Event Overview
Registration Online: CaliforniaYouth.org
ICEA Chess presents
2026 California Youth Chess Championship
6th Annual · Formerly the ICEA Chess Scholastic Annual Championship
Join us for a celebration of young chess players’ dedication, progress, and love of the game! Now entering its sixth year under a new name, this annual ICEA Chess event welcomes students to challenge themselves, connect with fellow players, and represent their schools.
The tournament features a section structure similar to the SuperStates SoCal State Championship, providing valuable preparation for state-level competition. The champion of each section will earn free entry to the state qualifier event.
Our Rising Stars section offers beginners a welcoming introduction to tournament play, while school teams can compete for team awards and build school spirit.
Important Notes
- After registering, please check the Entry List to confirm your name appears. Only players listed on the Entry List will be allowed to participate.
- Chess sets will be provided, but please bring your own chess clock.
- This tournament is USCF-rated, except for the Rising Stars section.
- If you have 200+ USCF Rating, you are not eligible to play in the Rising Stars section.
- An active US Chess membership is required for all rated sections.
- No US Chess membership or USCF ID is required for the Rising Stars section.
- Teams must have at least 2 members. Players from the same team will not be paired against each other before the final 2 rounds.
- Lunch Break is between Round 3 and Round 4.
- The Awards Ceremony will begin immediately after all games have finished.
Sections
USCF-Rated (US Chess Membership Required)
- K-12 (Open) : Grade K - 12
- K-8 (U1200) : Grade K - 8 & Rating <= 1200
- K-5 (U800) : Grade K - 5 & Rating <= 800
- K-3 (U400) : Grade K - 3 & Rating <= 400
Note: For all sections except Open section, rating eligibility is based on the lower of the player’s December published USCF rating and latest USCF rating. Pairings will use the December published USCF rating. We will adjust section assignments as needed before the tournament. You may also log in to your Progressly account to change your section.
Not Rated (No US Chess Membership Required)
- Rising Stars (any K-12 grade)
Note: If a section has fewer than 6 players, it may be merged with the closest appropriate section.
Tournament Format
5SS, G/30;d5
- 5-round Swiss System
- Time Control: 30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay per move
Awards
- 🏆 Individual Trophies: Awarded to the top 5 players in each section.
- 🥇 Individual Medals: Awarded to players placing 6th–10th in each section.
- Champion’s Prize: The champion of each section will receive free entry to SuperStates 2027.
- 🏆 Team Trophies: Awarded to the team champion in each section. Teams must have at least 2 members, and team scores are based on the combined scores of their top 3 players, or all members if fewer than 3.
- Winner Recognition: All winners will be recognized on ICEAChess.org.
4153 Overland Ave
Culver City, CA 90230
United States