58th annual(!)
New York State Scholastic
Championships—
OPEN TO GRADES K-8 ONLY
MARCH 7-8, 2026
Saratoga Hilton, Courtyard by Marriott
Click Here For Pairings, Results, Standings, Rules, Notices And Other Important Information
An American Classic!
A Heritage Event!
US Chess Junior Grand Prix!
A State Championship Event!
See separate ad, February 28 - March 1, for NY State High School
Championship, for grades 9-12
(grades 6-8 also permitted on 2/28-3/1, but with prize restrictions).
6-round Swiss, G/60 d10, open to grades K-8; top
NYS player and school team in each Championship Section are NY State champions.
In 12 sections: click
here for game locations of specific sections.
Four separate
playing locations.
Middle School
(K-8) Championship, K-8 Under 1700 and K-8 Under 1300 Sections are at
Courtyard by Marriott, 11 Excelsior Ave., Saratoga Springs NY 12866 (2/5 mile from Saratoga Hilton).
NOTE: The K-8 Under 900 Section
will be held at the Saratoga City Center.
Other 8 sections for grades 5/below at Saratoga
Hilton and adjacent Saratoga City Center (connected by indoor walkway), 534
Broadway (I-87 Exit 13-N, 4 miles north on US 9), Saratoga Springs, NY 12866,
except the
K-5 Championship Section is scheduled to be held at the Saratoga Music Hall,
474 Broadway (2˝ blocks south of Convention Center on Broadway). Sections
at Hilton/City Center may be limited to a total of about 1,200 players,
sections at about Marriott 320 players.
Click
here for game locations of specific sections.
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.com, all sections: $120 per player by 2/7 (space permitting),
$160 2/8 - 2/23 (space permitting), $220 from 2/24 until advance online
registration closes (space permitting). REGISTRATION
MAY CLOSE PRIOR TO THESE DATES DUE TO SPACE LIMITATIONS. IF
registration is still open, the entry fee after advance
online registration closes (and on-site, if available) is $250. ON-SITE
ENTRIES MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE THIS YEAR.
Middle School (K-8) Championship, open to all in grades 8 and below.
Top NY State player in grade 6-8 born after 9/1/10 (correction as per
US Chess Scholastic Regulations) qualifies for the Barber National
Tournament of State K-8 Champions.
Primary (K-3) Championship, open to all in grades 3 and below. Top NY State K-3 player born after 9/1/15
(correction as per US Chess Scholastic Regulations) qualifies for the
Ashley National Tournament of State K-3 Champions.
Recipients are responsible for
arranging for their own delivery or replacements of awards not claimed at site.
Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before round 2.
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 : Hilton $189-189,
two nights minimum. Parking: $6 up to 4
hours daytime (no charge for 1st hour), $12 over 4 hours or
overnight. Courtyard Marriott: $169-169, two nights minimum. 7 days’ notice
required for room cancellations at Hilton, 14 days’ notice required at
Courtyard. Free parking at Courtyard Marriot (subject to space
availability). Hotels may again have availability closer to event due to
late cancellations.
Overflow
hotels are posted at the Saratoga Visitors’ Center website (use link here)
and also at chessevents.us
Blitz tournament 8 pm Saturday! Register on-site Saturday by 7:40 pm.