Steinitz World High School Chess League (WHSCL)
Fri, Dec 26
|lichess.org
The World High School Chess League (WHSCL) is an international online chess event that brings together talented high school and middle school players from across the globe.
Time & Location
Dec 26, 2025, 8:30 p.m. EST – Dec 27, 2025, 12:30 a.m. EST
lichess.org
About the event
Saturday, December 26 - Sunday, December 27, 2025
Email: info@steinitzchess.org, steinitzchess2311@gmail.com
This is a FREE event! This is an unrated tournament! This event is not limited to high school students!
OVERVIEW
The World High School Chess League (WHSCL) is an international online chess event that brings together talented high school and middle school players from across the globe. Participants will register under a high school and compete individually in a global Swiss-style tournament — their school’s top three scores will contribute to a global team ranking.
Whether you’re an aspiring grandmaster or simply passionate about representing your school, this is your chance to compete, connect, and make history.
PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
Players must be enrolled in a government-approved high school or middle school; individual clubs or organizations are not allowed.
Players must register under their school name
Schools with 3+ players will automatically qualify for team ranking (top three scores combined).
Schools with 6+ players will be split into multiple different teams of 3. (eg. XXX High School Team 1 and xxx High School Team 2). Please submit two different registration forms. Players in the same school but on different teams may compete against each other.
Participants in schools with fewer than 3 players can still sign up under their school name but their scores will only be ranked in the individual category.
SECTIONS
Individual category: ALL registered players will be qualified for individual rankings, regardless of the number of participants in their school. Awards will be given to the top three individuals among all schools.
Team category:
Schools with 3+ players will automatically qualify for team rankings; the final ranking will be determined by the combined scores of the top three players in that school. Awards will be given to the top three schools.
SCHEDULE (in EST)
The below are the starting time for each round.
Friday, December 26
Saturday, December 27
Check in: 9:00 pm
Round 1: 9:20 pm
Round 2: 9:40 pm
Round 3: 10:00 pm
Round 4: 10:20 pm
Round 5: 10:40 pm
Round 6: 9:00 pm
Round 7: 9:20 pm
Round 8: 9:40 pm
Round 9: 10:00 pm
Round 10: 10:20 pm
Round 11: 10:40 pm
TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
Individual Swiss-system tournament. Players are randomly paired with registrants worldwide. Players in the same school team will not be paired against each other.
11 rounds with 5+3 time control
Platform: online via lichess.org
This is an unrated event.
REGISTRATION STEPS:
Step 1: Complete the registration form. If you have issues accessing the form in this document, visit instagram @steinitzchess to complete the form attached in our bio.
The deadline to submit the registration form is morning, December 26, 2025
One form is needed for one school; only submit another if the school has 6+ players and is eligible for a second team. Click to see the registered players.
Step 2: This is a free tournament! However, you need to register as a site member at our website steinitzchess.org to enjoy the free entry. Please register with the same email address you completed the form with. While visiting our site, also try out chessortag.org for free, our newly designed virtual chess coach!
Step 3: Join the lichess team via this link at least 30 minutes before the check-in
Step 4: The code to the tournament will be distributed via the same email to every participant 20 minutes before check-in
AWARDS:
Team Awards: A trophy will be awarded to the champion school
Individual Prizes: Cash prizes and e-certificates for top 3 players
Individual Champion: $40 cad (approx $28 usd) + e-certificate
Individual 2nd place: $30 cad (approx $21 usd) + e-certificate
Individual 3rd place: $20 cad (approx $14 usd) + e-certificate
The above individuals please notify the Steinitz committee via email within 48 hours after the last game of their address wishing to accept the transfer and the physical address (if win the team trophy)
ACCOMMODATIONS
Please let us know before December 25, 2025 if you and your team have any accommodations
NOTICE - Transparency policy
During the tournament, all players must join the Zoom meeting and keep their cameras on for the entire duration. The meeting will be recorded.
All games will be monitored and reviewed under the lichess anti-cheating system.
If you suspect your opponent of any irregular behavior, you must email the organizers within 5 hours after the game explaining the situation and pay an arbitration fee of 100 CAD (approx 71 USD). This fee WILL be returned if the reported situation is verified.
If a reported player has their camera turned off or shows abnormal behavior at the start of a round, it will be considered cheating by default. Therefore, please ensure your camera remains on at all times.
If the reported player’s camera usage is confirmed to have been normal throughout the round, the organizing committee will conduct an additional review.