Vermont State Scholastic Chess Championships – Vermont students or residents ONLY – Saturday, March 28, 2026

Individual Competitions: Sections subject to change based on number of attendees.

Kindergarten: Awards 1^st – 5^th

1^st Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th

2^nd Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th

3^rd Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th (Winner: Ashley Tournament)

4^th Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th

5^th Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th (USCF Required) (Winner: Rockefeller Tournament)

6^th Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th

7^th Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th

8^th Grade: Awards 1^st – 5^th (USCF Required) (Winner: Barber Tournament)

9-12^th Grades: Awards 1^st – 5^th (USCF Required)  (Winner: Denker Tournament) (Winner/Girls State Champion: Haring Tournament)

NOTE: Any player in grades 6^th-7^th who is interested in competing for the opportunity to represent Vermont in the national Barber Tournament must declare their intent during the registration process and compete in the 8^th Grade division instead of their actual grade level. Any player in 4^th grade who is interested in competing for the opportunity to represent Vermont in the national Rockefeller event must declare their intent during the registration process and compete in the 5^th Grade division instead of their actual grade level. Any player in grades K-2^ndwho is interested in competing for the opportunity to represent Vermont in the national Ashley event must declare their intent during the registration process and compete in the 3^rd Grade division instead of their actual grade level.

• Grades K-5^th Elementary School
• Grades 6^th-8^th Middle School
• Grades 9^th-12^th High School

A team championship will be awarded to the players representing a school (not a club) with the highest aggregate score, based on the following criteria:

• The top four scores achieved by players from the same school will be added and become the team score.  The highest total score wins.
• A team may have less than four players, but a minimum of two players.
• A school may be represented by more than four players, but only the highest four scores will count toward the team score.
• It is not necessary to register as a team — simply indicate the school attended on the registration form and the player will automatically represent that school.
• Home school players: If you wish to have scores included in the team competition, please select the appropriate affiliated school from within the school district in which you reside. If you do not wish to have scores included in the team competition, choose Home School/No Team.
• The tournament is primarily an individual competition, so players from the same school may need to play against each other during the tournament according to Swiss Pairing rules.
• Playoff games typically do not add to a score.  For example, say you have a two-way tie at the top with 4.5 points, so you have a playoff game between those players.  One wins and gets the first place trophy and the other gets second, but they both still achieve 4.5 points toward their team score.

All national tournaments correspond with the U.S. Chess Open and this year are being held August 3-6, 2026 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Participation and final results in eligible sections serve as a qualifier for national-level tournaments, yet we hold no authority over these subsequent events. Nominees are responsible for bearing their own costs and expenses for national-level tournament participation.

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2026 Denker National High School Selection

The top finishing student in the High School division will be selected as the Vermont representative to the Denker Tournament of High School Champions, a national competition with a representative from each state (Denker Tournament Details).

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2026 Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions:

The top finishing female students (K-12) will be considered for the nomination to represent Vermont in the Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions, a national competition with a representative from each state (Haring Tournament Details). To be considered, please check the appropriate box during registration. Additional playoffs will likely be required to determine the nominee.

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2026 Barber National Middle School Selection

The top finishing student in the Middle School division will be selected as the Vermont representative to the Barber Tournament of Middle School Champions, a national competition with a representative from each state (Barber Tournament Details).

NOTE: Any player in grades 6th-7th who is interested in competing for the opportunity to represent Vermont in the national Barber Tournament must declare their intent during the registration process and compete in the 8th Grade division instead of their actual grade level.

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2026 Rockefeller National Elementary School Selection

The top finishing student in the Grade 5 division will be selected as the Vermont representative to the Rockefeller Tournament of Elementary School Champions, a national competition with a representative from each state (Rockefeller Tournament Details).

NOTE: Any player in grades K-4 who is interested in competing for the opportunity to represent Vermont in the national Rockefeller event must declare their intent during the registration process and compete in the 5th Grade division instead of their actual grade level.

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2026 GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions

The top finishing student in the Grade 3 division will be selected as the Vermont representative to the Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions, a national competition with a representative from each state (Ashley Tournament Details).

NOTE: Any player in grades K-2 who is interested in competing for the opportunity to represent Vermont in the national Ashley event must declare their intent during the registration process and compete in the 3rd Grade division instead of their actual grade level.

Ties:   If there is a tie for the top position, the event results will be checked to see if the top tied players have already played each other that day. If they have and there was a winner of that game, that player will be declared the winner of the event. If not, a playoff game will be played between the tied players to determine the champion. If that game ends in stalemate, additional games will be played at successively reduced time controls until a winner is declared. Ties in all other positions except the top position will remain ties.

A word about notation:  Notating chess games is not hard; it just takes a little practice to get into the habit of writing down your moves after you make them.  A printable notation sheet can be found here.  There are many places to learn notation online, and we believe that if you can play Battleship, you can notate chess!  Notation has many benefits including the ability to review your games after the event, as well as help to correct errors and resolve disputes.

Results: Players’ name, division and results will be published on this website after the event concludes. For rated sections of the tournament, those player’s results will be shared with US Chess in accordance with their reporting rules.

If registration fees are a financial hardship, please use the contact form to request a scholarship. Scholarships are available, and no one should fail to participate for lack of funds. Please note that national qualifier sections (High School, 8^th Grade, 5^th Grade) require a current USCF membership number ($24), which is not covered by a VT State Scholastic scholarship. To contact USCF regarding a discounted membership, email membership@uschess.org

A variety of food and drinks will be available for purchase, please send your player with CASH if they wish to purchase food. This tournament does NOT have a dedicated lunch hour, players should eat between rounds. Players are welcome to bring their own food and drinks.

VT State Scholastic Chess Championships T-Shirts ($20) and Teddy Bears ($10) will be available for purchase, please send your player with CASH if they wish to purchase one or both of these items.

The tournament will be held at Lamoille Union High School, 736 VT-15, Hyde Park, VT 05655. Parking is available at the school parking lot.

Wi-Fi and cellular service can be limited, please plan accordingly. Please also note that electronic communication devices are not allowed during Tournament play (see USCF Rule 20N).

Spectators are not allowed to remain in classrooms or tournament rooms during tournament play. A dedicated spectator area will be communicated at the tournament. All players and spectators are expected to behave in a respectful manner toward other players, spectators, and volunteers, while also respecting school property. Anyone in violation of these standards will be asked to leave and will receive a 0 for any rounds not completed due to failure to comply with tournament standards.