lugo Estrada, founded the Binational Chess Championship. Their idea was to create a chess tournament that was more than a competition alone. According to organizer Monica Lopez, they wanted to foster a spirit of cooperation and cultural exchange between the United States, Mexico, and other nations. AP was the perfect place to make this happen because of the international border the city shares with the United States. 

And the organizing team accomplished exactly what they aimed to do! Kids, teenagers, and adults from both sides of the border came together to highlight the unifying power of chess. This year, a total of 93 players representing 14 clubs across three countries completed the tournament. A total of six titled players participated, yet the average rating was 1432, which reflects the high number of first-time players who joined the event.

The parents nervously wait for their players to finish their games! Photo credit: Nick Mueller.

Thanks to the generosity of ChessKid, the organizers gave away 55 Gold memberships to youth participants. Also, one lucky kid named Axel Lopez won a DGT Centaur smart board raffled off by Cochise Chess!

Nick Mueller hands out ChessKid memberships to youth players. Photo credit: Nick Mueller

Tasty Food and Comfortable Beds Build a Chess Community

Photo credit: Speedy Photography.

The organizers made sure that fun, comfy hotels, and good food got just as much attention as the high-quality tournament, with community and belonging in mind. That’s why the 2025 Binational began with a freestyle chess icebreaker at Cafe Justo. More than 30 kids participated in this gathering, with Bisbee-area teen Ryan Pepper (picture above) earning third-place in his first freestyle chess event.

Thanks to the city of Agua Prieta’s efforts, all participants could stay at nearby hotels at discounted rates. Similarly, food trucks with offerings ranging from pizza to tacos to sushi and chilaquiles — a Mexican breakfast dish based on fried corn tortilla pieces plus salsa, cheese, and vegetables — were in easy walking distance.

Photo credit: Nick Mueller

Cochise Chess: An American Partner

Based in Bisbee, Arizona, about 30 minutes to the north of Agua Prieta, Sonora, Cochise Chess has been the leading American partner of the event. Cochise Chess’s mission as an organization is to elevate individual and community well-being through bilingual, inclusive, educational chess programs and collaborative partnerships with local organizations. 

When the chance to collaborate with so many great people and organizations in Mexico arose, we immediately said "yes" to more chess! We’re so glad that we did, and we look forward to building the Binational Chess Championship for many years to come. Will we see you there next year?

Biography

Nick Mueller

Nick Mueller is Executive Director of Cochise Chess, serving rural Arizona communities with a focus on equity and education. He leads a seven-site program with 800+ members and is expanding school outreach through a Mellon-funded fellowship. He also teaches college English and writes poetry, often about chess.