Going National: Previewing the K-12 Grade Championships

With more than 2,700 players across 13 sections, this weekend’s 2024 K-12 Grade Championships in National Harbor, Maryland, promise to do more than just break records.

The 2024 K-12 is the largest in history, and there’s an event list to match. From bughouse to blitz, with ChessKid and a guest GM, there will be something in National Harbor for everyone.

Some of America’s best scholastic players will be in attendance, hoping to take home a national title. Top seeds include IMs Eric Chang Liu, Ming Lu, Evan Park, and Liran Zhou; FMs Erick Zhao and Isaac Wang, and dozens of masters and experts.

Headquarters for parents and friends is the “Skittles Room,” found in Prince George’s Exhibit AB. It’s a chess player’s paradise! The Chess Store is there, with books and clocks. You can buy a K-12 T-shirt to take home and impress your friends, and see the traveling “POW! Capturing Superheroes, Chess and Comics!” exhibit courtesy of the World Chess Hall of Fame and the U.S. Chess Trust! Learn more about it in the December issue of Chess Life Kids.

Girls and their families will want to visit the Girls Club, found in Chesapeake 1-3. GM Irina Krush is the special guest!

GM Irina Krush (photo courtesy SLCC / Ootes)

The Girls Club will be open Thursday through Sunday, but check on-site for hours and more details.

For more on what to do at the K-12s, here’s a day-by-day listing of events. The full schedule of events is available here.

THURSDAY

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

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 30 lucky players will warm up with a special event at 9 a.m. in the Cherry Blossom Foyer. GM Rashad Babaev will offer a simultaneous exhibition! While you must have signed up in advance to participate, everyone is welcome to come and watch.

Babaev's simul at the 2023 NHS (photo Caroline King)

Maybe you like solving puzzles as part of your tournament preparation. If so, come to the ChessKid Problem Solving Tournament at 10 a.m. in the Cherry Blossom Ballroom! You’ll have a chance to show your skills and maybe win some swag in the process!

In between the simul and the puzzles, there’s a seminar for first-time tournament players at 9:30 a.m. in Prince George’s Exhibit AB.

For parents, friends, and players whose games end early, check out the “All Comers Blitz” with Babaev at 2 p.m. or his lecture at 4:15 p.m. Both are held in Prince George’s Exhibit AB.

SATURDAY

Parents who push pawns should consider the “Friends and Family” tournament that begins 10:30 a.m. in Baltimore 1-2. You’ll play four games, all on Saturday, and be done in time for dinner.

GM Babaev will be back with another lecture and more “All Comers Blitz” action in Prince George’s Exhibit AB. The lecture is at 11:30 a.m., while the blitz kicks off 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 the Prince George’s Exhibit AB with IA Brian Yang. You’ll learn the nuts and bolts of taking your game global!

Friends and fans will want to check out the livestream of top boards beginning with Saturday night’s fifth round. WGM Sabina Foisor and NM Robert Ramirez will cover all the action in Grades 2-12 on the US Chess Twitch stream beginning at 6 p.m. Eastern!

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 Foisor and Ramirez. Be sure to visit our Twitch channel and follow every move!

There will also be one more “All Comers Blitz” with GM Babaev at 2 p.m. in Prince George’s Exhibit AB.

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 the Cherry Blossom Ballroom, while the winners in grades 2-12 will meet at 6 p.m. in the Potomac Ballroom. We’ll announce all of our honorees on CLO on Sunday night!