Date(s): Jan 23, 2027
Location: Manley HS
Categories:
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.
🎓 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 does not have 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
📝REGISTRATION
By Academic Chess coaches only
- Open: January 4 – Noon on January 13
- No late or on-site registration
- Use 999 for students without a current US Chess ID
- Verify advance entry list and report errors by January 13 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.
🔄 SUBSTITUTIONS
- Advance request deadline: Noon on January 20
- On-site substitutions allowed
🚌 BUSING
- May be available for your school to and from the tournament
- Request deadline: Noon on January 13
❌ WITHDRAWALS
- Use the online withdrawal form in advance up to Noon on January 20, after that mark absences on your school’s check-in sheet that is turned in at the tournament
- If your entire school team is withdrawing from the tournament after January 20, please notify David Heiser by email at daheiser@cps.edu
For questions, email daheiser@cps.edu
