Halloween Chess Tournament to haunt Madison City Stadium on Oct. 31
MADISON – Players can register now for the 2026 MCCL Halloween Chess Tournament, which will haunt the stands and field at Madison City Schools Stadium on the spookiest day of the year – Oct. 31 for Halloween.
The tournament will open at 9:45 a.m., giving the contestants plenty of time to return to their crypts and prepare for a frightening evening of trick-or-treating shenanigans. Madison City Chess League or MCCL presents this event each year.
Sullins Eye Care Center is tournament sponsor. “Thank you to Dr. Steve Sullins and Sullins Eye Care Center for sponsoring the Halloween Chess Tournament again this year. You can find the Madison location at 104 Gin Oaks Court. If you see Dr. Sullins, tell him how much we appreciate his support,” MCCL Executive Director Todd Guthrie said.
The tournament’s Rated Sections will include kindergarten through grade 3 or K-3; K-5; and K-12. For Rated Sections, players must have US Chess membership. For a membership, visit madisonchess. com, and click the “Events” menu. Click “Upcoming Events,” and then click “2024 Halloween Tournament.”
The Non-Rated Sections that will be available are K-3 and K-8.
A mandatory meeting for players will open the tournament at 9:45 a.m. Approximate times for the rounds will be 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:10 p.m. and 1:10 p.m. Time Control will be Game 20/d5.
Registration fee is $20 for MCCL members. The fee is $30 for players who are not MCCL members. Register online at madisonchess. com. Click “Events” in the pulldown menu, and then click “Upcoming Events.” Click the “2026 Halloween Chess Tournament” section, and complete the registration details.
Contestants will play chess outside on the stadium’s turf. “We will have a Halloween costume contest. The kids will wear their Halloween costumes while they play,” Guthrie said.
Prize categories will include “Best Mask;” “Scariest Gloves;” “Best Chess-Themed Costume,” such as a knight, rook, bishop or other image related to the game; and “Most Creative Costume,” which must show originality in its design but does not have to follow a chess theme. A tradition for this tournament has been the Halloween Dance-Off; the tournament players will show their moves to kooky, spooky music.
Registration deadline will be Oct. 28 at 8 p.m.
Awards will go to players in all sections who claim first through fifth places in tournament play.
For more information, email mccl.director@ gmail.com, or visit Facebook/Madison City Chess League or madisonchess.com/ events/1200/2026-halloween-chess-tournament-1031.
