GM Arnold Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions
ListedCompetition
- Award
- Published 2026 scholarships: $5,000, $4,000, $3,000, $2,000 and $1,000 for ranks 1 to 5; cash $800, $500, $400, $300 and $200, split for ties. Scholarship claims require at least half-time higher-education enrollment and must be made before age 26. Other 2026 awards include $1,000 Ursula Foster, $100 under-2000 Joanne Haskel and $100 biggest overall upset. The 2027 prize schedule is not published.
- Deadline
- The national page still lists the completed August 3 to 6, 2026 event and June 1, 2026 state nominations. A 2027 state event listing places the related U.S. Open in Dallas August 2 to 8, 2027, but the exact 2027 Denker dates and nomination cutoff are not published on the national rules page. State selection deadlines vary.
- How to apply
- Earn your state affiliate's nomination using its chosen qualification method. Under published 2026 rules, the affiliate submits the nomination, the player separately confirms participation promptly, and onsite check-in/opening ceremony and all six rounds are required. The 2027 national confirmation timetable is not published.
- What you'll need
- A nomination (check the program's nominator rules)
- A finalist round or selection weekend
- Membership in the sponsoring organization
- Who can apply
- Published 2026 rules: state-approved grades 9 to 12 curriculum at qualification, state residency at that stage, current US Chess membership during Denker, and age 19 or younger on September 1 of the event year. Dual enrollment is allowed. D.C. counts as a state and California has separate north/south representatives. A player may represent only one state and play only one simultaneous national invitational. Complete 2027 rules are not published.
- Good to know
- National entry is free; players pay their travel and accommodations. Scholarship ties use tiebreak scores, while cash ties are split. Ursula Foster normally goes to the top finisher age 15 or younger, with an age-16 fallback if fewer than two age-15 entrants compete. Cash payments of $2,000 or more require a W-9. Extra U.S. Junior/World Youth qualification has separate eligibility, including a U.S. FIDE flag.