2025-26 Age Level, Kirshner, Langland, & Azhar Cups

Compete in the CalChess Age Level Championship, a unique USCF-rated scholastic tournament where players are grouped by age and rating! K-12 players of all skill levels are invited to test their skills and earn rewards while enjoying a friendly chess competition.

Register here

• You must log in or sign up before you can register.
• Online registration closes at 12:00 a.m. the day of the tournament.
• Onsite registration is subject to availability ($44 additional fee incurred).
• Late fees applied starting January 17 or when reaching capacity.

Sections

• Players will need to register based on their age as of December 31, 2025 (excluding month) and their January Supplement Rating (i.e., rating as of Dec. 18) into one of the following sections:
  • Ages 6 & under (u400)
  • Age 7 (u400)
  • Age 8 (u800)
  • Age 9 (u800)
  • Age 10 (u800)
  • Age 11 (u1000)
  • Age 12 (u1000)
  • Ages 13+ (u1000)
  • Kirshner Cup (Ages 4-7, 400+)
  • Langland Cup (Ages 8-10, 800+)
  • Azhar Cup (Ages 11+, 1000+)

Play up

• A player may pay to play up one higher section, double play up is NOT allowed.
• Players must be within 300 points of the rating cutoff to play up.
  (Note: The rating used to determine if a player may play up is their January USChess Published Supplement Rating)
• A player may NOT play up their age.

Schedule

• Langland Cup & Azhar Cup:
  • Time Control: 4x G/60 d5
  • Round Times: 8:30 a.m., 11:15 a.m., 2:05 p.m., 4:50 p.m.
• All other sections:
  • Time Control: 5x G/25 d5
  • Round Times: 11:45 a.m., 1:15 p.m., 2:45 p.m., 4:15 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
• ½-point bye is available for one round, except for the last round (Byes must be requested at least 30 min before that round's start).
• 0-point byes are available for any round.
• If you request more than one bye, we will give you a ½-point for the latest round possible except for the last round (0-point byes for all other rounds).

Awards

• Personal Trophies to all players with a winning record.
  • One trophy per player.
  • Trophy size vary based on standings.
• Medals to all other players.
• Team Trophies to all of the following with two or more players in a section:
  • Clubs
  • Schools
• A player who withdraws during the tournament is not eligible for awards.

Fees

• Entry fee: $79
• Play up fee: +$29
• Discount for BayAreaChess Membership subscribers (More info).

Late fees

Late fees, starting:

• Jan. 18: +$11
• Jan. 20: +$22
• Jan. 22: +$33
• Onsite fee: +$44
• BayAreaChess Membership discounts are NOT redeemable for late and onsite fees.

Withdrawals

• Withdrawals are eligible for a partial refund, subject to the following deductions:
  • until Jan. 17, 4% processing fee.
  • from Jan. 18 to Jan .19, $11 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Jan. 20 to Jan. 21, $22 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Jan. 22 onward, NO REFUND will be issued.
• Only withdrawals made before or on Jan. 21 are eligible for refund.

Change requests

• After registration, changes can be requested at bayareachess.com/changeform and are subject to the following fees:
  • until Jan. 22, $7 change fee.
  • on Jan. 23, $15 change fee.
• The following requests are exempt from the change fee:
  • playing up to a higher section.
  • requesting byes.
  • updating club and/or school.

Other requirements

• USCF membership must be active.

More info available here.