The 2026 National Elementary School Championships are underway in Baltimore! With a record-breaking 2,500+ participants, this tournament will be one to remember.
With all the chess, special guests, and side events, the biggest challenge is remembering to step outside of the sleek, spacious Baltimore Convention Center to take in stunning views of the harbor.
Read on for a recap of yesterday’s events, commentator WGM Sabina Foisor’s highlights of Friday’s best games, and more!
Special Events
With four special guests joining us all weekend, every day is packed with special events. Yesterday, GM Elshan Moradiabadi and WGM Katerina Nemcova kicked things off with a 30-board tandem simul, followed by IM Danny Rensch’s lecture. Moradiabadi and Nemcova both hosted All-Comers Blitz sessions, as well.
US Chess Ambassador WGM Jennifer Shahade hosted a 30-board pop-up simul that was simply mesmerizing. Some chess players play to win, but Shahade had an additional goal in mind.
Oftentimes in these exhibitions, games are decided by adjudication. The schedule is full, and these kids have rounds to get to! But Shahade made it her mission to whirl around the boards, aiming to actually finish as many games as possible. I don’t think I’ve ever been so tired from watching somebody else play chess.
Also, our sponsor Silver Knights Chess Academy is on site all weekend providing free game analysis courtesy of two of their fabulous coaches (Epiphany Peters and Nebraska’s own Will Osborne). There was always a group of kids waiting for a turn to get some feedback, and if you watch the coaches work their magic for even a few seconds, you’ll see why.
Other events on today’s schedule include: Silver Knights’ “From Munchkin to Master: Taking the Next Steps” talk at 9:30 a.m., the Friends & Family Tournament beginning at 10:30 a.m., the Scholastic Meeting at 2:15 p.m., and the Chess in Education Discussion at 3:30 p.m…