2026 North Carolina K-12 Girls State Championship

When: Saturday, March 21, 2026

Where: Ravenscroft School, Raleigh (Cox Court Gym and Keim Center)

7409 Falls of Neuse Road

Raleigh, NC 27615

Free Internet and Free Parking

Eligibility: Only scholastic (PK-12) girls who live in or attend school in North Carolina are permitted to play. USCF Regular rating is used for section eligibility, pairings, and prizes (March 2026 supplement rating list). Provisional, estimated, and unofficial ratings will be used if necessary. The Tournament Director has the right to assign a rating to any player for any reason.

Registration Deadlines and Entry Fees:

JotForm to register: https://pci.jotform.com/form/253562744926062

▪ December: Entry fee $25

▪ January or February: $33

▪ March 1-18: $40

▪ March 19 or 20 Online, or Register Onsite 8:00am to 8:30am: $50 (likely half point bye Round 1)

This tournament offers entry fee supplements for players who could not otherwise play. Supplement recipients pay a fixed $25 reduced entry fee for this tournament.

To register for a supplement, please use the form at https://ncchess.org/tournament-supplement-request/. There are 6 supplements available for this tournament. This offer ends 60 days prior to the start of this tournament.

Format:

▪ 7 Sections: NC Championship;  U1800; U1400; U1000; U600; U400; U250

NC Championship section: The goal is to have exactly 8 players in this section. All NC girls with peak USCF ratings of at least 1800 are allowed to play in the NC Championship section. If fewer than 8 registered players thus qualify, then the Tournament Director has sole discretion to invite players in rating order to increase the number of NC Championship section players to as close to 8 as possible.

▪ Prizes: Individual trophies to top 3 girls in each section and class prizes as follows:

NC Championship section - 1st U1900

U1800 section - 1st each in: U1700, U1600, and U1500

U1400 section - 1st each in: U1300, U1200, and U1100

U1000 section - 1st each in: U900, U800, and U700

U600 section - 1st each in: U550, U500, and U450

U400 section - 1st each in: U350 and U300

U250 section - 1st each in: U200 and U150

Team plaques to top 3 school teams in each of U1000; U600; U400; and U250 sections. Teams: Minimum of 2 players in all sections with team awards; only players from the same school in the same section qualify as a team. “Bring as many players as you want for your team.” The top 4 point-scores of individual players contribute to team scores. Teams with fewer than 4 players score no points for the 4th (and possibly 3rd) player. Home School Teams can be made up of players in the same home zip code.
Teammate pairings are avoided but are possible.

Travel stipend for NC Championship winner attending 2026 USCF Haring tournament. If there is a tie for First Place in the NC Championship section, tiebreak regulations are on the website https://www.dragonknightchess.com/

Other prizes may be awarded.

Number of rounds:

▪ 3 round Swiss System in NC Championship and U1800 sections

▪ 4 round Swiss System in U1400; U1000; U600; U400; and U250 sections

▪ Playing schedule:

Saturday, March 21; Round start times:

9am; Noon; 3pm in NC Championship and U1800 sections

9am; 11:30am; 2pm; 4pm in U1400; U1000; U600; U400; and U250 sections

All players play all rounds, unless taking half point (or zero point) byes. 

Half point byes are allowed for any round declared before Round 2. Voluntary byes declared after start of Round 2 are zero point byes.

Time control:

G/70; d5 in NC Championship and U1800 sections

G/45; d5 in U1400; U1000; U600; U400; and U250 sections

Side Events

▪ Master Simul and 2026 Women’s Tournament

USCF membership is required. Dragon Knight Chess will use vouchers to create new scholastic memberships, or to replace expired scholastic memberships.

Organizer: Dragon Knight Chess

Sponsors:

North Carolina Chess Association

Dragon Knight Chess

Indermaur Chess Foundation

New School Montessori Center

BYoung Physical Therapy

Ravenscroft School

For more information please visit: www.dragonknightchess.com/tournaments/ or contact Coach Jonathan Schroer at [email protected] Phone: (919) 422-2535.

Playing site address:

Ravenscroft School (Cox Court Gym and Keim Center)

7409 Falls of Neuse Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
 

Sections: 8 (including 2026 Women’s Tournament)

Prize Fund: Individual trophies & school team plaques