Ashley: Elem (K-3) Information

1st Annual GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions

Revised May 28, 2025

The US Chess National State Invitationals Committee has compiled this list of suggestions designed as a Best Practice document for State Affiliates and State Scholastic Coordinators to assist in the process to determine, nominate, and assist their state’s representatives in having a successful experience playing in the Irwin, Denker, Haring, Barber, Rockefeller, or Ashley tournaments, which are held annually in conjunction with the U.S. Open. As a description of Best Practices, this document is not prescriptive; rather, it is based on lessons the committee has learned over the years.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions is an annual invitational event run by US Chess that will start determining the Ashley National Champion in 2026.  A total of $18,650 in prizes will be awarded, including $5,800 in scholarship and cash prizes to the champion. The champion will qualify for the World Cadet Championship, as long as eligibility requirements are met. Any tournament-qualification prize will be determined by tiebreak—not by a playoff.

The first Ashley will be held Monday, August 3 - Thursday, August 6, 2026, in Grand Rapids, MI at the DeVos Place Convention Center with hotel accommodations available at either the Amway Grand Plaza or Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Grand Rapids and using US Chess' reduced rate during the 126th Annual U.S. Open Chess Championship. If calling, mention U.S. Open Chess. NOTE: If the host hotel’s room block is full, check out the US Open’s webpage for updates.

Because the Ashley players are so young, US Chess will provide a separate playing room for this tournament.  A family waiting area will be provided close to the playing room.  Badges, IDs, or wristbands to write the parent’s phone number on will be provided to the players prior to the tournament rounds.

Players who complete all six rounds of the Ashley may register onsite at Chess Control for the U.S. Open’s 4-day schedule, 5-day schedule, or 7-day schedule (with byes) for 50% of the early registration fee. Please do not register online for the U.S. Open.

QUALIFICATION

Each state affiliate may nominate one player to represent its residents in grades K-3, and that state representative will receive free entry to the Ashley. Washington, D.C. will be considered a state, and California will be considered two states (Northern California and Southern California). US Chess recommends the following methods of qualification, in descending order of preference:

1. A championship section that is restricted to state residents in grades K-3 and that is part of a state championship tournament open to players in grades K-3.

2. A section restricted to state residents in grades K-3 with a high rating.

3. The highest-rated state resident in grades K-3.

Ultimately, though, a state may determine its representative by whatever method of qualification it deems best—provided that the representative is a state resident (or was a state resident during the state qualifier), is in grades K-3, and will be 10 years old or younger on September 1 of the year in which the Ashley is held. If the representative is unable to compete, then the state may substitute its next highest qualifier as an alternate.

US Chess will email to each state a link to an online nomination form that must be completed by June 1. US Chess reserves the right to appoint a representative for a state that fails to meet this deadline. After the deadline, an appointment made by US Chess will take precedence over an appointment made by the state. However, prior to US Chess’ appointment of a state representative, if the state were to inform US Chess of its desired appointment after June 1, then US Chess would honor the state’s selection.

To eliminate byes, the host state (the state in which the tournament will be held) may provide an alternate who will play only in rounds that have an odd number of players. If the alternate is not needed to play in a round, then the alternate will be paired for free in a concurrent round of the U.S. Open or in any concurrent U.S. Open side events. The alternate is eligible for all prizes.

ELIGIBILITY

During the State Qualifier for the Ashley

The representative must be enrolled in a curriculum approved by the state in grades K-3. During or prior to the qualifier, the representative may also be enrolled either part-time or full-time at a school for grades 4 or above. The representative must be a resident of the state the player will represent. Each state may determine who is a state resident—but only of that state. Consequently, if a player were to be considered a resident by multiple states (say, both by the state in which the player maintains a home address, and by a different state in which the player attends school [day or boarding]), then the player would be eligible to represent multiple states and could compete in multiple states’ qualifying events; however, note below that a player may not represent multiple states.

During the Ashley

A player may not represent multiple states—neither in the same national invitational for state champions, nor in multiple national invitationals for state champions. A player may represent only one state and may play in only one of the simultaneous national invitationals for state champions. Proof of eligibility is the responsibility of the representative and of the state certifying the representative. The representative must have a current US Chess membership.

After the Ashley

The representative must be 10 years old or younger on September 1 of the year in which the tournament is held.

SCHEDULE for 2026

Checking in onsite is mandatory prior to the opening ceremony. Should travel or other reasons delay a player’s arrival, contact the Chief Tournament Director of the Invitationals (CTDI), who may allow up to two half-point byes. Players not checked in within 1 hour of the first round will be paired only if the alternate is available—otherwise they will not receive a bye for the first round. Notify the CTDI if planning on being late.

All players, including the host state’s alternate, are required to attend the opening ceremony. Attendees should wear smart casual clothing. T-shirts, tank tops, and shorts are not permitted. Photos will be taken for Chess Life, Chess Life for Kids, and state chess publications—so please look sharp. This dress code applies only to the opening ceremony.

RULES

Insofar as the Invitationals are prestigious national events in which the player represents the player’s state and significant scholarships and prizes are at stake, players are required to play all 6 rounds of this Swiss tournament. Any player unable to play in one or more rounds must notify the CTDI as soon as possible. This allows time for the CTDI to substitute or remove the host state’s alternate player, if needed.

A player:

• Whose absence from any round is excused by the CTDI shall receive a half-point bye for that/those round(s). The CTDI may grant up to two such byes.
• Whose withdrawal from the tournament or forfeiture of a round has not been approved by the CTDI before the withdrawal/forfeiture is subject to disciplinary action by US Chess.
• Who withdraws or is expelled from the tournament loses all rights to any prizes.
• Whom the CTDI expels for violations of fair play shall have the player’s case forwarded by the CTDI to the US Chess Ethics Committee for review. If the Ethics Committee finds that the player violated fair play, the player is subject to the full range of sanctions available to the Ethics Committee, including loss or suspension of US Chess membership and/or loss of the right to attend future national invitationals for state champions, as deemed appropriate by the Ethics Committee. The player has the right to appeal a sanction imposed in accordance with the timeline and procedures given to the player upon notification of the sanction.
• Should understand the player’s rights and responsibilities under Safe Play. Players are encouraged to read US Chess’s Safe Play Policy. US Chess has zero tolerance for abuse or misconduct within the chess community, and those found to have violated the Safe Play Policy will be appropriately sanctioned. NOTE:  If a player feels unsafe or uncomfortable interacting with anyone during this event, the player should report the problem to a tournament director or US Chess staff at Chess Control immediately.

The tournament follows FIDE rules but is US Chess rated only. US Chess' National Scholastic Chess Tournament Regulations do not apply. For those players not familiar with FIDE rules, please click on the following link for a document explaining the differences between FIDE and US Chess rules.

The time control is G60 +30: 60 minutes base time with a 30-second increment added after each move. Players should bring a chess clock that supports time increment. US Chess will provide boards, pieces, and scoresheets—but not clocks. Players are required to submit a complete and legible scoresheet at the conclusion of each round.

The default time is specified as 60 minutes from the start of the round. Any player arriving 60 minutes or more after the start of the round will lose the game by forfeit. If both players in a pairing are not present when the round begins, the tournament staff will start White’s clock, which shall run until White either arrives and moves or fails to arrive by the 60-minute default time.

While a player is playing in a round of a national invitational for state champions, the player may not play multiple games simultaneously. That is, a player may neither play multiple games simultaneously (for multiple states) in the same tournament, nor play multiple games simultaneously (neither for the same state, nor for a different state) in the national invitational for state champions, nor in another tournament (neither the U.S. Open, a side event of the U.S. Open, nor any other tournament).

PRIZES

College/University Scholarships

• 1^st    $5,000
• 2^nd    $4,000
• 3^rd    $3,000
• 4^th    $2,000
• 5^th    $1,000

If there are ties, then the scholarships will be awarded to the highest finisher, based on tiebreaks (1. Modified Median, 2. Solkoff, 3. Cumulative, and 4. Cumulative of Opposition); the scholarships will not be split. A recipient may use the scholarship at any school of higher learning. To redeem a scholarship, the recipient must contact US Chess’ Senior Accountant at Click here to show email address, provide proof of enrollment in an institution of higher learning (including the student’s ID number), prove standing as at least a half-time student, and claim the scholarship prior to the recipient’s 26^th birthday.

Cash Prizes

• 1^st    $800
• 2^nd    $500
• 3^rd    $400
• 4^th    $300
• 5^th    $200 (each player tied for 5^th will receive $100)

Ashley U7 Chess Award

The $500 Ashley U7 Chess Award will be presented to the highest finisher under 7 years old as of the first day of the tournament. If there are fewer than two participants under 7 years old, then the award will go to the top finisher under 8 years old. There must be at least two eligible players for the award to be given. If there is a tie, then the award will go to the highest finisher, based on tiebreaks (e.g., 1. Modified Median, 2. Solkoff, 3. Cumulative, and 4. Cumulative of Opposition); the award will not be split.

Cash prizes and awards checks will be mailed by the US Chess office shortly after the event to the address on the player’s US Chess membership record. Please check your US Chess dashboard to make sure the address is correct. If the amount is $600 or more, a W-9 is required prior to the prize being mailed.

Gift Certificates for U.S. Open Chess Store

• Best Game    $100
• Best Upset overall    $50
• Best Upset in each round    $50 (6 rounds) – draws count as half the rating difference
• State versus State     $400 (total)
  
   

State versus State Championship

The six national invitationals for state champions that run concurrently with the U.S. Open are:

• John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions
• GM Arnold Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions
• WIM Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions
• Dewain Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions
• John D. Rockefeller III National Tournament of Elementary School State Champions
• GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of K-3 State Champions

The state whose representatives have the highest combined score will be recognized. Gift certificates for the U.S. Open Chess Store will be awarded to each player from the 3 highest-scoring states ($100, $80, and $70, respectively). In addition, gift certificates will be awarded to each player of the highest-scoring state whose players’ average rating is Under 2100 ($60), Under 1900 ($50), or Under 1600 ($40). States must have at least 4 players from the 6 concurrent national invitationals for state champions to be eligible for team prizes. If the host state has 2 representatives in 1 or more of the 6 concurrent national invitationals for state champions, then only the representative’s score (not the alternate’s score) will count toward the team total. Ties for a team prize will be broken by summing the team members’ individual Modified Median, Solkoff, then Cumulative tiebreaks. Each state’s Irwin (Senior: 50+) representative will be the state’s honorary captain.

Internet Chess Club (ICC) Membership

Each participant (including the host state’s alternate) who completes all six rounds will receive a free, 1-year ICC membership valued at $70. If a participant is already a current ICC member, then the participant will receive a 1-year membership extension.

Awards Ceremony

Gift certificates must be picked up during the awards ceremony and may be redeemed only onsite with the U.S. Open Chess Store vendor. Cash prizes will be mailed and are intended to reimburse some players for tournament expenses.

7th ANNUAL FM SUNIL WEERAMANTRY NATIONAL BLITZ TOURNAMENT OF STATE CHAMPIONS

The FM Sunil Weeramantry National Blitz Tournament of State Champions is an annual invitational event run by US Chess that has determined the Weeramantry National Champion since 2020. Monday, August 3, 2026, 10 AM - 1 PM. Optional. No entry fee. Open only to players in the six national invitationals for state champions running concurrently with the U.S. Open: the Irwin, Denker, Haring, Barber, Rockefeller, and Ashley. 5 sections: Championship (2100+), 1800-2099, 1500-1799, 1200-1499, & Under 1200. Prizes: $4,000 ($800 per section). Section eligibility and pairings determined strictly by US Chess Regular rating—no playing up. The tournament follows US Chess rules and is US-Chess-rated. 4DSS: 4 round Double Swiss (players play 2 games – one as white and one as black). G3 +2: 3-minutes base time with a 2-second increment added after each move. Players must bring a chess clock that supports time increment. If neither player brings a clock to the board, then both players will forfeit the round. US Chess will provide boards and pieces—but not clocks. 9:45 AM: announcements & review rules. All Invitational players are welcome to register for the free, optional Weeramantry Blitz tournament by filling out an online form, the link to which will be emailed to them. No onsite signups.

Prizes for each of the 5 sections: Gift Certificates for the U.S. Open Chess Store

• 1^st    $240
• 2^nd    $200
• 3^rd    $160
• 4^th    $120
• 5^th    $80

If there is a tie, then the prize will go to the highest finisher based on tiebreaks (1. Modified Median, 2. Solkoff, 3. Cumulative, and 4. Cumulative of Opposition); the prize will not be split.

SPONSORS

The primary sponsors are US Chess: GM Maurice Ashley K-3 Fund, US Chess John D. Rockefeller IV Scholarship Fund, John D. Rockefeller V, and US Chess.

TRAVEL & ACCOMMODATIONS

Players are responsible for arranging and financing their travel and accommodations. Players sharing rooms should make their arrangements carefully, as neither US Chess, nor the tournament sponsors are responsible for any consequences arising from such arrangements. Please note that registration in a hotel room requires the presence of a person at least 21 years old.

CONTACT INFORMATION & CONFIRMATION OF PARTICIPATION

US Chess will email to each state a link to an online nomination form that must be completed by June 1. Soon thereafter US Chess will contact parents, who are required to confirm a player’s participation.

INFORMATION FOR ACCOMMODATION REQUESTS

Consistent with the Guidelines for Accessible Chess Events, requests for reasonable accommodations during the event should be made 2-3 weeks before the event. Requests for accommodations made on site will be handled to the best of our ability. All requests should be made to Click here to show email address.

QUESTIONS?

Contact the Chair of the US Chess’ National State Invitationals Committee, Mike Nietman, at Click here to show email address or 608.467.8510 (landline; no texting) prior to Sunday, August 2.

If a tournament-related situation arises that is not covered by the text above, then it will be resolved by the Chair of the US Chess’ National State Invitationals Committee.