Scholastic chess · Direct entry
US Chess open scholastic nationals
National Elementary, Middle School, High School and K–12 Grade championships offer an open-entry route to national competition.
Who it’s for: School-age players; grade and section rules vary
Your first step
Choose the championship and section that match your grade and rating, then use its official registration page.
Open official guideThe route
Choose an eligible section
Read the current scholastic regulations and event announcement.
Register for the championship
Open nationals do not require a state invitational nomination. Entry and membership requirements still apply.
Compete at nationals
Play in the section you entered; this is separate from the state-champion invitationals.
Before you commit: Open entry does not mean every section is eligible for every player or that entry is free. Check the current edition before booking travel.
Sources and review · 2026-10-20
Organizer: US Chess. Causey’s summary is a starting point; the organizer decides eligibility, selection and current availability.