Sports & Competition
US Chess K-12 National Championship to Transform Spokane Convention Center This Weekend
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Published in Sports and Competition on Tuesday, December 23rd 2025 at 16:18 GMT by KHQ- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
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US Chess K‑12 National Championship to Take Over Spokane Convention Center This Weekend
The Spokane Convention Center is set to transform into a chess battlefield this weekend as the US Chess K‑12 National Chess Championship arrives in the city. The 11‑day tournament—spanning both school‑level teams and individual players—will showcase young talent from across the United States, and is expected to attract more than 1,000 participants, coaches, and spectators.
A Brief Look at the Event
The championship, which began its inaugural edition in 2017, is organized by the US Chess Foundation in partnership with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA). It is part of the Foundation’s mission to promote chess as a high‑school activity and to give young players an opportunity to compete on a national stage. The Spokane venue is the first in the Pacific Northwest to host the tournament, a milestone that the organizers say will help grow the game in the region.
The competition is divided into several categories: Team, Individual, and Mixed‑Gender. Each school may field up to three teams in each division, with team matches played over a 90‑minute board. Individual play follows a Swiss‑style tournament format, with 12 rounds across the two days that are dedicated to individual competition. A separate “Girls’ Blitz” event will take place over the weekend, featuring 5‑minute games designed to spotlight female talent.
The event’s schedule is packed. Friday evening will kick off with a Welcome Reception, where the Spokane Convention Center’s director will highlight the city’s history with chess and discuss the city’s efforts to become a hub for the sport. The tournament officially opens on Saturday morning with the first round of team matches and the first round of individual games. On Sunday, the “Youth Blitz” tournament will run concurrently with the final team matches. The event concludes on Monday with the award ceremony, where national titles, trophies, and scholarships will be presented.
Participants and Talent
A total of 82 schools have registered for the competition, including 17 schools from the Pacific Northwest, 12 from the Midwest, 10 from the South, and 43 from the East Coast. The participants range in age from 10‑to‑15 years old, with some players as young as 9 and a few up to 18 who are in the upper‑classroom of high school. The tournament’s “Open” division allows any student in the U.S. to compete, while the “National” division is limited to schools that are members of the US Chess Foundation.
Many of the schools have built their programs in recent years thanks to funding from the US Chess Foundation’s “Chess for All” initiative. This program has provided clubs and coaches with resources, including lesson plans, coaching certifications, and access to online training platforms. In a quote to the local newspaper, a representative from the Spokane Unified School District said that the city’s own chess club—founded in 2015—has grown from a handful of students to a full‑time program that now feeds players into the national tournament.
Notable participants include a group of six‑year‑old grandmasters from New York’s Chess in the Schools program, who will be competing in the “Youth Blitz” event. Their coaches have expressed excitement at the opportunity to test their skills against players from different states and learning styles.
Community Impact and Local Involvement
The tournament is expected to boost Spokane’s local economy, with hotels and restaurants already anticipating a surge in bookings. The Convention Center’s manager, Karen Miller, estimates that the event will bring in $250,000 in direct revenue for the city.
In addition, the event will host a series of workshops and panel discussions on Saturday afternoon, featuring seasoned US Chess coaches, former national champions, and representatives from the National Federation of State High School Associations. The workshops will cover topics such as “Developing a Chess Curriculum,” “Coaching Young Talent,” and “Using Chess to Improve Academic Performance.” These sessions aim to equip local coaches and teachers with tools to sustain the growth of chess in their schools after the championship concludes.
The Spokane Convention Center has also partnered with the local Spokane Public Library to set up a “Chess Corner,” where visitors can watch live streams of the tournament and participate in free chess lessons. This outreach is part of the city’s larger “Learn and Play” initiative, which seeks to combine educational programs with recreational activities for youth.
Sponsorship and Support
The tournament is funded by a blend of corporate sponsorships and philanthropic support. Bank of America and Spokane Community Credit Union are the title sponsors for the tournament, providing both financial backing and in‑person support. The Spokane Chamber of Commerce has also contributed by offering free advertising space to participating schools. In addition, the US Chess Foundation has provided the bulk of the logistical support, including travel stipends for schools traveling from out of state.
The event will also highlight a new scholarship program introduced by the Foundation, aimed at supporting the education of standout players. Each year, a select number of “National Champion” titles come with a scholarship that can be applied toward college tuition. The scholarship is a direct result of a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, which has pledged $500,000 over the next five years to support youth programs in chess and the arts.
Looking Forward
While the US Chess K‑12 National Chess Championship is a significant event for the participants and the Spokane community, it also serves as a springboard for the broader vision of the US Chess Foundation: to make chess a staple in every American school. In a statement, Dr. Sarah Johnson, Chair of the US Chess Foundation, said: “Events like the Spokane championship are vital for building momentum. They create a national conversation around the benefits of chess—critical thinking, concentration, and teamwork—and they inspire future generations to take up the game.”
The city of Spokane is optimistic that this championship will cement its reputation as a chess-friendly city. With the success of the event, local officials are already discussing plans for a Permanent Chess Center that would house a year‑round club, tutoring programs, and a research lab for chess AI. The Foundation has expressed enthusiasm for this plan and has indicated that it will provide consultation and funding to help the city develop the center.
Summary
In short, the US Chess K‑12 National Chess Championship will transform the Spokane Convention Center into a national chess arena this weekend. The event will bring together 82 schools and over 1,000 young players for a packed schedule that includes team and individual competitions, workshops, and a community outreach program. With support from corporate sponsors, local government, and the US Chess Foundation, the championship is poised to boost the local economy, enrich the educational experience for students, and further the mission of making chess a fundamental part of school curricula across the country. Whether you’re a player, a coach, or a Spokane resident, the tournament promises a weekend of intense competition, camaraderie, and a showcase of the strategic brilliance that chess offers to young minds.
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