| 2026 IESA Chess State Tournament Set for Peoria
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The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) is excited to announce that over 850 students from 70 member schools will compete in the 15th annual IESA Chess State Tournament, taking place at the Peoria Civic Center on February 27 – February 28, 2026. This highly anticipated event promises to showcase the talent and determination of young chess players from across the state.
Competing in three divisions- 6th grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade- each school may enter up to 10 individuals per division. The tournament will utilize a Medley Team Swiss System format, accommodating players of varying skill levels. Participants will engage in an impressive eight rounds of play throughout the competition.
The tournament kicks off on Friday, February 27, with the first round starting at 10 a.m., followed by rounds starting at approximately 12:15 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:45 p.m., and 5:30 p.m. On Saturday, February 28, play resumes at 9:00 a.m. with subsequent rounds scheduled at approximately 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Results for each round will be updated on the IESA website as they become available. The tournament schedule may be found at this link: https://www.iesa.org/activities/chs/IESA-CHS_Schedule.pdf
An awards ceremony will conclude the tournament on Saturday at approximately 2:45 p.m., where individual and team awards will be presented for all three divisions. The complete tournament schedule can be accessed at: https://www.iesa.org/activities/chs/IESA-CHS_Schedule.pdf.
In 2025, Lincolnshire Daniel Wright captured the team title in the 6th- and 7th-grade divisions, while Bloomington Evans clinched the team title in the 8th-grade division. The rankings are determined by the cumulative scores of the top five scorers from each team, with the top four teams in each division earning state trophies.
Notable past champions include Alex Zhou from Lincolnshire Daniel Wright, who secured the 7th grade title in 2025 with a perfect score of 8.0 points, giving him back-to-back state titles. Alexander Pan, the 6th grade champion also from Lincolnshire Daniel Wright, attempts to continue his legacy as he moves up to the 7th grade division after winning the 6th grade title in 2025.
Admission to the event is free, making it accessible for families and chess enthusiasts alike.
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