2025 National K-12 Grade Championships Preview

The Spokane, WA official city motto is, "In Spokane, we all belong," which is perfect for the 2025 National K-12 Grade Championships, taking place this weekend, Dec. 11-14 in the Lilac City. This will be the annual event's first time on the West Coast since 1992 — and its first time further west than Texas since 2011 — making the tournament more accessible to a cross-section of new scholastic players competing in their first national event and more seasoned veterans alike. 

The list of 1,350+ players currently registered includes some of America’s best scholastic players. Top seeds include Pennsylvania's IM Erick Zhao (11th grade), New York's FM Aditeya Das (NY, 9th grade), Virginia's Kent Slate (12th grade), and Washington's own FM Stephen John Willy (10th grade). In total, 20 players rated 2200 or higher are registered, with the youngest masters in attendance being a pair of seventh-graders from opposite coasts: Elliott Goodrich (NY) and Vidip Kumar Kona (WA). 

Whether you're making the trip to Spokane or following along from home, the weekend is full of events and entertainment you won't want to miss. The full schedule can be found here, the streaming schedule is here, and read on for each day's highlights. 

All Weekend

All seven rounds of the main event will be covered live on our Twitch channel with live commentary courtesy of 2017 U.S. Women's Champion WGM Sabina Foisor. Stop by, drop a comment, and cheer for your favorite player. 

Image

Keep an eye out each day for a recap on Chess Life Online featuring highlights from your faithful reporter and Sabina's favorite moments from each round's top boards. 

Image

Plus, if you're on site, stop by the Girls Club Room each day Friday through Sunday for events, game analysis, and more with special guest WGM Zoey Tang. 

Finally, keep an eye out for Silver Knights Chess Academy's booth, which will be in the skittles room all weekend. Get some free game analysis and a free month of online classes, too! Read more about the Academy, which offers between 100 and 120 online classes a week and produced 11 state scholastic champions this year alone, over on Chess Life Online. 

Thursday

Thursday sees the ever-popular Bughouse Tournament (11 a.m., all times PST) and two Blitz Championships beginning at 5 p.m. Both events are held in Exhibit Hall A – the site of the main event for grades 2-12.

Plus, it's not too late to register for the National Puzzle Solving Championship, presented in partnership with ChessKid. Register online, then join us at 3 p.m. in Room 300A. Learn more about this event, including details about some special guests, on ChessKid.

Friday

Most players will begin their day on Friday with their first Championship games at 1 p.m. (grades 2-12) and 1:30 p.m. (grades K-1), but a few lucky players will warm up with a special event at 9 a.m. in Exhibit Hall C. GM Magesh Panchanathan will offer a simultaneous exhibition, and NM Bryan Tillis will be offering a charity simul alongside him. Anyone who beats Tillis gets a special prize, and anybody who beats Panchanathan gets to brag about beating a grandmaster for the rest of their life. 

While Panchanathan's simul is full, everyone is welcome to come and watch, and it's not too late to support US Chess's Title I Program by registering for the charity simul.

There's also a seminar for first-time tournament players at 9:30 a.m. in Room 401B. Then, join us at 12:30 p.m. in Exhibit Hall A for the opening ceremony!

For parents, friends, and players whose games end early, check out the “All Comers Blitz” with ChessKid's FunMasterMike (FM Mike Klein) at 2 p.m. and Panchanathan's lecture at 4:30 p.m. in Room 401B. 

Saturday

Parents who push pawns should consider the “Friends and Family” tournament that begins 10:30 a.m. in Room 401A. You’ll play four games, all on Saturday, and be done in time for dinner.

GM Michael Rohde will be giving a lecture at 11:30 a.m. in Room 401B, and he is sticking around for more “All Comers Blitz” action in Exhibit Room C beginning at 2:30 p.m. If you’ve never played a GM, this is your chance!

For families considering international youth competitions, there’s a seminar at 10 a.m. in Room 401B. You’ll learn the nuts and bolts of taking your game global! Also check out the scholastic meeting at 1:45 p.m. in the same room to learn more about how to get involved with scholastic chess. 

Sunday

The stakes will be high on Championship Sunday! Round six starts at 9 a.m. for grades 2-12, and 9:30 a.m. for the K-1 players. K-1 begins at 1:30 p.m. for the seventh and final round of play, while grades 2-12 begin play at 2 p.m.

US Chess will continue its streaming coverage of the top boards in grades 2-12 with Sabina. Be sure to visit our Twitch channel and follow every move!

At 9:15 a.m., parents and coaches should come by Room 401B for "From Munchkin to Master: How to help your child take the next step." Parents face many challenges helping their kids improve BOTH their chess skills and their love of the game. Join NM Adam Weissbarth, a coach of two national scholastic champions, to learn about his chess improvement story and about how to guide your child through the next steps on their chess journey.

There will also be one more “All Comers Blitz” with GM Rohde at 2 p.m. in Exhibit Hall C.

Team and individual winners should remember to attend the awards ceremonies. Grade K-1 champions will get their hardware at 5:30 p.m. in Exhibit Hall B2, while the winners in grades 2-12 will meet at 6 p.m. in Exhibit Hall A. We’ll announce all of our honorees on CLO on Sunday night!