National Chess Day Scholastic Chess Tournament (K-8), Saturday, October 11, 2025.

Northrop Community Education Center, 201 8th Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901

Let’s Play Chess!

Celebrate National Chess Day by participating in the largest youth chess tournament in Rochester. Students can expect a supportive environment with instruction from experienced chess players and high school role models. Students will be paired with others at a similar skill level and do not need any prior experience in chess events. This opportunity is presented in partnership by  Rochester Chess and  Rochester Community Education.

All Experience Levels Welcome

Any student in grades K-8 may participate. Participants will play in one of three divisions.

Beginner (Grades K-2): Afternoon only. If you understand how to move the pieces, you are ready to have fun and play chess with other kids.

Novice (Grades 3-8): Students will be paired with students of a similar skill level. This division may be a good fit for students who have not previously competed in a chess event.

Advanced (Grades K-8): Tournament results will be rated by the United States Chess Federation (USCF). A USCF membership is required and can be purchased on their website for $24 Join USCF. Players in the Advanced section will be required to record their moves.

Register early as the tournament is capped at a limited number of participants.

Learning and Prizes

Prize support – Trophies and medals will be awarded to the top finishers in the Novice and Advanced divisions.

Excellent instructors – Chess Masters Matt Jensen and Master Thompson, other chess coaches, and experienced high school chess players will provide game analysis for players who record the moves of their game.

Schedule

8:30 – 8:45 AM Check-in, warm-up games, and notation instruction

9:00 – 10:00 AM Round 1

10:00 – 11:00 AM Round 2

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Lunch Break (Bring your own lunch or eat at a restaurant in the Lowertown Neighborhood)

11:30 AM – Students playing in the Beginner Division (Gr. K-2) should check in by 11:30 AM and are welcome to join us for lunch.

12:00 – 1:00 PM Round 3

1:00 – 2:00 PM Round 4

2:00 – 3:00 PM Break

3:00 – 3:30 PM Awards Ceremony

Rules for Advanced Division

All participants will play 4 games (no elimination).

Participants may request one ½-point bye for any round they cannot play in.

Time Control: Each player gets 30 minutes (+ 5 sec delay) to make all their moves.

Rules for Beginner Division (Gr. K-2)

The focus is on having fun, and the tournament structure is flexible. Younger students tend to play more quickly and can expect to finish 3 games.

Support Youth Chess!

Volunteers are needed to help prepare and monitor the tournament. Experienced players are encouraged to attend to help coach our developing players. If you are interested, please contact Community Education staff at johalverson@rochesterschools.org.

National Chess Day

National Chess Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday in October. This year, National Chess Day falls on October 11th, 2025. National Chess Day was started by President Gerald Ford in 1976 with these words. “For both professionals and amateurs, chess is a game that sharpens the mind, tests human faculties, and encourages healthy competition. It has captivated the attention of players and spectators worldwide and will continue to do so as long as competition and excellence challenge mankind.”

Community Support

Rochester Chess is supported by youth enrichment grants from Mayo Clinic Community Affairs, Mayo Civic Center, and US Bank and from individual donations.

Click here to register: https://rochester.ce.eleyo.com/course/25199/2025-fall-youth%E2%80%941/rochester-scholastic-chess-tournament-gr-k-8

OR SCAN ME: