Registration open for 2026 Winter Knights Scholastic
MADISON – To open the 2026 tournament schedule, the 2026 Winter Knights Scholastic Chess Tournament is accepting registration from contestants.
Columbia Elementary School at 667 Balch Road in Madison will host Winter Knights on Jan. 10, 2026.
“Winter Knights offers grade-level Rated sections and a Non-Rated section for grades K-5. Rated players (and unrated players who are ready to play for a rating) must register in their grade-level section,” Todd Guthrie said. Guthrie serves as Executive Director of Madison City Chess League or MCCL.
Unrated players in grades K-5 can play in the Non-Rated section. “Be sure to renew your MCCL membership for 2026 (if you haven’t already) in a separate order before you register for Winter Knights so you will receive $10 off your registration fee,” Guthrie said.
To open the tournament, a players meeting will start at 9 a.m. Sections will be available for grades 11-12; grades 9-10; grades 7-8; grades 5-6; grades 3-4; grades K-2; and a Non-Rated section for grades K-5.
The tournament will have four rounds that start at 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Time Control will be G/45;d5.
Players in all Rated sections are required to have US Chess membership. To obtain US Chess membership online, visit new.uschess.org/ join-us-chess.
Entry fee for MCCL members in all sections is $20. A contestant who is not an MCCL member will pay $30. (MCCL annual memberships expire at the end of the calendar year.)
Deadline to register online with madisonchess.com is 8 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2026. On-site registration will not be available.
At the awards ceremony, contestants in the Rated sections will receive individual trophies for first, second and third places. Contestants will receive individual medals for fourth, fifth and sixth places.
For the Non-Rated section for grades K-5, contestants will receive individual medals for first through sixth places.
In other news, MCCL is soliciting Executive Board applications from interested individuals (MCCL’s email newsletter has a link to an application form). Anyone interested in helping MCCL succeed is welcome to apply.
In addition, individuals with experience in organizational management, non-profit governance, non-profit fundraising or accounting should contact MCCL. The league also needs volunteers with experience in planning or running events.
For more information, email mccl. director@gmail.com, or visit madisonchess. com.
