2024 National Elementary School (K-6) Championship Preview!

This weekend, April 26 through 28, the US Chess National Elementary School (K-6) Championship takes place in Columbus, Ohio! This national event features some of the best scholastic chess players in the United States and US Chess is proud to host this exciting event.

First thing’s first, registration is still open until 11:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 25. If you have not registered, please visit the event page and register online. There will be no on-site registration.

Now, here are a few selections from the schedule of events that you can look forward to at the 2024 National Elementary School (K-6) Championship!

Special Guest Grandmasters Mesgen Amanov and Irina Krush

US Chess is proud to welcome guest grandmasters Mesgen Amanov and Irina Krush to the National Elementary School Championship! GM Amanov is a renowned instructor based in Illinois.

GM Krush is an eight-time U.S. Women's champion, teacher, and, most recently, FIDE's official commentator for the 2024 FIDE Candidates. The pair will be on-site for many special events throughout the weekend, including a bughouse session!

See if you've got what it takes to beat GM Amanov at the "Take-on-all-Comers" Blitz sessions on Friday at 4 p.m. and Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
See if you’ve got what it takes to beat GM Krush at the “Take-on-all-Comers” Blitz sessions on Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Come see if there really is strength in numbers as GMs Amanov and Krush host a special 30-board tandem simul exhibition on Friday at 9 a.m.
Come and learn from the best with four Grandmaster Lectures with Q&A. GM Amanov will host lectures Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. GM Krush's lectures will be Friday at 4:15 p.m. and Saturday at 11 a.m.
Finally, see if you and a friend can take down GMs Amanov and Krush at the "Take-on-all-Comers" Bughouse session on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Girls Club Events and Special Guests

All female players with their families and coaches are invited to the US Chess Girls Club room to take part in special events throughout the weekend. Special guest FM/WIM Maggie Feng and Dr. Alexey Root, WIM will join in for game analyses, lectures, and more!

Blitz and Bughouse Tournaments

Anything can happen during Blitz and Bughouse, which is why it's such an exciting part of our national events! Be sure to sign up for (or stop in to see) the thrilling, fast-moving action.

Blitz tournament will be Thursday, April 25 at 5 p.m. Entry fee is $60 online until 2 p.m. and on-site until 4 p.m.
Bughouse will be Thursday, April 25 at 11 a.m. Entry is $30 per two-player team, register on-site between 9 and 10 a.m.

Friends and Family Chess Tournament

Not competing in the K-6 but still love to play chess? Join other parents, grandparents, and friends for a special Friends and Family Tournament on Saturday. Four rounds of G/30 games in rated and unrated sections. Join the fun! Registration will be open until 10 a.m. day-of, and the entry fee is $30.

Watch Live on Twitch and Follow Along on CLO

US Chess will be broadcasting live commentary and analysis from our Twitch channel for rounds five through seven. First broadcasts begin at 6 p.m. EDT on Saturday with special guest commentators GM Kayden Troff and WGM Sabina Foisor, who will provide insights and connect all the critical moves for the top boards. Give us a follow, subscribe, and watch live at www.twitch.tv/USChess.

Learn more about our streamers by reading their "My Best Move" features from the Chess Life archives. Kayden's, from May 2015, is available here, and Sabina's, from September 2017, is here.

And of course, there will be amazing chess in the playing hall among the 1,579 (and counting!) competitors. We look forward to seeing you in Columbus (or on our Twitch stream) and will be keeping you updated about the 2024 National Elementary School (K-6) Championship on Twitter with the hashtag #ElemChessChamps and here, at Chess Life Online with daily recaps.