2026 Wisconsin State Scholastic Chess Championship Individuals (WISCONSIN STUDENTS ONLY) – Saturday March 21 – Sunday March 22, 2026 –

2026 WISCONSIN STATE SCHOLASTIC CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 21-22

this page is for K-12 Junior Varsity, K-8, and K-5 individual sections; for K-12 Varsity Team sections registration please go to: Team Sections Registration

 

Please note important changes compared to 2025:

1. location: Madison

2. it is a 2-day event

3. there are six rounds

4. round 1 is at 10:00am on Saturday

5. round 5 is at 9:30am on Sunday

6. Reserve your hotel ASAP

7. early EF deadline is March 6th

Pairings and Standings: link will be added at 9:30am on March 21st

Playing Site: Madison Marriott West, Middleton, WI 53562

1313 John Q Hammons Dr. 

Chess Rate of $125 (includes free parking, free internet, and a discounted breakfast buffet) is available for Friday and Saturday if reserved by February 27th or until all rooms are sold out.  Reservation link:  WI State Scholastic Chess Championships

**UPDATE**: our large room block for Saturday night is fully booked and the hotel is sold out for that night. It is possible that a few rooms will open up due to cancelations, please check the above link.

We were able to secure courtesy blocks with a few nearby hotels. Please reserve ASAP as these room blocks will likely sell out quickly: 

 

Comfort Suites Madison West – Middleton (1253 John Q Hammons Dr., Madison, WI 53717; (608) 820-2370): $125 (complimentary breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi) Reservation link: State Scholastic Suites

 

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Madison West/Middleton (8212 Greenway Blvd, Middleton, WI 53562; (608) 831-1400; mention code WSCP if calling to reserve): $99 (complimentary hot breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi). This hotel is undergoing renovation, so some noise is possible between 8am and 6pm. Reservation link: State Scholastic Fairfield

 

Hilton Garden Inn Madison West/Middleton (1801 Deming Way, Middleton, WI 53562; (608) 831-2220; mention code CHE26 if calling to reserve): single $109, double $119 (complimentary breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi). Reservation link: State Scholastic Hilton

Courtyard by Marriott Madison West/Middleton (2266 Deming Way, Middleton, WI 53562; (608) 203-0100; mention code CCM if calling to reserve): $109 (complimentary breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi) Reservation link: State Scholastic Courtyard

 

Baymont by Wyndham Madison West/Middleton (8102 Excelsior Dr., Madison, WI 53717; (608) 616-4527): $105 (complimentary breakfast, parking, and Wi-Fi). Reservation link: State Scholastic Baymont

 

K-12, K-8, K-5 FORMAT:  these sections are 6-round individual Swiss tournaments with participation open to any Wisconsin student in grades K-12, K-8, or K-5, respectively. In addition to the individual prizes, there are team awards (top four individual scores from the same school are counted towards the team score). No out-of-state entries are allowed in this event. Players of all abilities are encouraged to participate. This is not a US Chess rated event.

 

ELIGIBILITY and TEAM COMPOSITION:  Only Wisconsin students are eligible. All players must be full-time students from the same school that holds classes during week days. If a high school does not have a 9th grade, then they may tap 9th graders from eligible feeder schools. Students in grades K-8 may play as a team in K-12 and K-8 if from the same school. 

A home school or virtual school student may play on either a public or private school team. To play on a public school team, the student must live within the attendance boundary (not district) from which that public school draws. Any private school seeking to have these students on their team must use the same public school attendance boundary in which their school building is located. Players from outside their boundaries are not allowed to play on that school’s team. Home-schooled students are considered to be in 9^th grade when they are 14 as of September 1^st of the school year. Players must be under the age of 19 as of September 1st of the school year.

 

SCHEDULE:

Round 1         Saturday at 10:00am

Round 2         Saturday at 12:30pm

Round 3         Saturday at 3:00pm

Round 4         Saturday at 5:00pm

Round 5         Sunday at 9:30am

Round 6         Sunday at 12:30pm

Awards           Sunday at 3:00pm or earlier

The time control is Game in 45 minutes with a 5-second delay. Accelerated pairings may be used for the first two rounds. Boards and sets are provided. Please bring clocks. 

 

BYES: up to two 1/2-point byes are allowed if requested before round one.

 

RATINGS: Tournament Directors can choose the highest of the published US Chess ratings (regular, online regular, quick, online quick)  for pairing purposes only. Ratings are not affected by this event. The March Rating Supplement will be used.  March ratings should be available at www.uschess.org/msa in late February.

 

PRIZES:  In each of the K-12, K-8, and K-5 sections, the top ten individuals and the top six teams will be awarded trophies. The state championship title and traveling trophies will be presented to the K-8 and K-5 team champions. Every participant is eligible for an additional award (medal, chocolate, or fruit leather), especially if they castle.

 

TIEBREAKS: the order of tiebreaks for team and individual prizes is Solkoff, Cumulative Opposition, Cumulative, and Modified Median.

 

ENTRY FEE:  The early bird entry fee is $40 per player if received by March 6^th. The regular entry fee is $45 per player if received by March 19th. The late entry fee is $60 per player and is accepted until 8:00am on March 21st. Online payments are preferred. If you need to make an alternative arrangement, please email Chris Wainscott at chris.wainscott13@outlook.com  Checks can be made payable to Chris Wainscott.

 

 

SIDE EVENT: Waupaca High School will sponsor the Wisconsin State Bughouse Championship. It will start at 7:30pm. 2026 WI State Bughouse Championship

 

QUESTIONS:  please email Chris Wainscott chris.wainscott13@outlook.com or Alex Betaneli abetaneli@hotmail.com You may also reach Chris by texting 414-839-5232.

 

Refund Policy: If you register for the tournament and are unable to make it, please notify us at least two hours in advance of the start of round one. If this is done, then the IAC will refund your entry fee less the cost of online registration ($1) and payment processing ($0.30 + 2.9% of the entry fee.)