🏆 Historic Numbers, Historic Performances: 61st Minnesota State Scholastic Wrap-Up

The 61st Annual Minnesota State Scholastic Chess Championship, a cornerstone of Minnesota's youth chess scene, wrapped up this past weekend (March 7-8, 2026) at the Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas in St. Paul.

Drawing a record-breaking 383 players—the largest field in 26 years—the event showcased incredible talent across four sections: K-12 (High School), K-8 (Middle School), K-5 (Elementary), and K-3 (Primary).

This Swiss-system tournament served as the key qualifier for national invitations, with top performers earning spots in playoffs for events like the Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, and Ashley Tournaments of State Champions. With exciting games, tiebreakers, and community spirit, the championship highlighted Minnesota’s growing scholastic chess community. Highlights include standout performances from seasoned players and rising stars alike.

K-12 Section Highlights

Jesse Harrison (homeschooled) claimed clear first in the K-12 section to become Champion. Paulo Soto (Wayzata High School) and John Blomer (Benilde-St. Margaret's) tied for second, powering Wayzata to the team championship. Notably, Joshini Sudhakar (Eden Prairie High School) secured 4th place and earned a playoff invitation for the national Denker Tournament of High School Champions. Adding to the impressive showings, Vivian Yang finished 5th—highlighting strong performances from top female players in the competitive field and potential for further national qualifiers.

Team Champion: Wayzata High School

K-8 Section Highlights

Rishab Jain (Kenwood Trail Middle School) took first place, claiming the K-8 champion title, followed by a tie for second between Franklin Briceno (Nicollet Middle School) and Varin Singhal (Dakota Hills Middle School). Other notable finishes included Charlie Doll in eighth and Gracin Mathews tying for ninth, contributing to their team's success.

Team Champion: Nicollet Middle School

K-5 Section Highlights

Ryan Zhou (Eden Lake Elementary) and Will Knight Velin (homeschooled) tied for first place, sharing the K-5 co-champion title after a strong tournament, with Thanviya Vinodh Kumar (Cologne Academy)—a standout female player—finishing in third. Team Champion: Normandale Elementary

K-3 Section Highlights

Victor Nyeggen (homeschooled) and Dhansika Sasikumar (Scenic Heights Elementary) tied for first to become K-3 co-champions—highlighting emerging talent in the primary division.

Team Champion: Armatage Elementary

Full Tournament Results

• Final Individual & Team Standings

• US Chess Official Results (coming soon) Stay tuned for updated crosstables as ratings are processed.

2026 MN State Champions 🎉

• K-12: Jesse Harrison

• K-8: Rishab Jain

• K-5: Ryan Zhou & Will Knight Velin

• K-3: Victor Nyeggen & Dhansika Sasikumar

Congratulations to all the champions, trophy winners, qualifiers, and participants! A huge thanks to our Tournament Directors, volunteers, and the University of St. Thomas for hosting. Let's keep building Minnesota's chess future!