Tournaments for youth players
Over-the-board tournaments
The second Saturday of every month, we have an over-the-board tournament just for youth players! Everyone can play every round, and no one gets eliminated. The top 5 finishers get a trophy, and everyone else gets a medal.
Online tournaments
Mechanics' Institute sponsors online chess tournaments through ChessKid! Players can experience the thrill of tournament play in the comfort of their home on a chess website designed for kids first.
Frequently asked questions
How does my child get a rating?
Play in a rated tournament! After their first tournament, players will get a provisional rating based on their performance. Provisional ratings can change a lot, so don't worry about it too much. After 26 games the rating will be "established" but can still change a lot, especially for young players.
When you win, your rating goes up. When you lose, your rating goes down. When you draw, your rating goes up or down depending on whether your opponent was higher or lower rated than you.
To play in a rated tournament, players must be US Chess Federation members. You can learn more on the US Chess membership site.
Do we need to bring anything to the tournament?
Mechanics' Institute provides everything you need to play from clocks, to boards, to notation sheets. Come on time and have fun!
Does my child need to write down their moves? Is notation required?
Notation is optional in our scholastic tournaments, but it is an important skill to learn if players want to improve!