U.S. Space & Rocket Center getting ready for Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship

MADISON – Youth can register now for the 2026 Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship.

The state scholastic’s venue will be the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in the Space Camp Operations Building at 1 Tranquility Base in Huntsville on March 7-8.

“The Alabama Chess Federation is running the State Scholastic Championship. Madison City Chess League or MCCL is hosting, with the help of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center and our Presenting Sponsor, Cepeda Systems & Software Analysis. Please put this event on your calendar,” MCCL Executive Director Todd Guthrie said.

In addition, Guthrie is serving as Chief Tournament Director for the championship.

The event will have four Championship sections and four Under sections. The four Championship sections will play a twoday schedule. The Under sections will play a oneday schedule.

The two-day schedule will have these sections:

• High School Championship — Grades 9-12, Rating 1,100+.

• Middle School Championship — Grades 6-8, Rating 900+.

• Elementary Championship — Grades 4-5, Rating 600+.

• Primary Championship — Grades K-3.

These sections will play three rounds on March 7 and two on March 8. Time control will be G/90, d5 for the High School, Middle School and Elementary Championship sections and G/60, d5 for the Primary Championship. Officials may abbreviate the schedule in very small sections. These sections are limited to Alabama residents, because Alabama representatives will enter the Denker, Barber, Rockefeller and Ashley tournaments from these sections.

The one-day schedule will have these sections:

• High School Under 1,300 — Grades K-12, Under 1,300 or Unrated.

• Middle School Under 1,100 — Grades K-8, Under 1,100 or Unrated.

• Elementary Under 700 — Grades K-5, Under 700 or Unrated.

• Primary Under 400 Grades K-3, Under 400 or Unrated.

These Under sections will play five rounds on March 7. The time control will be G/30, d5. These sections are open to scholastic chess players from other states.

Through Feb. 27, registration fee will be $40 per player for the Championship sections and $35 per player for the Under sections. Those registration fees will increase to $80 and $70, respectively, on Feb. 28.

Registration will be open until 11:59 p.m. on March 4. Registration after March 4 and on-site registration will not be available.

Each player must have US Chess membership. To purchase or renew US Chess membership, visit the US Chess website at new.uschess.org/join-uschess.

Each player who lives in Alabama also must have an Alabama Chess Federation or ACF membership. To purchase or renew ACF membership, visit the ACF website at alabamachess. org/sign-up.

For any player who cannot register online or has questions about this championship, email todd.guthrie@ alabamachess.org.

Registration will end on March 4. Players must be entering preschool through 12 grades.

For more information, email todd.guthrie@alabamachess. org, or visit alabamachess. org.