The Chess Club at University of the Pacific defeated teams from Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Texas and 20 other schools to win its category in the 2026 Pan-American Intercollegiate Chess Championship.

Peter Lee ’25, Weili Lu Du ’26, Vu Thien Nhi Do ’25, ’27 and Prabhleen Gill ’26 represented Pacific at the U.S. Chess Federation-sanctioned annual intercollegiate tournament in Oak Brooke, Illinois. It was Pacific’s first national competition since 2018. Teams of four players competed head-to-head over six rounds. 

Lee, who graduated in December, also won first for individual board and Do placed third. Do also won all six of her games to earn Top Female Player.

“I was really surprised,” Do said. “There were a lot of strong female players from other schools, especially on the top boards. Getting to play them was really exciting.”

The tournament is divided into three sections. An open section features top-tier programs, many with scholarship-supported players. An under-2000 section includes strong non-scholarship teams. This year, organizers introduced a beginner-level under-1400 section, based on team rating averages across four boards.

Pacific entered the tournament in the under-1400 section as the No. 7 seed of 24 teams, taking the win and ending with a 5–1 record to claim the title.

It was Gill’s first time competing in a national over-the-board tournament rather than online.

“It was a really different experience,” Gill said. “I usually play online, so adjusting to playing on a physical board was tough at first. I learned a lot and definitely want to play more tournaments.”

Do said that in-person chess brings a different kind of pressure and a stronger sense of sportsmanship.

“Your tiebreaks depend on how well your opponents do, so you actually want them to perform well,” Do said. “It creates a friendly environment. People you played earlier in the tournament would come up later just to check in and wish you luck.”

The Pacific Chess Club includes competitive players and students who play for fun. The club holds weekly meetings to play against fellow students and community members from Stockton.

Since spring 2024, the group has hosted an open chess tournament each semester, inviting students and local players to compete. The club is hoping to host another tournament in March.