San Diego Scholastic Chess Tournament – October 17, 2026

Liberty Grace Academy & Chess Champs Academy October Scholastic USCF Rated Chess Tournament

Looking for a San Diego chess tournament for kids? Chess Champs Academy and Liberty Grace Academy are excited to host our October Scholastic Chess Tournament on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Liberty Grace Academy in Liberty Station, San Diego.

This is a USCF-rated scholastic chess tournament open to students in grades K–12 with a USCF rating under 1400. Players of different experience levels are welcome, making this a great opportunity for young chess players to compete, gain valuable over-the-board experience, and have fun playing chess.

Tournament Details

Date: Saturday, October 17, 2026

Location:
Liberty Grace Academy
2590 Truxtun Road, Suite 201, Building 176
San Diego, CA 92106

Located in Liberty Station near the LOT Movie Theater.

Hosted by: Liberty Grace Academy & Chess Champs Academy

Contact: Navid Bajoghli
info@chesschampsacademy.com

Who Can Participate?

This tournament is open to scholastic chess players in grades K–12 who are rated under 1400 USCF.

All players must have a current U.S. Chess Federation membership.

If your child does not currently have a USCF membership, you can sign up through the U.S. Chess Federation before registering for the tournament.

Tournament Sections

Players will compete in one of two sections:

Elite Section
The Elite Section will consist of approximately the top 12–20 highest-rated players. The exact number of players in the Elite Section will depend on the number of entries.

Open Section
The Open Section is for all other eligible players.

This format gives players an opportunity to compete against opponents with similar levels of tournament experience and rating.

Tournament Format

  • 4-round Swiss system

  • USCF rated

  • Time control: G/30 d5

  • Approximately 1 hour per game

  • Trophies awarded for each section

  • Registration limited to 50 players

The tournament will follow standard U.S. Chess Federation tournament rules.

Tournament Schedule

1:30–1:55 PM – Check-in

2:00 PM – Opening announcements & Round 1

3:00 PM – Round 2

4:00 PM – Round 3

5:00 PM – Round 4

6:00 PM – Awards Ceremony

Please note that this is a tentative schedule. We will begin the next round as soon as all games in a section have finished, so the tournament may finish earlier than 6:00 PM.

Entry Fees

$30 – Register by October 11

$35 – Register by October 16

$40 – Late registration, if spots are available

Registration is limited to 50 players, and there will be no on-site registration. Please register online by Friday, October 16.

Register for the Tournament

Ready to compete?

Register for the October 17 San Diego Scholastic Chess Tournament

We encourage families to register early since space is limited to 50 players.

What Players Can Expect

Our goal is to provide a fun, competitive, and welcoming tournament environment for young chess players in San Diego.

Chess tournaments are a great way for students to:

  • Gain valuable over-the-board tournament experience

  • Practice thinking under time pressure

  • Improve calculation and decision-making

  • Develop concentration and patience

  • Learn how to handle both wins and losses

  • Meet other young chess players

  • Build confidence through competition

Whether your child is playing in their first rated tournament or has already competed in several San Diego scholastic chess tournaments, we look forward to welcoming them!

Rules & Sportsmanship

Players are expected to follow U.S. Chess Federation tournament rules and demonstrate good sportsmanship throughout the event.

Important reminders include:

  • No talking during games.

  • Tap the chess clock with the same hand used to make your move.

  • Shake hands before and after each game.

  • Be respectful toward opponents, tournament staff, and other participants.

  • If you have a question or dispute during a game, raise your hand and a tournament director will assist.

Touch-Move Rule

Players should be familiar with the touch-move rule before participating.

  • If you touch one of your pieces, you must move it if there is a legal move.

  • If you touch an opponent's piece and can legally capture it, you must capture it.

  • If you need to adjust a piece on the board, say “I adjust” before touching it.

  • Illegal moves may result in a time penalty and must be corrected according to tournament rules.

Join Us for a San Diego Chess Tournament!

Chess Champs Academy and Liberty Grace Academy look forward to welcoming young chess players from San Diego and the surrounding communities for an exciting afternoon of competitive scholastic chess.

If your child enjoys chess and is looking for an opportunity to play in a USCF-rated chess tournament in San Diego, we hope to see you on October 17!

Space is limited to 50 players, so early registration is recommended.

We look forward to seeing everyone at Liberty Station!

Chess Champs Academy

Think Ahead, Learn to Problem Solve, and Have Fun! 



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