2026 WISCONSIN STATE SCHOLASTIC CHAMPIONSHIP
March 21-22
Please note four major changes compared to the last year:
1. location: Madison
2. it is a 2-day event
3. there are 5 rounds
4. early EF deadline is March 6th
Madison Marriott West, Middleton, WI 53562
1313 John Q Hammons Dr. (608) 831-2000
Chess Rate is $125 and is available for Friday and Saturday if reserved by February 27th. Use this reservation link: WI State Scholastic Chess Championships. If the link doesn't work, please contact the organizers and we will make sure you get the chess rate! This rate includes free parking, free internet, and a discounted breakfast buffet.
Round one begins at 10:00am
Pairings and Standings:
(this page is for K-12 Varsity I and Varsity II sections; for Individual K-12, K-8, and K-5 sections please go to: https://www.kingregistration.com/event/2026WIScholasticState
K-12 TEAM VARSITY FORMAT: 5-Round team Swiss tournament with 4 players per team and one optional alternate. Varsity I section is Open to teams with any average rating. Varsity II section is open to teams with an average team rating of less than 1100. Schools may enter multiple teams in either section. No club teams are allowed. A match is won by the team scoring the most game points (2.5 points or more out of 4 games). 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 K-12 Varsity teams must be composed entirely of 9th through 12th graders or 8th graders and below. 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 Team Varsity sections 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 9th grade when they are 14 as of September 1st 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 1:00pm
Round 3 Saturday at 4:00pm
Round 4 Sunday at 9:30am
Round 5 Sunday at 12:30pm
Awards Sunday at 3:30pm
The time control is Game in 70 minutes with a 5-second increment. Accelerated pairings may be used for the first two rounds. Boards, sets, and clocks are provided.
US CHESS TEAM RULES: Please refer to section 31 of the US Chess’ Official Rules of Chess for a full explanation of team rules. In particular, players must play in rating order (Rule 31B). Unrated players may play on any board (Rule 31B2). Players within 50 rating points of each other may permanently switch positions prior to the tournament. Teams will be seeded based on a team rating derived from the rating average of the four players. Rule 31C1 will be used to calculate team ratings when unrated players are involved. The March rating supplement will be used. March ratings should be available at www.uschess.org/msa in late February.
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.
PRIZES: K-12 Team Varsity Championship will be played in two separate sections. Division I Varsity section is open to teams with any average ratings. Division II Varsity section is open only to teams with an average team rating below 1100. Trophies will be awarded to the top eight Division I teams and top eight Division II teams, first place team members, their coach, and each board champion. If a tie for 1st place in Division I exists, a blitz playoff will determine the State Champion. Every participant is eligible for an additional award (medal, chocolate or fruit leather), especially if they castle.
TIEBREAKS: US Amateur Team tiebreaks will be used as a primary tiebreak for team standings (if needed, the order of additional tiebreaks is Solkoff, Cumulative Opposition, Cumulative, and Modified Median). For board prizes, every person involved in a tie will receive a trophy.
ENTRY FEE: The early bird entry fee is $160 per team if received by March 6th. The regular entry fee is $190 per team if received by March 19th. The late entry fee is $250 per team and is accepted until 8:00 am on March 21st. All rosters must be finalized by 8:00 am on March 21st. Teams entering late may be assigned a 1/2-point bye in round one. Online payments are preferred. If you need to make an alternative arrangement, please email Chris Wainscott at chris.wainscott13@outlook.com Please make checks payable to Chris Wainscott.
PLAYING SITE:
Madison Marriott West, Middleton, WI 53562
1313 John Q Hammons Dr. (608) 831-2000)
SIDE EVENT: Waupaca High School will sponsor the Wisconsin State Bughouse Championship. It will start around 7:00pm on Saturday. Link is forthcoming.
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.)