🍁 Johnson and Iwu Share the 2026 Minnesota State Senior Title

Thirty-one players aged 50 and up gathered at the Chess Castle of Minnesota in Edina, October 23–25, for the 2026 Minnesota State Senior Championship, five rounds of G/60 +30 in a single Open section. When the last game ended, two players stood at the top with 4½/5: FM Leonard Jeffrey Johnson (2231) and Okechukwu “Okey” Anele Nnej Iwu (2205). Under MSCA policy, both are named 2026 State Senior Co-Champions. 🏆

The two will meet in a playoff in April, under the MSCA tiebreak rules, to decide who represents Minnesota at the Irwin Tournament (the National Tournament of State Senior Champions) in Dallas in August 2027, with a $400 MSCA travel stipend.

Prize winners

🥇🥈 1st–2nd (shared, $200 each): Leonard Johnson, Okey Iwu

🍁 Top U2000 ($150): Thaddeus Swiggum, 4

🦉 Top age 65+ (shared): Dexter Thompson, Faris F Gabbara, William Murray, 3½

🍂 Top U1700 & U1400 (shared): Vincent Wisniewski, Juan Carlos Perez, Johnny M Harbieh, 2½

Thank you to National TD Jiten Patel, the Nicollet Knights Chess Club, and the Chess Castle for a wonderful weekend, and congratulations to all 31 players!

🔥 Full results on US Chess · 🏆 Senior Championship page