👑 Midwest Women and Girls Championship
🌺 Rochester Chess Festival Event 🎪
July 11-12, 2026 🗓️
Projected Cash Prizes: $1,650 💰️
(based on 30 players)
🏆 Premier winner will be crowned the 2026 Midwest Women and Girls Champion and receive the championship trophy! 🌹
💃🏻 Girls Club Room! Midwest Chess Girls Group will be hosting a dedicated space for all female players and their families. Relax between rounds, play casual games, and get game analysis from strong women players, including WFM Nastassja Matus.
5 Round Swiss
G/60 +30s increment per move
Saturday 10am • 2pm • 6pm 🕕️
Sunday 10am • 2pm 🕙️
US Chess rated (USCF membership required; see below to learn more)
🟪 Chess boards, pieces, and clocks will be provided.
Entry Fees 💫
by ➡️
🟠 Premier
🟢 U1100
🔴 U700
🌝
6/6
$45
$35
$25
🌓
6/20
$50
$40
$30
🌒
7/10
$55
$45
$35
⏰
Onsite
$60
$50
$40
🖊️ Register online by Fri 7/10 7pm 🕖️
🖊️ Register onsite Sat 7/11 8:30 - 9:30am 🕗️
💵 Cash/check only onsite! 💵
🥷 Free entry for Masters if registered by June 25. All Masters, including those whose current rating is < 2200, can register by sending an email to Sarah Wahl semmons2848@gmail.com with your USCF ID and noting any bye requests.
📬️ Mail-in entries, received by Tues 6/30:
Rochester Chess, c/o Dennis Mays
2202 Ponderosa Drive SW
Rochester MN 55902
Send check made payable to Rochester Chess. Please include the section you want to play in and any bye requests. Please email dennismays101@gmail.com to let us know a check is coming. 📧
Projected Prizes 🔮
🟠 Premier
1st $750 2nd $500
Top U1500 $100
🟢 U1100
1st $150 2nd $100
Top U800 $50
🔴 U700
Trophies for Top 10 finishers 🏆️
🏆 Premier winner will be crowned the 2026 Midwest Women and Girls Champion and receive the championship trophy! 🌹
($1,650 cash prizes based on 10 players per section x 3 sections = 30 players)
Unrated players can only win a trophy in 🔴 U700 section or 1st/2nd place overall in the 🟠 Premier section.
W&G sections with less than 6 entries may be combined; 50% of published projected prizes guaranteed under US Chess guidelines; players are only eligible for 1 cash prize.
Additional Details
🏛️ MSCA Policies Adopted for this Rochester Chess Event
Rochester Chess is proud to partner with the Minnesota State Chess Association (MSCA) as an official affiliate. As part of this partnership, Rochester Chess will fully adopt and enforce all MSCA policies for this tournament detailed in the Rochester Chess Festival flyer.
🎟️ You can pay for a new US Chess membership or renewal during registration, or sign up directly with US Chess today. There are options for new members (get a new USCF ID and pay) and for existing members (already have an ID) to create a website login. If you already have a login/ID, you can use it to pay for a renewal. There may be a delay of days for registration membership payments to be applied.