Chicago Chess Foundation Tournament
Gwendolyn brooks high school
2026 Tournament
Saturday, december 19, 2026
GWENDOLYN BROOKS HIGH SCHOOL
250 E 111th St.
Chicago, IL 60628
The Chicago Chess Foundation (CCF) invites K–8 students from across Chicagoland to join us for a free Citywide Chess Tournament at GWENDOLYN BROOKS 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 2 Teams
Intermediate & Advanced Sections
Each section will recognize:
Top 5 Individual Finishers
Top Girl
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.
Registration
Registration Deadline: THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17th 2026
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.
https://www.kingregistration.com/register/CCF-GBT26
Getting There
Public Transportation
From the REDLINE take CTA BUS ROUTE 115 to 111th & COTTAGE GROVE or CTA BUS ROUTE 111 to KING DRIVE & 109th
Parking
Free on-site parking is available in the MAIN PARKING LOT located behind the school.
Venue Information
GWENDOLYN BROOKS HIGH SCHOOL
250 E 11th St.
Chicago, IL 60628
Tournament Area: All sections will play their games in the 1st floor main gym
Entrance: Enter from door #11, which is in the back of the school toward the western end of the building.
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:
Please plan to BYO lunch. There is a Jimmy Johns, Culvers, and Chick Fil A located at the plaza on Corliss and 111th St.
Parents & Spectators:
Skittles area will be the cafeteria and small upstairs gym. We expect the skittles areas to be respected and safe for all who are present in those space. We will rely on parents, coaches, and other adults in the space to hold all children responsible for acting in a safe and respectful manner.
Questions?
For questions about the tournament, please contact the Chicago Chess Foundation at programs@chicagochessfoundation.org