Location and Registration
Date: March 21, 2026
2026 South Carolina Scholastic Chess Championship
Organized by the Columbia Chess Club
Location
Registration Details
*ONLINE REGISTRATION ONLY* *SC RESIDENTS ONLY*
- $45 by March 14, 2026, $55 thereafter. Registration closes 8:30 a.m. on March 21, 2026.
Top 8 players will earn a spot in the State Finals hosted at the Columbia Chess Club on April 4, 2026. See Format & Prizes for details. Girls' Championship hosted on April 11, 2026 at the Columbia Chess Club. (Girls are permitted and encouraged to play both events!).
All Equipment Provided. No on-site check-in: players not reporting to their first-round game will be withdrawn from the tournament. Please contact info@columbiachess.org if there are any issues with your registration.
Pairings and standings available in real time online, see "Pairings & Standings" in menu. Avoid waits by enrolling in instant email and SMS notification of pairings in the "Pairings and Standing" page for each event. Live broadcast of top boards via video on Twitch.tv and on DGT Livecloud, chess.com, and lichess.org, see "Live Streams" in menu.
For Parking, Hotels, Venue Map, and Food availability, plan your visit.
Active USCF membership required. Memberships can be purchased/renewed at uschess.org/join-us-chess. (USCF Youth memberships currently $24/yr. New players please note that, in addition to obtaining a USCF ID, you must also pay the USCF membership fee to be an active USCF member).
Format, SCHEDULE, & Prizes
Sections
- High School (9th-12th grade)
- Middle School (6th-8th grade)
- Elementary School (K-5th grade)
- Primary School (K-3rd grade). In 2026, US Chess is introducing the first K-3 National Tournament, so for the first time, the top-finishing K-3 player will qualify for nationals!
- Girls' Championship Organized Separately on April 11, 2026
Schedule
- Round 1: 10:00 a.m.
- Round 2: 11:20 a.m.
- Lunch Break (Lunch for sale on-site at concessions, See Menu; note Convention Center's no outside food or drink policy)
- Round 3: 1:30 p.m.
- Round 4: 2:50 p.m.
- Round 5: 4:10 p.m.
- Awards Ceremony 5:40 p.m.
Format & Prizes
Saturday, March 21, 2026. 5-Round Swiss G/30;d5.
- Top 8 in High, Middle, Elementary, and Primary sections invited to State Finals on April 4, 2026.
- Top 3 Schools in each of High, Middle, and Elementary sections awarded team trophies based on the best 4 player scores.
Rules note: As a combined individual-team event, US Chess Rule 28N is in effect. Our pairing program will attempt to avoid players registered under the same team from playing against one another during Rounds 1 and 2.
STATE FINALS (by invitation) on Saturday, April 4, 2026 at the Columbia Chess Club (6169 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC 29212). 3-Round Swiss, G/75;+5
- Top 8 Players in each of High School, Middle School, Elementary School, and Primary School (K-3) from State Championship invited.
- All players awarded trophies based on finish in their section, title of State Champion to winner in each section.
- First tiebreak based on player's score in March 21, 2026 State Championship Tournament.
- Schedule Round 1, 9:30 a.m.; Round 2, 1:00 p.m.; Round 3, 4:15 p.m.; 7 p.m. Awards.
- The SC Chess Association awards the first place finisher in each section an invitation and a stipend to compete as the South Carolina representative to the following national tournaments hosted at the US Open Championship during August 3-9, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. ($5000 Scholarship Top Prizes): Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions; Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions; Rockefeller National Tournament of Elementary School State Champions; GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions.
Sponsored By
