2-DAY CHAMPIONSHIP SECTIONS

K-5 Open                              K-5 Girls

K-8 Open                              K-8 Girls

K-12 Open                            K-12 Girls

FORMAT: A five-round Swiss in six sections, as shown above.
TIME CONTROL: G/60; +30.  Game in 60 minutes with a 30-second increment.
RATING: Dual NWSRS + USCF rated.  K-12 sections are also FIDE rated, with FIDE rules enforced.
ROUND TIMES: Saturday 11/22 @ 10AM & 1:30PM.  Sunday 11/23 @ 10AM, 1:30PM, 5PM.  Awards ~ Sun. 8:30PM.
PRIZES: Trophies awarded to the top-scoring individuals in each section.
WA State Scholastic Chess Championships Qualifier!
ENTRY FEE: $90 by 11/1, +$15 11/2-11/14, +$35 11/15 or after.

1-DAY SCHOLASTIC SECTIONS (Sat-only)

K-1 U700                              K-3 Open

2-3 U700                              4-6 Open

4-6 U700                              7-12 Open

FORMAT: A five-round Swiss in six sections, as shown above.
TIME CONTROL: G/25; +5. Game in 25 minutes with a 5-second increment.
RATING: NWSRS rated.  Open sections are also USCF rated.
ROUND TIMES: Saturday 11/22 @ 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:15PM, 1:30PM, 2:45PM.  Awards ~ 4:30PM.
PRIZES: Trophies awarded to the top-scoring individuals in each section.  Medals for first-time players who do not earn a trophy.
WA State Scholastic Chess Championships Qualifier!
ENTRY FEE: $55 by 11/1, +$15 11/2-10/14, +$35 11/15 or after.

ALL SECTIONS

Open to all students in grades K-12; grade is based on 2025-2026 school year.  Out-of-State and Canadian players welcome!  Registration and payment deadline Friday November 21 @ 5PM at chessreg.com (pay by credit/debit/PayPal).  On-site registration available for side events only.  Pay by Zelle (ID: washingtonchessfederation@gmail.com), Venmo (ID: @WAChess), SettleKing (Washington Chess Federation), cash, or check made payable to Washington Chess Federation.  Trophies for top-scoring individuals and teams.  Higher of November 2025 USCF or current NWSRS rating will be used to determine section and pairings.

US Chess Membership

US Chess membership required for the 2-day Championship Sections, the 1-day Scholastic Open Sections (K-3 Open, 4-6 Open & 7-12 Open), and for the SPFNO Blitz Championship.
Join or renew your US Chess membership here.

Parents & Coaches Seminar

Sat, 11/22 @ 10:15-11:15AM.
Led by GM Susan Polgar and WCF President Josh Sinanan.
Description: A 1-hr seminar for parents and coaches that focuses on how best to guide children on their chess journey.  Ask questions and hear tips from Susan Polgar, who is herself a chess parent and former coach of the successful Webster University Chess Team.
Entry Fee: Free!

Gabby Face Painting

Sat, 11/22 @ 11AM-3PM.
Description: Local face painter Gabby Carrillo will be on site for a few hours offering her fantastic face painting services to anyone who is interested!
Limit one face paint per person. Gabby will be located nearby the parent waiting area. Be sure to check out this talented artist at work, and perhaps get your face painted too!
Entry Fee: Free!

SPFNO Girls Workshop

Sat, 11/22 @ 11:15-12:15PM.
Description: Join Susan Polgar and local chess leaders for a special 1-hr workshop that focuses on empowering girls through chess. Learn how Susan broke through gender barriers to become the first woman to earn the Grandmaster title!
Entry Fee: Free!

Susan Polgar Book Sale & Signing

Sat, 11/22 @ 2:00-3:00PM.
Sun, 11/23 @ 11:00AM-12:00PM.

Description: A book sale & signing by GM Susan Polgar.  Get your exclusive autographed copy of the newly released bestseller “Rebel Queen”, “Learn Chess The Right Way”, Vols. 1-5, and “A World Champion’s Guide to Chess”!

• Rebel Queen
• Learn Chess the Right Way, Vols. 1-5
• A World Champion’s Guide to Chess

All-Comers Blitz with FM Megan Lee!

Sat, 11/22 @ 3:15-4:30PM.
Description:  Challenge FM Megan Lee to a game of blitz chess!
Entry Fee: Free!

SPFNO Puzzle Solving Competition

Sat, 11/22 @ 5:30-6PM.
Format: Solve 20 chess puzzles in 30 minutes.  Write solutions on paper.  Evaluation based on accuracy, speed, and completeness.  One solution per puzzle only, entire move sequence for both sides required for full credit.  One section.
Entry Fee: $30 by 11/15, $45 after.  On-site registration: 4:30-5:15PM.  No memberships required.
Prizes: Trophies awarded to Top 5 1000+ and Top 5 U1000 contestants.  Ties broken by time used to complete puzzles.

SPFNO Blitz Championship

Sat, 11/22 @ 6:30-9PM.
Format: A 2-section, 8-round single Swiss in two sections: K-5 & 6-12.  USCF Blitz rated; US Chess membership required.
Time Control: G/5; d0.
Entry Fee: $30 by 11/15, $45 after.
On-site registration: 5:30-6:15PM.  First round at 6:30PM, rounds approximately every 15 minutes thereafter.
Rating: Highest of Nov. 2025 USCF Regular rating, USCF Blitz rating, and current NWSRS rating used to determine pairings and prizes.
Prizes: Trophies awarded to Top 5 players in each section.

GM Susan Polgar Simul

Sun, 11/23 @ 1-4PM.
Description:  GM Susan Polgar will play up to 20 opponents simultaneously.
GM Polgar plays white on all boards.  Open to all ages and players rated <2000!
Entry Fee: $65 by 11/15, $85 after.
Prizes: A medal will be awarded to any player who scores a win or a draw against GM Susan Polgar!  Games still going at 4pm will be adjudicated.

2024 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2024 SPFNO Article

2023 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2023 SPFNO Article

2022 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2022 SPFNO Article

2021 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2021 SPFNO Article

2020 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2020 SPFNO Article