2026 Girls (K-12) & Senior (50+) Chess State Championship

April 04, 2026

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2026 Hawaii State Girls  (Grades K-12) & Seniors (age 50+) Chess Championship

  • Date: Saturday April 4th, 2026
  • Time: 8:30 a.m. to finish (estimated finishing time is 3 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
  • Place: Kaimuki Public Library, 1st floor Meeting Room. 1041 Koko Head Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816.
  • NOTE ABOUT THE VENUE: The main library area is closed to the public, but the Meeting Room will be open to attendees. The entrance to the Meeting Room is on the ground floor, in the parking lot. Parking lot signs state no parking when the library is closed, but we will be allowed to park there for the event.
  • Supervision: On-site supervision by a coach, parent or designated guardian is required for all players age 13 and under.
  • Clocks and chess sets provided at the event
  • Byes: Any player may have up to two, ½-point byes, if requested before 8:30 a.m.

GIRLS TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

  • Format: 5-rounds, Swiss pairing system, non-elimination, rated by the US Chess Federation.
  • Time Control: Game in 30 minutes with a 5-second increment (G/30; +5).  
  • Chess Notation: All players are required to write moves, except any player in grades K-2 (although recommended). Notation requirement is lifted when either player is under 5 minutes of remaining clock time.
  • Individual Prizes: Trophies for top 3 players. 
  • Hawaii Champion and Representative:  The winner of the tournament will be declared the Hawaii State Girls Chess Champion and will have their name engraved on the Hawaii Girls Champion Perpetual Trophy. The Champion also earns the right to represent Hawaii at the Ruth Haring Tournament of State Girls Champions at the 2026 US Open in Grand Rapids, Michigan (SEE HERE FOR MORE INFO: https:www//new.uschess.org/haring).  
  • Tie Breaks: Players tied for 1st place will play a one game tie breaker with time control Game 10 with a 5-second increment (G/10; +5). If the playoff ends in a draw, players will be declared co-champions and both names will be engraved on the perpetual trophy. USCF standard tiebreaks will be used to determine trophy distribution.

SENIORS TOURNAMENT INFORMATION:

  • Format: 4-rounds, Swiss pairing system, non-elimination, rated by the US Chess Federation (may have fewer than 4 rounds if low player turnout)
  • Time Control: Game in 45 minutes with a 15-second increment (G/45; +15).  
  • Chess Notation: All players are required to write moves. Notation requirement is lifted when either player is under 5 minutes of remaining clock time.
  • Hawaii Champion and Representative:  The winner of the tournament will be declared the Hawaii State Senior Chess Champion and will have their name engraved on the Hawaii Senior Champion Perpetual Trophy. The champion also earns the right to represent Hawaii at the John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions at the 2026 US Open in Grand Rapids, Michigan (SEE HERE FOR MORE INFO: https://new.uschess.org/irwin).
  • Tie Breaks: Players tied for first will be declared co-champions and both names will be engraved on the perpetual trophy. A rapid playoff (G/10 +5) will decide the Irwin representative.
  • SCHEDULE:  
  • 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Check in
  • 9:00 a.m.  Mandatory players meeting
  • 9:15 a.m.  Round 1
  • All rounds after round 1 and lunch break to be announced (the tournament director will announce round times depending on how fast the games are being played).
  • Entry Fee: Tournament is FREE for all players. Please consider a donation to the Hawaii Chess federation here https://hawaiichess.com/donate/ to help with costs. Donation can also be made during the kingregistration process. A donation is not mandatory in order to play.

  • US Chess Federation Membership (required): 

    • If you are not a member of the US Chess Federation, register here.  *NOTE: NEW PLAYER SIGN-UP IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL PAYMENT IS MADE TO USCF FOR THE FIRST YEAR.
    • If you are already a USCF member, please click here to make sure your membership is current.
    • Any player who is not a current USCF member will automatically receive a 1/2-point bye in the first round while their membership is being processed.

     

     

    MORE DETAILED INFORMATION: Please view this page, especially if this is your first tournament. Details for players, parents, family members and coaches. 

    Questions: Contact the Scholastic Director Joshua White, at scholastic@hawaiichess.com