New Date: Saturday, February 7, 2026

Due to the expected weather on 1/24 we are rescheduling the CPS High School Chess Championship

Join us for the CPS High School Championship — the ultimate showdown of strategy, skill, and school pride!

This US Chess-rated event gathers top high school players from the CPS Academic Chess Program for a full day of intense competition and community celebration.

FLYER

 LOCATION GUIDE

 ENTRY LIST

 PAIRING & STANDINGS

🎓 This tournament is exclusively for students from high schools participating in the Academic Chess Program♟️

👑 HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

US Chess rated • team Swiss system
4 Rounds • Time Control: G/45, d5

SECTIONS

• 8-board varsity team tournament
• 5-board junior varsity team tournament
  • Schools may have multiple JV teams
• Individual Swiss for extra players

AWARDS

• Varsity & JV Sections: 1st & 2nd place teams, Top player each board
• Extra Player Section: 1st Place
• Participation medals to all

📋TOURNAMENT DETAILS

SCHEDULE

• Check-In: 8:30–9:00 AM
• Round 1: 9:30 AM
• Round 2: 11:30 AM
• Lunch: 12:30–1:30 PM
• Round 3: 1:45 PM
• Round 4: 3:45 PM
• Awards: 6:00 PM
• Departure: 6:30 PM

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

• No parents allowed inside during the tournament
• Parents welcome at the awards—entry 30 minutes before ceremony
• Self-screening — do not attend if sick

COACHES & CHAPERONES

• 2 chaperones per school
• 3 chaperones allowed if bringing 12+ students
• Chaperones must be CPS employee, Level I/II volunteer, or approved vendor
• A chess coach counts as a chaperone

CHANGES TO STUDENT MEAL

CPS has discontinued Saturday student meals. Please remind students to eat before arriving or bring a small snack.

Lunch WILL be provided to:

• Students
• Coaches
• Chaperones

🧾US CHESS MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED

• Coaches must submit US Chess membership info for students with no or expired memberships
• Online membership form must be completed by 4 PM on the Friday before the tournament

US CHESS MEMBERSHIP FORM

📝REGISTRATION

By Academic Chess coaches only

• Open: Through Noon on February 4th
• No late or on-site registration
• Use 999 for students without a current US Chess ID
• Verify advance entry list and report errors by February 4 at 1 PM to daheiser@cps.edu
• Coaches should register all students who may participate in the tournament
  • Team assignments will be done on the check-in sheet.
  • Board assignments will be assigned by coaches when players are seated for Round 1.

REGISTER NOW

🔄 SUBSTITUTIONS 

• Advance request deadline: Noon on January 21
• On-site substitutions allowed

SUBSTITUTION FORM

🚌 BUSING

• May be available for your school to and from the tournament
• Request deadline: Noon on January 14

BUS REQUEST FORM

❌ WITHDRAWALS

• As this is a team tournament, there is no need to notify us of individual player withdrawals in advance. Please mark any individual absences on your school’s check-in sheet.
• If your entire school team is withdrawing from the tournament, please notify David Heiser by email at daheiser@cps.edu

For questions, email daheiser@cps.edu