Exciting Highlights for the 2026 National High School (K-12) Championship in Chicago!
Excitement Builds for the 2026 National High School Chess Championship in Chicago
Chicago, IL – This weekend, from March 27 to 29, the Windy City will host the highly anticipated 2026 National High School (K-12) Chess Championship. With over 1,500 young chess enthusiasts registered, the event promises to showcase some of the brightest talents in scholastic chess across the United States.
Online registration remains open until Thursday, March 26, with on-site registration available Friday morning. Participants can check the full list of pre-entries on the event page.
Special Guest: GM Fidel Corrales
One of the highlights of the championship will be the presence of Grandmaster Fidel Corrales, a celebrated coach and competitor with an impressive track record, including participation in the 2009 and 2011 World Cups and a victory at the 2023 World Open. Corrales will kick off his residency with a 30-board simultaneous exhibition on Friday at 9:00 a.m. in the Riverside room.
Chess enthusiasts can also attend his Grandmaster Lectures on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11:00 a.m., or challenge him directly during his “Take-on-all-comers” Blitz sessions scheduled for Friday and Saturday from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Thrilling Blitz and Bughouse Tournaments
The championship will feature exhilarating Blitz and Bughouse tournaments. The Blitz tournament kicks off on Thursday, April 4, at 5:00 p.m., with online registration open until 2:00 p.m. CDT. The Bughouse championship requires on-site registration from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. and begins at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday. Both events will take place in the main playing hall, the Chicago Ballroom.
Friends and Family Chess Tournament
For those not competing in the K-12 championship, a Friends and Family Chess Tournament will be held on Saturday, starting at 10:30 a.m. This event invites parents, grandparents, and friends to join in the fun, with four rounds of G/30 games available in rated and unrated sections. The entry fee is just $40 on-site, with online registration also available.
Watch Live on Twitch
Chess fans unable to attend in person can still catch all the action live on Twitch. US Chess will provide live commentary and analysis for all seven rounds, featuring insights from WGM Sabina Foisor. Follow the action at www.twitch.tv/USChess.
Top Player Watch
Among the competitors, two co-champions from last year, IM Tanitulowa “Tani” Adewumi and FM William Safranek, will return to defend their titles. Adewumi, the highest-rated player in this year’s field with a US Chess rating over 2500, will face stiff competition from three players rated over 2400: IM Bach Ngo, FM Bryan Enming Lin, and FM Rose Atwell, who recently crossed the 2400 FIDE threshold.
As the excitement builds for this prestigious event, US Chess looks forward to an unforgettable weekend of strategy, skill, and camaraderie in Chicago. Stay tuned for updates and highlights on Twitter and Chess Life Online, where daily reports will feature game highlights from WGM Sabina Foisor.
Join us for a weekend of chess that promises to inspire and entertain!