The first Pan American Chess Championship was held in Hollywood, 28 July – 12 August 1945.
The line-up was as follows: The second championship was held in 1954 in Los Angeles and was an open tournament.
In 2005, the top seven players qualified for the Chess World Cup 2005.
In 2014 and 2015 the top four earned a spot in the Chess World Cup 2015.
The American Continental Women's Chess Championship serves as a qualifier for the knockout Women's World Chess Championship.