The US Chess SuperNationals VIII: A Comprehensive Guide
In May 2025, young chess players from all over the United States will converge on Orlando, Florida for US Chess SuperNationals VIII. Combining several styles of competitive chess with fun events and appearances by chess celebrities, this super-sized event is not one to miss!
Our guide will familiarize you with the event, provide some useful tips for your trip, and give you the links you need to be prepared.
Event Overview
The US Chess SuperNationals combines the Elementary, Middle, and High School National Championships into one Junior Grand Prix tournament. The tournament changes locations each time it’s held, making it possible for chess kids all over the country to attend. SuperNationals has been held every four years since 1997 (though SuperNationals VII was cancelled due to the global pandemic). Because this is the first tournament since 2017, kids from kindergarten to 7th grade will be experiencing this epic event for the first time.
Note: Prior to 1997, US Chess had three separate junior championships—elementary, middle, and high school tournaments. Due to overlap in the age ranges, it was possible for a young prodigy to win more than one tournament in the same year. Combining the tournaments eliminated this issue.
Special Guests at SuperNationals VIII
Big events draw big stars, and chess is no different. This year, SuperNationals will host WGM/IM Carissa Yip, GM Awonder Liang, WGM Tatev Abrahamyan, and GM Elshan Moradiabadi as special guests. Another exciting guest this year will be H1Chess (streamer DaVaun Williams), who will analyze select games of kids in Under 1300 sections live!
Daily Grandmaster lectures and all-comers blitz sessions are two ways your chess kid can get closer to these superstars of chess. A tandem GM simul exhibition on Friday morning will be entertaining and informative to watch. Your young player may run into one of their chess heroes at any time, so keep an eye out! (Hint: Don't overlook the Skittles room if you hope to see the GMs!)
For the full schedule of lectures, exhibitions, and learning opportunities, check out the official schedule.
The Main Event
The heart of the SuperNationals is the National Championship tournament. Championship sections are played for K-1, K-3, K-5, K-6, K-8, and K-12. There’s no rating requirement to compete for the championship, so these classes will have the most varied pairings. The tournament is a Swiss system format played in seven rounds over three days (Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11). The time control is G/90, d10 for all main event matches, meaning each player will get 90 minutes on their clock with a delay of 10 seconds after the other player hits their button. This is slow chess! Players should take their time contemplating their moves.
If your chess kid wants more predictable challengers, there are sections designated “Under ____” rating, allowing players to choose their level. Many players are tempted to “play up” in a bid for additional ratings points if they win. Be sure to balance the challenge with your chess kid’s skills and maturity. A day of being crushed because they’re overmatched isn’t great for learning or confidence. This can be a valuable opportunity for a player who is advancing quickly and craves the challenge, however.
For new players or those new to rated tournaments, there are Unrated sections that provide an opportunity to play against others who are also just starting out. These pairings may be more varied as well, because unrated doesn’t necessarily mean inexperienced. The best part? This tournament will count towards ratings!
US Chess reviews ratings when players are assigned to sections, so be sure to use the most current rating for your player. If you need to resection your player, you can, but it may require a small fee after April 14, 2025. If a ratings review causes US Chess to resection your player, you will be notified.
Bughouse, Blitz, and Puzzle Championships
Thursday, May 8, 2025, will be a busy day at SuperNationals! The Bughouse and Blitz Championships are held on Thursday, along with the all-new Puzzle Championship in partnership with ChessKid. Registration for Bughouse is only available onsite. Blitz registration can be done online or onsite. The Puzzle Championship is online registration only. Be sure to complete all the necessary online sign-ups as early as possible.
Bughouse, the exciting and sometimes chaotic partners variation, will be first up in the morning, with all sections playing at the same time. Blitz will take place Thursday evening. In between, there’s a new National Puzzle Championship in partnership with ChessKid. This inaugural event will have two sections, K-6 and 7-12. FM Mike Klein will be running the show, keeping it fun for everyone! The winners will take home the title “National Puzzle Champion.” If your player wants to compete, they must have a fully charged and internet-capable laptop. Make sure to take time before the competition to connect to the Wi-Fi network or show them how to do it themselves to avoid delays.
Who Can Go to SuperNationals?
The SuperNationals are open to everyone from kindergarten to 12th grade! Because there is an unrated section for all events, even beginning chess players can enter, as long as they are a member of the US Chess Federation. This is a true open tournament! There will be many children at SuperNationals competing solo, supported by their families. Many more will be traveling as part of chess clubs or school teams.
Registering for the National Championship online requires a few pieces of information. You’ll need the player’s US Chess Member ID and current grade/school. If the player has an over-the-board rating from any system other than US Chess, that rating must also be disclosed. Depending on the registration date, there is a sliding entry fee scale—earlier registrations save you money! If signing up for a US Chess membership is your first step, please note that it may take a few minutes for the player to appear in the system.
Travel and Practical Considerations
Traveling for chess tournaments is a lot like traveling for any sport. Chess kids need good sleep, plenty of snacks, and hydration. Make sure to have comfy clothes and shoes that aren’t distracting. Nothing on their person should light up or make noise. Breaks between matches may be quite long, so plan some activities to get their bodies moving. The hotel pool is always a hit!
US Chess has contracted with hotels attached to the Orange County Convention Center for blocks of rooms at a standard rate. It will save you time and money to book a room through US Chess SuperNationals VIII links. If you call to reserve your room, be sure to tell them you’re attending the chess tournament to get the best rate and a convenient location.
Key Things to Remember
A US Chess Federation membership is required for all participants. Signing up for a membership is easy online at Join US Chess. Youth membership is inexpensive and comes with a digital subscription to Chess Life Kids. If you are going to play in the friends and family tournament, you should also hold a USCF membership.
There is no on-site registration for the main event at SuperNationals. You can register online up to the day before the event, but mail registration is cut off mid-April. The new Puzzle Championship is also online registration only. Make sure to get it done ahead of time.
Participants are asked to bring their own chess clocks. If you don’t have one or forget to bring yours, there will be a chess store in Hall WA3 where you can buy one. Scoring sheets and chess sets will be provided.
Devices that enable any kind of communication are prohibited in the tournament hall. That includes smartwatches and phones—your player cannot have those with them. If you are concerned about keeping track of your child’s location, AirTags or tracking wristbands are allowed as long as they do not have communication capabilities. Ensure your child shows the device to an arbiter or other official for approval.
Remember that everyone up to 7th grade is attending for the first time and bring a lot of patience to the table. Ask questions if you’re unsure about anything, and allow extra time for things like registration or check-in. Keep calm so your player can focus!
For the full details on SuperNationals VIII from US Chess, check out the website here. Information may change between now and the tournament, so be sure to double-check times and locations.
Make the Most of Your Trip to Orlando
A trip to Orlando for a chess tournament can turn into a full-fledged family vacation. US Chess has negotiated discount tickets for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios in Orlando for chess families. Check the SuperNationals site for details.
If you’re not into the theme park experience, there are many beautiful outdoor spaces in Orlando, such as Lake Eola Park or the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve. One quirky attraction to check out is the Museum of Illusions—an interactive, imaginative experience for all ages close to the convention center. If you have extra time and transportation, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is about an hour away and offers some amazing opportunities to learn about our history in space exploration.
Take a look online for other experiences you and your chess kid might enjoy — Orlando has a lot to offer! A trip to SuperNationals is a big experience, and you can get the whole family in on the fun with a side excursion.
A Final Thought
Most of the young chess players who come to SuperNationals VIII will not leave with titles and awards, but that shouldn’t discourage any of them from continuing with their chess journey. Did they learn something about chess or themselves? Did they make a friend or have a new experience? Above all, did they have fun? If they can say “yes” to any of those questions, SuperNationals VIII has been a success!
For more helpful advice about kids and chess tournaments, check out our previous article: Chess Tournament Survival Tips for Parents