58th annual
New York State High School Championships:

Intended Mostly For Grades 9-12

(Except Grades 6-8 can also play but with prize restrictions)

 

FEBRUARY 28 – MARCH 1, 2026

Saratoga Hilton Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY

 

CLICK HERE FOR PAIRINGS, STANDINGS, RESULTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS AND INFORMATION

 

A Heritage Event!

US Chess Junior Grand Prix!

A State Championship Event

 

$2,550 GUARANTEED BONUS PRIZES PLUS SEVERAL MONTHS

FREE/REDUCED-PRICE ENTRIES TO CCA EVENTS!

(See Below For NY State And Grade Eligibility Restrictions

For These Prizes)

 

Please see separate ad, March 7-8, for NY State Scholastic Championships, for grades K-8

 

     6-round Swiss, G/60, d10, open to grades 9-12 (grades 6-8 also may play but with prize restrictions), Saratoga Hilton Hotel, 534 Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.  Chess rate parking: $6 daytime, $12 overnight. May be limited to 400 players. Top NY State player and team in Championship section are NY State Champions. In 4 sections.  High School Championship (open to all in grades 6-12; top NY State player in grade 9-12 born after 9/1/06 (correction as per US Chess Scholastic Regulations) qualifies to represent NY State at the 2026 Denker National Tournament of HS Champions in Grand Rapids, MI), High School Under 1900/Unr, High School Under 1500/Unr., High School Under 1000/Unr. 

     Team prizes based on top 4 scores from same school. Teams of 2 or 3 players allowed but are at a disadvantage.

     Online entry fee at chessaction.comall High School sections: $120 by 2/7, $140 until 2/23.

     REGISTRATION MAY CLOSE PRIOR TO THESE DATES DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS.  IF registration is still open, the entry fee after 2/23 until registration closes is $200.   ON-SITE ENTRIES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR.

USCF Membership Required.  Special 1-year USCF dues with magazine if paid online with entry: see chessaction.com.

 

Trophies, plaques or medals to top 10 players and top 5 teams each section, plus top 2 each U2000, U1800 (HS Championship), U1700, U1600 (HS Under 1900), U1300, U1100 (HS Under 1500), U800, U600, top 2 unrated (in HS Under 1000).

$2,250 Individual Bonus Prizes for top-scoring players residing in NY and/or attending NY schools (out-of-state players attending NY schools must confirm eligibility with TD by Round 3).

High School Championship (High School Championship Bonus Prizes are limited to players residing in NY and/or attending NY schools, in grades 9-12): $1,000-500-250;

High School Under 1900/Unr (High School Under 1900 Section Bonus Prizes limited to players residing in NY and/or attending NY schools, in grades 6-12): $250-150-100, $100 limit to Unr.

$300 Mixed Doubles Team Bonus Prizes: $200-100, to Best male+female 2-player team among all 4 sections combined, team rating must average U2200, may play in different sections and can be from different schools in grades 6-12 in any state. Register at site (no extra fee) by 5 pm Sat.

Free/Reduced Entry Fee Prizes (only for NY players, or players attending NY schools):  to all CCA OTB tournaments (World Open and Philadelphia International are $100 off instead), out-of-state players attending NY schools must confirm eligibility with TD by Round 3Championship section (CCA Entry Prizes in Championship Section are only for NY players, or players attending NY schools, in grades 9-12):  8 months of entries to 1st, 6 months to 2nd, 4 months each to 3rd and 4th.  Other sections (all NY players in grades 6-12 eligible in Under 1900 Section and below): 6 months to 1st, 4 months to 2nd, 3 months each to 3rd and 4.  2 months Bonus free/reduced-price entry to New York players with 6-0 scores! Some CCA events also have minimum rating requirements and/or additional surcharges, based on rating, to play in the top sections; the free/reduced entry fee prizes do not cover any such additional surcharges for playing in the top sections.

Overall School Team Bonus Prizes:  Plaques or medals to Top 5 school teams from among all 4 sections combined.

First Place Overall School Team, Boards 1-4:  4 additional months of CCA Free/Reduced-Price Entries!

Second Place Overall School Team, Boards 1-4:  2 additional months of CCA Free/Reduced-Price Entries!

(all players in grades 6-12 in any state eligible for Overall School Team Bonus Prizes; some CCA events also have minimum rating requirements and/or additional surcharges, based on rating, to play in the top sections; the free/reduced entry fee prizes do not cover any such additional surcharges for playing in the top sections).

 

Schedule: On-site registration, if still open, ends 10 am Saturday. Rounds begin Sat 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm; Sun 9 am, 12 noon, 3 pm. Awards: about 5:30 pm Sun.

Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before round 3.

Cash prizes split if tied, ties for non-cash prizes broken by tiebreaks (or by speed playoff if 6-0 tie). 

Unclaimed cash prizes usually paid by PayPal (may take a couple of weeks), but recipients are responsible for arranging for their own delivery or replacements of other awards not claimed at site.

 

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, in your hotel room or car, or in a bag at your table. 

 

Hotel rates, use this link, (also posted at chessevents.us, or call 518-584-4000, mention Chess rate): $189-189, two nights minimum stay, Fri-Sat, required (reserve by 2/11 or rate may increase). Hotel may again have additional room availability closer to event due to late cancellations.

 Special car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633.

Enter online: www.chessaction.com. No mail entries. $15 per player service charge for refunds. Section switches subject to $20 extra charge after 2/23.  All substitutions from advance list charged late fee and are subject to space limitations; no section switching or substitutions after 6 pm 2/26.

Questions: director@chess.us

Bring delay clock if possible- none supplied.  Sets & boards supplied, but not for skittles.

March official ratings used (except Online Regular or Unofficial USCF ratings usually used if otherwise unrated). TD reserves right to assign estimated rating to players with non-USCF or online ratings.  Players with Online Regular Ratings more than 100 points over their Official Over-The-Board ratings may be assigned a higher tournament rating and may also be required to play in a higher section (TD may use USCF Scholastic Regulations for guidance).

Electronic devices rules:  Electronic scorekeeping devices not allowed.  See also:  www.devicerules.com.

PLEASE BRING DIGITAL CLOCKS WITH TIME DELAY CAPABILITY  (sets and boards provided).

 

NY State High School Blitz Championship8 pm Sat., register at site Sat. by 7:40 pm.

 


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