Player Reference for 2026 New York Metro Area Scholastic Chess Championships
Also See:
Click for Important Preparation Information
Click for Latest Pairings and Standings
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Critical Communication Instructions
WhatsApp Channel For Your Section (Must Join)
Chess Control (All Day-Of Inquiries Must Be Directed Here)
Pairings, Board Numbers & Standings
Broadway Ballroom Balcony Rules
Hard Work Recognition Gifts for Every Player
Expanded Podium Trophy Winners
Additional Bonuses for Top Performers
👀 Critical Communication Instructions
Make sure you are reachable by cell phone and actively monitoring your WhatsApp channel for important announcements.
📢 WhatsApp Channel For Your Section (Must Join)
You must join the channel(s) corresponding to your child’s section(s).
⚠️ Important: WhatsApp Channels are found under the “Updates” tab, not “Chats.”
🔔 Channel notifications are OFF by default — you must turn them ON.
How to enable notifications:
- Tap the bell icon at the top of the channel
- OR: Menu → Channel Info → Notifications → Ensure Not Muted
Channel Links
- All Championship Sections
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7OaTM9WtCDWikdY122 - Saturday-Only Under Sections
(HS U1900, HS U1200, Elem U1500, Elem U1100, Elem U700)
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBySQc4Crfmduk3gi1G - Sunday-Only Sections
(JH U1300, Primary U1000, Primary U600, K–1 U400)
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb7ExiWFnSz7Cfjw360y
❓ Chess Control (All Day-Of Inquiries Must Be Directed Here)
All questions must go through Chess Control, located on the 6th Floor.
📧 Email: metros2026@zohomail.com
- Email responses may be delayed during the event.
- If you do not receive an immediate response, check directly with Chess Control in person.
⚠️ Other official chess emails and phone numbers will NOT be monitored during the Metros.
📊 Pairings, Board Numbers & Standings
Live link: https://www.kingregistration.com/results/nycmetro26
PDFs: Will be sent in the appropriate WhatsApp Channels
Printed Sheets: Will be posted on black boards to the left and right of Chess Control (6th Floor)
🗺️ Important Room Locations
6th Floor – All Tournament Halls
- Chess Control: Outside elevator banks
- Championship Sections: Broadway Ballroom
- See Broadway Ballroom Balcony Rules below
- Under Sections:
- Shubert Complex Room
- Saturday: HS U1200, HS U1900
- Sunday: JH U1300, K–1 U400
- Majestic Complex Room
- Saturday: Elem U700, Elem U1100, Elem U1500
- Sunday: Primary U600, Primary U1000
- Shubert Complex Room
- Metros Custom Merch (T-Shirts and Apparel) & Sponsors: Hallway outside Tournament Halls
7th Floor
- Team Rooms: Room assignments will be emailed; school names will be posted outside each room
9th Floor
- Coaches Corner: Barrymore Room
- Bookstore: Jolson Room
- Skittles & Parent Lounges: Terrace, Marquis Ballroom, Cantor/Jolson Rooms
- Additional Sponsors: Terrace
⏰ Scheduled Round Start Times
All 2-Day Championship Sections
- Saturday, Jan 3: 9:30am, 1:00pm, 4:00pm
- Sunday, Jan 4: 9:00am, 12:30pm, 3:30pm
- Awards: ~7:00pm
All Saturday-Only Under Sections
- 10:00am, 12:30pm, 2:00pm, 3:30pm, 5:00pm
- Awards: ~7:00pm
All Sunday-Only Under Sections
- 9:00am, 10:30am, 1:00pm, 2:30pm, 4:00pm
- Awards: ~7:00pm
⭐ Special Activity Schedule
| ⭐ Sunil Weeramantry — Opening Remarks Come by the Broadway Ballroom at 9:00 AM for a few opening words from the legendary Sunil Weeramantry. The founder of the world-renowned National Scholastic Chess Foundation and the chess programs at Hunter College Campus School and Speyer Legacy School, he provided the blueprint for what elite scholastic chess programs and tournaments look like today. And don’t worry, if anyone understands how important it is for Round 1 to begin on time, it’s Sunil. | Location: Broadway Ballroom (6th Floor) Schedule: 9:00am Saturday |
| 🎉 Duolingo — Special Appearances Meet the stars of your favorite learning app! Duo and Oscar will be making special appearances throughout the day for photos and fun memories. After some high-level, high-stress chess, take a moment to decompress (after your game reviews, of course!) | Location: Duolingo Table (6th Floor) Schedule: 10:00am-11:30am 1:00pm-2:30pm 3:30pm-4:30pm |
| ♟️ ChessKid — Meet FunMasterMike Ever dream of meeting FunMasterMike? Now’s your chance! Meet him in person … and if you’re feeling brave, try your hand at cooking him in a blitz game. It’s all happening at the Metros! | Location: ChessKid Table (9th Floor) Schedule: Saturday – 10:30am – 12:00pm FMM meet and greet (photos and autographs) 2:00pm – 3:30pm Beat FunMasterMike – Line up to challenge FMM. Note this is a limited opportunity on a first to come, first to play basis Sunday – 10:00am – 11:30pm FMM meet and greet (photos and autographs) 1:30pm – 3:00pm Beat FunMasterMike – Line up to challenge FMM. Note this is a limited opportunity on a first come, first serve basis |
| 🌟 Abhimanyu Mishra — Special Guest The youngest Grandmaster in chess history and now one of the best players in the world, Abhimanyu Mishra will be with us both days at the Metros. Last year, he put together a jaw-dropping 71-game unbeaten streak against top-level international competition and even defeated reigning World Champion Gukesh this past fall. Stop by for autographs and selfies get a copy of his book! He will be at both the Saturday and the Sunday award ceremonies so don’t miss the chance to give your hard working chess kid the opportunity of getting handed a trophy from the quite possibly a future Super GM! | Schedule: Saturday – 1:00pm – 6:30pm at Book Signing Table (6th Floor) 6:30pm Broadway Ballroom Awards Ceremony Sunday – 3:00pm – 6:30pm at Book Signing Table (6th Floor) 6:30pm Broadway Ballroom Awards Ceremony |
🧒 👧 K–5 Holding Area Policy
Players will gather outside the tournament hall at the “K–5 Holding Area” sign.
- There will be at least one Tournament staff member in the Holding area greeting children as they exit the Tournament Hall
- If you locate your child as they exit, feel free to pick them up
- If a child cannot locate their guardians after a few minutes, our staff will call and text the guardian
- Children may leave independently if they indicate they are allowed to and demonstrate they know where they are going
- We will provide (limited) seating for parents in front of Tournament Hall
🔭 Broadway Ballroom Balcony Rules
This area provides an amazing birds-eye-view of the Broadway Ballroom Hall at the Championship Sections but is considered part of the Tournament Hall
- Parents allowed only before the start of each round
- Once the TD indicates that parents must exit the Tournament Hall, the Broadway Balcony must be vacated as well
- Access via stairs inside the 6th Floor Broadway Ballroom only
Hard Work Recognition Gifts for Every Player
- Custom 3-inch spinning medal (See video on the event page)
- Given out during the last round of each section
- If you cannot make it to the last round or have a bye, please see Chess Control before you leave
- Free 3-Month Super Duolingo Subscription
- No credit card required – Codes will be shared following the conclusion of the Metros
- Includes access to all languages, and other courses (including chess of course)
🎉 Awards Ceremony
Will occur at ~6:30 on Saturday AND Sunday
- Podium winners should report to the front of the stage as soon as they enter the Awards Ceremony hall and will be seated separately from parents.
- Class trophies and ties with final podium finishers will not be awarded on stage and must be picked up in the Barrymore Room, 9th Floor
Expanded Podium Trophy Winners
We have significantly increased the number of podium winners in every section.
We originally had 10 trophies in every section but below are the updated counts across all 14 sections:
Championship Sections
- Elementary Championship – Top 25
- Junior High Championship – Top 25
- High School Championship – Top 15
- Primary Championship – Top 20
- K–1 Championship – Top 10
Under Sections
- Elementary U1500 – Top 10
- Elementary U1100 – Top 10
- Elementary U700 – Top 20
- Junior High U1300 – Top 20
- High School U1900 – Top 10
- High School U1200 – Top 10
- Primary U1000 – Top 10
- Primary U600 – Top 15
- K–1 U400 – Top 10
🌟 Additional Bonuses for Top Performers
♔ 2027 Metros Entry Discounts (every section)
- 1st Place: 50% off 2027 Metros entry (off early-bird pricing)
- 2nd–5th Place: 30% off
- 6th–10th Place: 15% off
🌎 Duolingo
- Top 10 in each section: 1 full year of free Super Duolingo membership
♟️ChessKid / Chess.com
- Chess.com:
- 1st Place – 6-month Diamond membership
- 2nd–3rd Place – 3-month Diamond membership, or
- ChessKid:
- Top 3 finishers – 1-year Gold membership
♞ Chessnut (chessnutech.com)
- Championship Sections:
- 1st – Chessnut Evo
- 2nd – Chessnut Air+
- 3rd – Chessnut Go
- Under Sections:
- 1st – Chessnut Air
🎭 Chess: The Musical on Broadway (chessbroadway.com)
- Top winner in every section:
- Two free tickets to the show OR a signed poster
🧗 Ferox Ninja / Area 53 (feroxathletics.com | area53nyc.com)
- Top 3 in every section:
- Two free tickets to Ferox and two free tickets to Area 53
Some behind the scenes looks at what is waiting for all our amazing Chess Kids!
