How to Win
Becoming a great chess player might get you an individual trophy, but how can you win a team championship?
Get a group of 4 or more players from your school!
The biggest predictor of success at the South Carolina Scholastic Chess Championship is the size of your team! Team scores are calculated based on how many points the top 4 players on your team score (a win = 1 point). For example, in the 2024 SC Scholastic Championship:
- Every High School team with at least 4 players won a trophy and finished in the top 3.
- Every Middle School team with at least 4 players won a trophy and finished in the top 3.
- Every Elementary School team with at least 4 players won a trophy and finished in the top 3.
Also, because only the top 4 players from your team are counted, larger teams tend to have an advantage. For example, the 1st place High School team from 2024 consisted of 11 players, and was the largest size of team in the High School section. Likewise, the 1st place Elementary School team consisted of 6 players and was the largest size of team in the Elementary School section.
More players, more chances to win!
How to Build a Team
During registration, you simply specify the name of your school by typing the name of your school (or selecting from a list of schools that already have players registered).
Here are some tips for forming a team at your school:
1. Register Early
When you sign up, you get to add your school to the list of already-registered teams, so others can see that players from your school are playing. This will encourage other players from the school to join! Be the leader!
2. Use an Interest Signup Sheet
Use a signup sheet and leave it in the school office to get the names, email addresses, and phone numbers of players who would be interested in competing (fill out your own info on the sheet to show people how). Ask the office staff to make an announcement about the signup sheet! Be sure to collect the signup sheet and then contact those interested to tell them about this site and how to register.
Sample announcement: "Attention chess players! [Your school] is assembling a chess team to compete in the March 21, 2026 State Chess Championship. If you want to represent your school with the rest of our team, there is a signup form in the office!"
3. Handout Flyers / Use Your Existing Club
Many schools have an after-school chess club, a casual student-led chess club, or a faculty-sponsored chess club. Make sure the players in the club know about the Championship, and you can use this flyer to help. Encourage early registration to build the team. It's easier to say "we need one more player" than "nobody is signed up yet, but...."
4. Register for a Palmetto Scholastic Chess League (PSCL) tournament
Potential teammates may be unsure about playing in their first chess tournament at the State Championship, and they will also need a US Chess membership to do so. Make things easier by attending a PSCL event at the Columbia Chess Club and compete for a team trophy, where the registration fee also pays for a 1-year US Chess membership. There are PSCL tournaments organized throughout the school year leading up to the State Championship. See the Columbia Chess Club's website for details. There is even a first-time tournament guide!