🗓️ March 7-8, 2026
Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas 🏫
2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105 (map)
James B. Woulfe Alumni Hall
🍏 Join the biggest scholastic event of the year! 🎉
🔵 K-12 🟠 K-8 🟣 K-5 🟢 K-3
New to tournament chess? Read the FAQ! 🔰
The FAQ has guidance on required equipment and notation and explanations of time controls, byes, etc. Chess sets and clocks are also sold on site.
🎬️ Tournament Director:
Sarah Wahl
💼 Organizer:
Tim Radermacher
🚗 Parking is available for free in the Anderson Parking Facility, located at the corner of Cretin & Grand. 🗺️ See map below highlighting route from parking to playing.
⬇️ See below for Dining Locations & Hours 🍔🍟🍕
👀 See note on eligibility below
🏆️ 🏆️
🔵 Minnesota High School (K-12) Championship
🟠 Minnesota Middle School (K-8) Championship
Saturday and Sunday 🗓️
7 Round Swiss System
Time Control ⌛️
Game/60 delay/5
Round Times 🕐️
Saturday 9:30am • 12:30pm • 3pm • 5:30pm
Sunday 10am • 12:30pm • 3pm
🔵🟠 Entry Fee 🎟️
$50 by 1/24 ☀️ $55 by 2/14 🌤️ $60 by 3/6 🌥️ $65 onsite ⏰
🏆️
🟣 Minnesota Elementary (K-5) Championship
Saturday and Sunday 🗓️
6 Round Swiss System
Time Control ⌛️
Game/60 delay/5
Round Times 🕐️
Saturday 9:30am • 12:30pm • 3pm
Sunday 10am • 12:30pm • 3pm
🟣 Entry Fee 🎟️
$45 by 1/24 ☀️ $50 by 2/14 🌤️ $55 by 3/6 🌥️ $60 onsite ⏰
🏆️
🟢 Minnesota Primary (K-3) Championship
Saturday only 🗓️
5 Round Swiss System
Time Control ⌛️
Game/30 delay/5
Round Times 🕐️
Saturday R1-2 10am • Lunch • R3-5 1pm
Note 🗒️
Rounds 1 & 3 have set times. Pairings otherwise ASAP when previous round is completed. Lunch break after Round 2.
🟢 Entry Fee 🎟️
$40 by 1/24 ☀️ $45 by 2/14 🌤️ $50 by 3/6 🌥️ $55 onsite ⏰
Byes: max two ½ pt byes, any rounds, declared before round 3
🖊️ Register online by Fri 3/6 7pm 🕖️
🖊️ Register onsite Sat 3/7 8:30-9am 🕗️ all sections 🔵🟠🟣🟢
💵 Cash/check only onsite! 💵
🎫 US Chess membership is required. (See note below.)
MSCA membership is not required for the State Scholastic, but is encouraged! Membership fees are a low cost way to support Minnesota chess. 🙏
📬️ Mail-in entries, received by Thurs 2/26
include: (1) event (2) player (3) section (4) byes (5) check!
Minnesota State Chess Association
PO Box 124
Wayzata MN 55391
🏆️ Awards & Playoff Invitations 🎁
The titles of team and individual Minnesota State Scholastic Champions will be awarded at this event. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be declared. ✌️✌🏾🍎
Winner of K-3 qualifies for Ashley national tournament of state champions. ⬇️
See below for info on Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, and Haring qualifiers. ⬇️
Teams 👤👤👤
👥 Teams are automatically made for players from the same school.
👥 Two or more players are required to make a team.
The team score will be the sum of the top four individual scores among team members. 👤👤👤👤
👤 A player may participate in the tournament without being on a team.
🔵🟠🟣🟢 The Awards Ceremony for each section will begin approximately 10 minutes after the last game has finished. ⏰
🏆️
🏆️ Team Trophies
🔵 K-12 • 1st - 7th 🏆️
🟠 K-8 • 1st - 3rd 🏆️
🟣 K-5 • 1st - 2nd 🏆️
🟢 K-3 • 1st - 2nd 🏆️
🏆️ Individual Trophies
🔵 K-12 • Top 15 Overall 🏆️
🔵 Top 5 U1300 • Top 5 U1000 🏆️
🔵 Top 5 U700 • Top 3 Unrated 🏆️
🟠 K-8 • Top 15 Overall 🏆️
🟠 Top 5 U1000 • Top 5 U700 🏆️
🟠 Top 3 Unrated 🏆️
🟣 K-5 • Top 10 🏆️
🟣 Top 5 U700 • Top 3 Unrated 🏆️
🟢 K-3 • Top 10 🏆️
🏆️ 100+ Trophies! 🏆️
MSCA Scholastic Closed “DBR” Playoff
🗓️ April 11-12
MSCA Girls K-12 State Championship 🏆️
🗓️ April 18
💵
🚗
$400 travel stipends are available for participants in the National Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, Ashley, and Haring Tournaments, made possible by MSCA membership fees.
📻️ Stay tuned for details on DBR Playoffs and Girls Championship
🔵 Denker K-12 🟠 Barber K-8 🟣 Rockefeller K-5 ⚫️ Haring Girls ⚪️
New this year! 🟢 1st Annual GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions 🟢
More Scholastic Details...
Coaches’ Meeting 💬 The coaches’ meeting will be Sunday after the start of the first round of the day.
Tiebreakers 🎲 Modified Median, Solkoff, Cumulative, Opponents Cumulative
🚀 Accelerated pairings may be used. If accelerated pairings are used, they will use variation 28R2 from the US Chess rulebook.
📧 Send email to msca.board@gmail.com with any questions.
FOOD 🍕
🍔 Meals 🍴 Food options are available on campus. Please note that St. Thomas does not allow bulk food service onsite from outside sources/vendors. That is, bringing in your own food is OK ✅ but we are not allowed to have a team captain or coach bring in a pot of chili to serve to the group. ❌
The View Dining Hall 📌
Saturday only
9am - 8:30pm
The Loft (3rd floor Coffee Shop) 📌
Sat/Sun: 8am - 12pm
Summit Marketplace 📌
Sat/Sun: 8am - 9pm
Scooters 📌
Saturday only
3pm - 10pm
T’s Retail Location 📌
Sunday only
10am - 2pm
The Northsider 📌
Sunday only
9am - 8:30pm
Even More Details...
📜 Registration is open to students who are enrolled in a curriculum approved by their state of residence for the applicable grade level; however, only Minnesota residents may be declared State Champion, compete in the DBR Playoffs and Girls Championship, and represent Minnesota in the National Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, Ashley, and Haring Tournaments. By registering, players (or their parents or guardians) confirm the student's eligibility, including the accuracy of the grade level and state of residence indicated on the registration form, which may be subject to verification. Please direct any eligibility questions to msca.board@gmail.com.
🟫♟️⏰ Players should bring chess boards, pieces, and clock. See FAQ to learn more.
⚖️ The MSCA Electronic Device and Fair Play Policy will be enforced for players and spectators at this tournament.
🏞️ Special accommodations can be made available to players as needed. Please let us know how we can help improve your chess experience!
🧮 Please see the MSCA Unrated Policy to learn how rating may be determined from USCF live/online or FIDE ratings.
🚨 Published unrated players who possess FIDE ratings MUST disclose their FIDE rating. See the MSCA Unrated Policy.
⏱️ Forfeit time: A player who has not shown up to their game 30 minutes after the tournament directors start the round will receive a forfeit loss and be removed from the event, unless they inform the TD they wish to continue playing. (Players who are late on their second offense may be removed.)
🛡️ The MSCA recognizes the importance of a safe and hospitable environment at our chess events. To promote this type of environment, the MSCA has developed a Policy on Safe Play & Conduct. The MSCA also follows US Chess guidelines for training TDs with materials developed by the US Center for SafeSport. To support a safe and hospitable environment, the MSCA reminds all chess participants and attendees that they are responsible for their actions, and that parents/guardians of minors are responsible at all times for the welfare and safety of their children/dependents.
🎟️ You can pay for a new US Chess membership or renewal during registration, but note that this payment won't be applied until event time. It may be best to 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.
2024 State Scholastic 🍎 Final Individual & Team Standings 🎊 Results 🔥 News 📰
2025 State Scholastic 🍎 Final Individual & Team Standings 🎉 Results 🔥 News 📰