“Recap of the 2024 ChessKid National Festival: Meet The Stars, Unusual Events, and Tournament Highlights”

The 2024 ChessKid National Festival held in Charlotte, North Carolina over President’s Day weekend was a smashing success, with 431 kids participating in various tournaments and meeting their favorite chess stars. The event, organized in partnership with the Charlotte Chess Center, featured not only traditional chess events like lectures and simuls but also quirky side-events like Chess Fencing and the Super Soaker Challenge.

Kids had the opportunity to meet popular chess streamers and creators such as Levy Rozman, the Botez sisters, and Jen Shahade. The festival also included unique activities like Hula Chess, face painting, and the Bullet Chess Challenge, where participants could play top players with time odds.

In the K-8 Championship, third seed Krishna Rallabandi emerged victorious, edging out the top seed on tiebreaks. The tournament saw participation from kids with ratings over 2000 and representation from multiple countries.

Organizer Mike Klein described the festival as a culmination of a year’s worth of work to bring the online chess experience to life. The event was a first-time experience for everyone involved, providing a platform for kids and families to engage with the ChessKid community and enjoy a weekend of chess-filled fun.