Middle schoolers, we hear you! Chess is for everyone, especially for rising teens. We are grateful for your response and strong passion for wanting to go to the ChessKid National Festival. And now you can! The festival is now open to K-8th graders! Get ready to showcase your brilliant skills and love of chess.
Speed is the name of the game—grab those tickets before they vanish like a sneaky pawn.
Register Now Before the Deadline!
In partnership with the Charlotte Chess Center, the ChessKid National Festival is ChessKid's first-ever over-the-board event for K-8th grade players, taking place in Charlotte, NC, during President's Day Weekend, February 16-19, 2024.
This four-day weekend chess celebration allows kids to participate in real-life chess tournaments, compete and win memorable prizes, including medals, trophies, and merch, and experience the game with family and friends. Outside of the chess events, there will be tons of family-friendly activities, including face paintings, balloon animals, pie-throwing, and more!
In addition to all the fun activities, kids will get to meet and play against popular chess personalities, including FunMasterMike (FM Mike Klein), GothamChess (IM Levy Rozman), IM Danny Rensch, WGM Jennifer Shahade, FM James Canty, GM Daniel Naroditsky, and more!
The popular chess-streaming duo, the Botez Sisters, will also be tagging along, looking for a well-matched opponent.
Kids are intimidating, but we are ready to take them on and teach them a lesson 😉
—Alexandra and Andrea Botez
Anticipate a world filled with exciting chess activities— We're talking K-8 tournaments, blitz, bughouse, puzzles, simuls, and more! Experience first-hand NEW chess events, such as Hula Chess, Puzzle Bee, and Fencing Chess.
How cool would it be to learn, play, and challenge a two-time U.S. Women's Chess Champion and Woman Grandmaster (WGM)? Attend WGM Jen Shahade's one-hour VIP lectures and take on the chess master in a thrilling simultaneous exhibition (simul).
Photo courtesy of Impact Coaching Network (ICN) / Shahade playing a simul with kids.
Feel the rush of competing with other players in an adrenaline-filled environment. This is a unique opportunity to test your skills and learn from one of the best in the game!
On Sunday, Feb. 11th at 8:00 AM Pacific / 11:00 AM Eastern, all VIP ticket holders can attend an online-exclusive masterclass hosted by FunMasterMike with one of the greatest chess players of all time, GM Judit Polgár.
Play against the legendary FunMasterMike (the voice of ChessKid) and other VIPs, including Danny Rensch (CCO of Chess.com), James Canty, and more.
Compete in Danny's new Puzzle Bee challenge and join a thrilling blitz battle and simul with other VIP kids. Capture the moments with a picture session featuring FunMasterMike and Danny to create memories that will last a lifetime!
Experience the first-ever cross-over of Fencing and Chess! Watch incredibly skilled 13-year-old sabre fencers in action, combined with an insane game of chess.
Enjoy a live band performance from "Benjamin Blundercheck & The Poisoned Pawn" on Saturday, Feb. 17th. Jam out to their new album of chess music while playing over the board.
Hurry and get your tickets before they're gone. VIP tickets are quickly selling out!
Includes everything in the Standard package PLUS:
Join us on Social Friday night, February 16th, 5:30-7 pm, for a thrilling evening with other VIP players, led by GothamChess, known as the internet's chess teacher with fans from all over the world. Compete against other players, show off your chess skills, and improve your game!
See you in Charlotte!