Chicago Chess Foundation Tournament
Marist High School
2026 Tournament
Saturday, November 21, 2026
MARIST HIGH SCHOOL
4200 W 115th St
Chicago, IL 60655
The Chicago Chess Foundation (CCF) invites K–8 students from across Chicagoland to join us for a free Citywide Chess Tournament at MARIST HIGH SCHOOL.
Whether this is your first tournament or you’ve competed before, CCF Citywide Tournaments bring students together from across the city for a full day of chess, competition, and community.
Tournament Format
This is a 5-round Swiss-system tournament with six sections:
K–1
2–3
4–5
6–8
Intermediate
Advanced
The tournament is open to all students in grades K–8. Players should register for the section that best matches their grade and experience level.
Chess sets and clocks are provided by CCF.
Time Controls
Advanced: G/30 d5
Intermediate: G/20 d5
K–8 Sections: G/20
In the K–8 sections, clocks may be introduced if a game exceeds 30 minutes.
Schedule
Check-in: 8:30 AM–9:30 AM
Round 1: 10:00 AM
Rounds 2–5: Begin as soon as possible following the completion of the previous round
Awards Ceremony: Approximately 3:00 PM
Event Ends: Approximately 4:00 PM
Round times after Round 1 are approximate and may vary depending on the length of games.
Awards
K–1, 2–3, 4–5 & 6–8 Sections
Each grade-level section will recognize:
🏆 Top 5 Individual Finishers
🏆 Top Girl
🏆 Top First-Time Tournament Player
🏆 Top 2 Teams
Intermediate & Advanced Sections
Each section will recognize:
🏆 Top 5 Individual Finishers
🏆 Top Girl
🏆 Top First-Time Tournament Player
🏆 Top Team
Individual Award Eligibility
To recognize as many students as possible, players may receive one individual trophy per tournament.
The Top Girl trophy will be awarded to the highest-finishing girl in the section who did not already earn a Top 5 individual trophy.
The Top First-Time Tournament Player trophy will be awarded to the highest-finishing eligible first-time tournament player who did not already earn another individual trophy.
Registration
Registration Deadline: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19
This tournament is completely free to attend as part of CCF’s mission to remove barriers and expand access to competitive chess.
All players must register in advance and check in on tournament morning.
Players who are not checked in by 9:45 AM will receive a Round 1 half-point bye.
If the tournament reaches capacity, a waitlist will be enabled.
Getting There
Public Transportation
Example: Accessible via RED LINE from 95th to CTA bus route on 103rd STREET to route 53A on PULASKI ROAD.
Parking
Free on-site parking is available in the MARIST HIGH SCHOOL parking lot. TURN RIGHT upon entry to access main lot.
Venue Information
MARIST HIGH SCHOOL
4200 W 115th St.
Chicago, IL 60655
Tournament Area: MAIN GYM
Entrance: GYMNASIUM ENTRANCE (accessible through parking lot)
Accessibility: Marist is accessible through the main entrance.
Before You Arrive
Please plan to arrive with enough time to check in by 9:30 AM. Players do not need to bring chess equipment.
What to Bring:
Water bottle, snacks or lunch, and anything else your student may need for a full tournament day.
Food:
Lunch will NOT be provided at Marist High School. Nearby options include:
TACO BURRITO KING 11720 S Pulaski Rd
HAROLD’s CHICKEN 11817 S Pulaski Rd
RUSSO’S PIZZA 11620 S Pulaski Rd
Parents & Spectators:
All students must be accompanied by an adult. Parents, guardians, and coaches will remain in the designated Skittles area during gameplay.
Questions?
For questions about the tournament, please contact the Chicago Chess Foundation at programs@chicagochessfoundation.org.