National High School (K-12) Championship Preview!

This weekend, April 7-10, the US Chess National High School (K-12) Championship takes place in Memphis, TN! 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. If you have not registered, please visit the event page and register online. On-site prices will be slightly higher than pre-registering.

Now, here are a few things you can look forward to at the 2022 National High School (K-12) Championship!

Special Guest Grandmaster Benjamin Finegold

Maybe you’ve seen him on Twitch or YouTube, but now you can see him live! Two-time U.S. Open Champion and two-time National Open Champion GM Benjamin Finegold will be bringing his immense chess talent and personality to Memphis for many special sessions throughout the weekend.

See if you’ve got the blitz chops to beat “The People’s Grandmaster” at the “Take-on-all-Comers” Blitz sessions on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Come see if there really is strength in numbers as GM Finegold hosts a special 30-board simul exhibition on Friday, April 7 at 9 a.m.
Come and learn a thing or two (or three!) at GM Finegold’s Grandmaster Lectures with Q&A on Saturday, April 8 at 11:30 a.m. and Sunday, April 9 at 10 a.m.

Girls Club Events and Special Guests

US Chess Women’s Program Director Jennifer Shahade invites all female players with their families and coaches to the US Chess Girls Club with a series of special events throughout the weekend. Special guests WFM Devina Davagharan, WIM Luciana Mendoza, Epiphany Peters, and Karen Boyd will all be making appearances for games, discussions and more! See our program for the full schedule.

Blitz and Bughouse Tournaments

We all know the wildest chess happens during Blitz and Bughouse! Be sure to sign-up for (or stop in to see) the heart-pounding, fast-moving action.

Blitz tournament will be Thursday, April 7 at 5 p.m. Entry fee is $40, on-site until 2 p.m.
Bughouse will be Thursday, April 7 at 11 a.m. Entry is $25 per two-player team, on-site between 9-10 a.m.

Friends and Family Chess Tournament

Not competing in the K-12 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 in and unrated sections. Entry fee is only $30 on-site. Join the fun!

Watch Live on Twitch

Not going to be there but want to stay up on action? US Chess will be broadcasting live commentary and analysis from our Twitch channel for rounds 5 through 7. First broadcasts begin at 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT on Saturday with special guest commentators FM Gauri Shankar and WGM Sabina-Francesca Foisor, who will make sense of the 64-squares and connect all the critical moves for the top boards. Give us a follow and watch live at www.twitch.tv/USChess.

And of course, there will be amazing chess in the playing hall among the 1,028 (and counting!) competitors. We look forward to seeing you in Memphis (or on our Twitch stream) and will be keeping you updated about the 2022 National High School (K-12) Championship on Twitter and here, at Chess Life Online.

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