2026-27 National Collegiate Women's Championship
Event Principals
REGULATIONS
1. Registration
1A. The 2026-27 U.S. National Collegiate Women's Individual Championship is a free event - there is no entry fee.
1B. All registration is online through this website. Registration closes 1 hour before round 1.
1C. College students must register using their official academic institution email address.
1D. There is no limit to the number of participants per college.
2. Eligibility
2A. Only students of Accredited Postsecondary Education Institutions and Programs listed by the US Department of Education are eligible to compete.
2B. A player must be listed as a female in their US Chess record.
2C. An active US Chess membership is required. Foreign GM/WGM/IM/WIM are exempted from the requirement.
2D. Players who hold a title of GM/IM/WGM/WIM shall be full-time degree seeking students. In the final semester of their degree program, the players can be enrolled in fewer classes if it suffices to complete their degree requirements.
2E. Students enrolled in high school, even those who are taking college courses as part of a "dual enrollment" program, are not eligible to compete.
2F. Faculty and staff are not eligible to compete. In this context, the term "faculty and staff" does not include student employees.
2G. A student is eligible to compete in the cycle in at most 6 distinct academic years.
3. Ratings
3A. US Chess OTB Regular Ratings shall be used for pairing purposes.
3B. Players without US Chess OTB Regular Ratings shall have their FIDE Standard Rating converted for tournament purposes:
- US Chess = FIDE*0.564 + 932, if their FIDE Regular Rating is lower than 2000
- US Chess = FIDE*1.02 + 20, if their FIDE Regular Rating is at least 2000
3C. Players without US Chess OTB Regular and FIDE Standard Ratings shall be considered unrated.
3D. The tournament will be rated by US Chess for Online Regular Rating.
4. Format and Pairings
4A. The championship is a 9-round Swiss System individual online tournament.
4B. Players from the same college shall not be paired against each other in any round.
4C. The time control is game in 20 minutes, with a 10-second increment from move one.
4D. Players can take as many zero-point byes as they wish, but they shall request it before registration closes (one hour before the start of the championship).
4E. Players who do not show up in time to make their first move before they run out of time will be forfeited and removed from the tournament, unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.
5. Individual Scoring and Prizes
5A. An individual (game) win is worth 1 point, a draw is worth ½ point, and a loss is worth 0 points.
5B. The top player shall be declared the 2026-27 U.S. National Collegiate Women's Individual Champion.
5C. Additional champions will be crowned for: U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400, U1200, and U1000. For example, the top player under 2200 shall be declared the 2026-27 U.S. National Collegiate Women's Individual Champion under 2200. 5D. In the event of a tie, the players shall be declared co-champions.
5E. The top four colleges in the Team Standings will qualify for the 2026-27 Women's President's Cup.
5F. Team standings are determined by the sum of the top four individual scores from the college.< 5G. Individual Tiebreaks. For sole purpose of determining places (but not championship titles), the following tie-breaking systems will be used:
- Solkoff
- Cumulative
- Cumulative of Opposition
- Coin Toss
6. College Scoring and Prizes
6A. The Final College Standings are determined by:
- Sum of the top four individual scores from the college
- Sum of all individual scores from the college
- The highest individual place of the college's player.An individual (game) win is worth 1 point, a draw is worth ½ point, and a loss is worth 0 points.
6B. The top four colleges will qualify for the 2026-27 Women's President's Cup.
7. Schedule - Central Standard Time (CST)
| DAY |
TIME (Central Time) |
EVENT |
Saturday, November 14
|
| 10:00 AM CST |
Registration Closes |
| 11:00 AM CST |
Round 1 |
| 12:15 PM CST |
Round 2 |
| 1:30 PM CST |
Round 3 |
| 2:45 PM CST |
Round 4 |
| 4:00 PM CST |
Round 5 |
| Sunday, November 15 |
| 11:00 AM CST |
Round 6 |
| 12:15 PM CST |
Round 7 |
| 1:30 PM CST |
Round 8 |
| 2:45 PM CST |
Round 9 |
8. Technical Requirements
8A. Players are required to be on a video call via Zoom during the championship.
8B. The Zoom link will be e-mailed to all the participants before the start of the first round.
8C. Players are required to share their screen with the Zoom call.
8D. Players are not allowed to use virtual background.
8E. Players shall have their microphones off.
8F. Players without a camera, or refusing to turn it on, will be forfeited for that round unless the Chief Arbiter decides otherwise.
8G. Players shall remain in front of the camera during the game. Players that go off-camera may be forfeited for that round.
8H. Players are required to move their webcam to show the Chief Arbiter their playing area upon request.
8I. Zoom monitoring sessions, including video or/and audio, may be recorded for the purpose of ensuring fair play.
9. Disconnections and Technical Issues
9A. A short disconnect may keep the clock running. A longer disconnect will result in a forfeit.
9B. It is every player's individual responsibility to have:
- Working playing device
- Working camera
- Working microphone
- Stable Internet connection
- Account created and verified on the playing platform
- Knowledge and experience how to play on the playing platform
10. Fair Play
10A. Outside assistance of any kind is strictly prohibited.
10B. Headphones, earphones and any kind of audio device or electronic devices not used for playing are not allowed during the rounds.
10C. No spectators are allowed in the playing area.
10D. No other software shall be running during games besides: Operating System, Antivirus, Zoom, Web browser that is connecting to the playing platform, and Software needed to make the camera and microphone work.
10E. Players shall obey the Terms of Service of the playing platform.
10F. A fair play violation may potentially lead to severe punishments, including: Warning, Forfeit of a single game, Expulsion from the championship, or Other penalties the Chief Arbiter deems adequate.
10G. Upon the completion of the last round of the championship, the Chief Arbiter will be given 2 weeks to analyze fair play data. This time can be extended, if deemed necessary.
10H. Serious Fair Play violations might be communicated to FIDE Fair Play Commission, US Chess Ethics Committee, and/or college authorities.
11. Miscellaneous
11A. The built-in playing platform (lichess) rules shall be used.
11B. Decisions of the Chief Arbiter are final.
11C. By entering the event, each player accepts the above-mentioned fair play measures as a condition of entry in a voluntary event and agrees that her participation takes place subject to these fair play measures. Each player acknowledges and agrees that she consents to the transfer of all her personal data (gathered in relation to the event) to the tournament organizers and related governing bodies, including her real name, games played, and evidence of non-compliance with the fair play rules, including audio or/and video recording of games.
