2026 Michigan Junior Championships – Saturday March 21, 2026

Directions:

Parking in Downtown Lansing: https://www.lansingmi.gov/167/Parking-Services

Hotel Option: Doubletree by Hilton Lansing, 111 N. Grand Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933
(Near the State Capitol in Downtown Lansing); $132 + tax by February 18, 2026.
Call 833-904-2206 & identify as part of MI Chess Association Mar2026 w/ Code 92T for discounted rate
Online Reservation Link: https://www.hilton.com/en/book/reservation/rooms/?ctyhocn=LANDTDT&arrivalDate=2026-03-20&departureDate=2026-03-22&groupCode=CDT92T&room1NumAdults=1&cid=OM*2CWW*2CHILTONLINK*2CEN*2CDirectLink__;JSUlJQ!!FOfmI8qiWcWBHqypJtzENF0!zp5oXTsL2T_V2OMUyw9rCgvGIK00ZPMt05oyprc9GiCLzL5muwDA4dQaf9XVzvnlbN8k6gBzIzZj-VPuDVgmAS1qVSO3KBk$

Format:

Printable Flyer: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sTpZyaTAg0ygaiPoA8D-SOoyHmUtVdOn/view?usp=sharing

5-SS, 10 Sections – All One Day Schedules are held on Saturday, March 21
Junior Championship (K-12): March 21-22
Junior Reserve (9-12 U1200): March 21 (Sat only)
Young Junior Championship (K-8): March 21 (Sat only)
Young Junior Reserve (6-8 U1000): March 21 (Sat only)
Young Junior Booster (6-8 U600): March 21 (Sat only)
Children’s Championship (K-5): March 21 (Sat only)
Children’s Reserve (4-5 U800): March 21 (Sat only)
Children’s Booster (4-5 U400): March 21 (Sat only)
Young Children’s Championship (K-3): March 21 (Sat only)
Young Children’s Reserve (K-3 U300): March 21 (Sat only)

Event Policies: See below for MCA Scholastic Code of Conduct & Building Policies online links. By registering for this event, players, parents, and coaches agree to abide by these policies. Any violations of these policies can lead to withdrawal of all teams from the school and ejection from the facility.
MCA Scholastic Code of Conduct: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Je7_Q-SsTjU_0I9lEi4k0OU28Ce-AKpy/view?usp=sharing
Building Policies: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mKoo1HUS-i4kyShc76nhrOrGpgoZPJee/view?usp=sharing

Tournament Information: This information is key rules that players should know during the tournament. This will include information to help the event run smoother.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j9EQ9jB4nIZ4kVHKG-1Qs6Sl3Oz4Ro6m/view?usp=sharing

Eligibility: All players that meet grade eligibility are welcome to participate including out of state players. Out of state players are not eligible for scholarships, state champion titles, nor being state representative.

Time Control:

Junior Championship (K-12): G/90+30
One Day Sections: G/40;d5

Rounds:

Junior Championship (K-12): Sat: 9:30am – 1:45pm – 6pm, Sun: 9:30am – 1:45pm
One Day Sections: 9am – 11am – 1pm – 3pm – 5pm

Entry Fee:

Junior Championship (K-12): $38 Advance by 3/16/2026
One Day Sections: $33 Advance by 3/16/2026
After 3/16/2026, Add $22 to Advanced Entry Fee; Online Registration Closes Friday (3/20/2026) at 10pm.
Onsite Entry Fee: Add $37 to Advanced Entry Fee with Half-Point Bye for Round 1
All mailed entries must be postmarked by 3/13/2026

The most recent USCF rating supplement (March 2026) will be used for determining ratings. Players under rating limits for under sections must play in an under section to register with the base entry fee. Playing up into the championship section allowed with $15 play up fee. Players who have demonstrated recent tournament achievements qualifying them for the championship section may request to be placed in that section without incurring the play-up fee.

Registration:

Both Championship and Reserve/Booster sections for the respective grade levels are listed under the respective links.
Junior (K-12): https://onlineregistration.cc/MCA/2026_MCA_K12
Young Junior (K-8): https://onlineregistration.cc/MCA/2026_MCA_K8
Children’s (K-5): https://onlineregistration.cc/MCA/2026_MCA_K5
Young Children’s (K-3): https://onlineregistration.cc/MCA/2026_MCA_K3

Mail: Jeff Aldrich P.O. Box 40, Flint, MI 48501

Prizes:

Junior Championship (K-12): Top 5, Top 3 Gr 9u, 10, 11, 12; Scholarships: 1st $500, 2nd $250 (Awarded upon enrollment in post HS education, ties will split prize)
Junior Reserve (9-12 U1200): Top 5 Overall + any with 4.0 points, Medals to all with 3.5 points
Young Junior Championship (K-8): Top 5, Top 3 Gr 6u, 7, 8
Young Junior Reserve (6-8 U1000): Top 5 Overall + any with 4.0 points, Medals to all with 3.5 points
Young Junior Booster (6-8 U600): Top 5 Overall + any with 4.0 points, Medals to all with 3.5 points
Children’s Championship (K-5): Top 5, Top 3 Gr 4u, 5
Children’s Reserve (4-5 U800): Top 5 Overall + any with 4.0 points, Medals to all with 3.5 points
Children’s Booster (4-5 U400): Top 5 Overall + any with 4.0 points, Medals to all with 3.5 points
Young Children’s Championship (K-3): Top 5, Top 3 Gr Ku, 1, 2, 3
Young Children’s Reserve (K-3 U300): Top 5 Overall + any with 4.0 points, Medals to all with 3.5 points

USCF Invitational Events: All Championship sections will determine the Michigan Representative at the Invitational Events held during the U.S. Open (Grand Rapids, MI in 2026). A separate sheet aligning sections to the invitational events and tie break procedures will be provided online.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OjcqUSahZigDDmIx4J6WRrruipWuF_yV/view?usp=sharing

Contact:

Jeff Aldrich
810-955-7271
jeffchess64@gmail.com
https://www.michess.org/

Notes:

Visit https://www.lansingcenter.com/ to see the location layout. Below is the space available for the chess tournament.
• Junior (K-12, Sat & Sun): Rooms 201-202
• One Day Sections (Sat only): Hall A
• General Skittles (Sat only): Banquet Rooms 1-8
• Concessions (Sat only): North Point Café
• Team Rooms (Sat only): 203, 204, 205