22nd KCF All-Girls National Chess Championships 2027 takes place April 9–11, 2027, at Hyatt Regency McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. The three-day championship welcomes girls under 18 from across the United States for six Swiss-system classical rounds at G/90, d5, divided into U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 sections.

Kasparov Chess Foundation, Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation and US Chess organize the national event. Age-group champions may earn opportunities to represent the United States at World Cadet and World Youth Championships, subject to US Chess selection rules. Awards include individual, rating-category and school trophies rather than an announced cash fund.

The festival also offers Blitz on Friday, April 9 at 7 PM (five double rounds, G/3+2) and Bughouse at 11 AM (G/5, d0). The main championship begins Friday at 3 PM; entry starts at $105, increasing as deadlines approach. The playing hotel advertises a $205 group rate plus taxes for eligible reservations made by March 26.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The main national championship runs as a six-round Swiss-system tournament, with no elimination. Every player receives 90 minutes for the game and a five-second delay per move (G/90, d5). This is a delay, not an increment. The organizers use the US Chess scholastic competition framework, and all competitors require active US Chess membership.

Each participant must enter the correct age section and meet the event’s eligibility rules. The introduction uses January 1, 2027 as its age reference; however, the age-table heading on the event site still says January 1, 2026. The published birth-year rows correspond to 2027, so families should confirm any disputed age eligibility with the tournament team before payment.

According to the event rules, larger sections may use accelerated pairings, and players may request a single half-point bye in an eligible round other than the last. A zero-point bye is also available under the organizer’s procedure. Moreover, electronic-device and spectator restrictions apply inside playing rooms.

⚡ Friday Blitz — separate tournament

The additional Blitz begins Friday, April 9 at 7 PM. It consists of five double rounds at G/3+2 in one section. Entry costs $55 by March 29, $65 by April 8, or $75 on April 9. Online entries close at 2 PM on Friday, while onsite registration closes at 5 PM. Awards recognize the top ten overall and additional junior categories.

♟️ Friday Bughouse — team side event

Bughouse starts Friday at 11 AM, with G/5, d0 and a $50 team entry fee. The number of rounds depends on registrations. The organizer awards the top five teams. Online registration closes at 9 AM, followed by onsite registration from 9 to 10 AM. Bughouse is a separate event, not a Classical or Blitz section.

🏆 Awards & Qualification

Rather than a cash prize fund, the championship emphasizes national titles and individual, rating-category and school trophies. The six age-group winners may represent the USA in the World Cadet or World Youth Championships, subject to the national invitation and selection rules. Consequently, qualifying players and parents should consult the official US Chess criteria before making travel commitments for an international event.

For school team awards, the organizer combines the top three scores of students attending the same school. Additionally, the first eight individual and team awards are presented on stage; other awards may be collected at the designated trophy pickup location.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The championship holds six distinct age-based competitions: U8, U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18. Accordingly, players must select the age division that matches the official eligibility rules. The organizer’s introduction uses January 1, 2027, as the age reference, but one section-table heading still reads January 1, 2026. Therefore, confirm the correct age cutoff with the organizer before registering or paying.

For the listed divisions, the birth-year bands are: U8 (2019 or later), U10 (2017 or later), U12 (2015 or later), U14 (2013 or later), U16 (2011 or later), and U18 (2009 or later). Nevertheless, because of the inconsistency in the official table heading, the organizer’s written clarification should govern any disputed eligibility.

📅 Schedule

The national championship runs from Friday afternoon through Sunday. Additionally, two optional side competitions take place on Friday; participants who enter both the main event and Blitz should plan for an evening of extra games.

All times are local to Chicago. The organizer may issue further room assignments and announcements, so review the official championship program before each session.

📝 Registration

Register through the official championship registration page and ensure the player’s US Chess membership is active. Fees rise in stages, so registering before the earlier deadlines can materially reduce the cost.

Separate side-event entry: Blitz costs $55–$75 depending on date; Bughouse costs $50 per team. Players entering after the appropriate cutoffs may receive a half-point bye for a missed round under the published rules. Check the age division and membership details before completing payment.

For the full registration policy, withdrawal forms and section-change requests, use the organizer’s instructions. The independent MyChess.Events registration-interest form remains in place; the external registration URL is provided only in the event description.

🏛️ Organizer

The Kasparov Chess Foundation (KCF), Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation and US Chess jointly present the 22nd All-Girls National Chess Championships. Their partnership combines chess education, national scholastic competition and local tournament delivery. The 2027 championship is designed specifically for girls competing in six age divisions.

Kasparov Chess Foundation works to broaden access to chess education and competitive opportunities for young players. Meanwhile, Renaissance Knights, based in the Chicago region, organizes youth tournaments and scholastic chess programs. US Chess provides the official framework for national championship eligibility, membership, rating and international invitation procedures.

The championship is more than six rounds of chess. In addition, it offers rating-class awards, school team prizes and separate Friday Blitz and Bughouse. The six age-group champions may be considered for U.S. representation at the World Cadet or World Youth Championships under the relevant national selection provisions. However, families should not treat a tournament win as unconditional travel funding or automatic international entry.

For hotel team-room bookings and event administration, the organizer lists David Heiser of Renaissance Knights at david.heiser@renaissanceknights.org. The official event website provides Safe Play guidance, spectator rules, competition notices and registration links. The organizing team controls room assignments, awards procedures and on-site operations.

📍 Venue

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL 60616, USA, is the host hotel and chess tournament venue. The property connects directly to the large McCormick Place convention complex in Chicago’s South Loop. Its covered connection is particularly useful for families carrying chess equipment or traveling with younger children.

Hyatt Regency McCormick Place has guest rooms and suites, meeting facilities, an indoor swimming pool, fitness facilities and several dining outlets. Families can use the hotel as an accommodation base, while school groups may reserve separate team rooms through the organizer. However, team-room bookings are independent of standard hotel guest rooms.

The organizer’s materials reference Room W-190 for side-event awards and an early trophy-pickup area. Other tournament room allocations may differ, so players should follow posted notices and registration instructions rather than assume that all six age sections use one room.

To protect players and maintain fair competition, spectators cannot enter designated playing areas without permission. Moreover, the tournament applies its Safe Play rules for child participants. Parents and coaches should identify authorized waiting areas and the correct entrance before Friday’s opening ceremony.

The official host-hotel offer is $205 per night plus tax for qualifying reservations by March 26, 2027, subject to availability. Event guests also receive a discounted parking offer stated by the organizer. For hotel-specific information, consult the official Hyatt website.

🏨 Accommodation

For a complete Friday-to-Sunday championship visit, search initially for April 8–12, 2027. Families can stay in the playing hotel or nearby McCormick Place properties. The Hyatt tournament rate of $205 plus tax is the only price below sourced to the 2027 organizer; other nightly prices and room availability have not been confirmed.

Use the official hotel pages to check actual rates, taxes and cancellation terms. No manually constructed Stay22 affiliate links have been added. Team-room reservations for schools are managed by the championship organizers and are separate from overnight accommodation.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

Players and accompanying families can dine directly in the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place or in the connected convention-hotel district. On Saturday, rounds begin at 10 AM, 2:30 PM and 6:30 PM; therefore, a quick lunch or food from the hotel’s grab-and-go market may be more practical than a distant restaurant reservation.

Dining outlets may close during quieter periods, and no April 2027 opening hours have been confirmed. Check service with the hotel before scheduling meals or leaving a younger player unattended.

🚆 How to Get There

Destination: Hyatt Regency McCormick Place, 2233 South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Chicago, IL 60616. The hotel connects directly to the McCormick Place convention complex in the South Loop. Chicago offers two major airports, CTA rapid transit and buses, as well as the Metra Electric commuter rail service with a station inside McCormick Place.

Official trip-planning resources: McCormick Place public transportation, CTA route planner, Metra schedules and Hyatt venue information. Service and transfer options should be checked for April 9–11, 2027, before purchasing transit tickets.

ℹ️ Other Information

This championship requires families to plan more than six main-round games. In particular, the age cutoff, US Chess membership, spectator restrictions and award collection affect entry and on-site arrangements. Friday’s Blitz and Bughouse use separate entry fees and awards.

Participants should read the complete organizer’s rules before registering. In addition, families who intend to compete in Friday’s side events should confirm their eligibility, timing and checkout arrangements independently from the main national championship.