Past Events

BKCL Citywide Championship '26

On May 30th, the 2026 Baltimore Kids Chess League Citywide Championship brought another fantastic season to a close as 113 students from more than 15 schools gathered at Patterson High School to compete for individual and team honors across elementary, middle school, and high school divisions.

Students represented schools from across Baltimore, including Medfield, Roland Park, North Bend, Hampden, Hampstead Hill Academy, Green School of Baltimore, Federal Hill Prep, Cross Country, John Ruhrah, Montebello, Highlandtown, Thomas Johnson, Poly Tech, Patterson, Dunbar, and Walter P. Carter. Throughout the day, players demonstrated outstanding focus, determination, and sportsmanship while competing against some of the strongest scholastic players in the city.

US Chess National Scholastic K-6 Championship 2026

Baltimore students took to the national stage at the US Chess K-6 Scholastic Championships 2026! Representing a wide range of schools and programs, BKCL players delivered an impressive showing, highlighted by top team finishes, national placements, and breakout performances.

BKCL February Action '26

The Baltimore Kids Chess League hosted its February Action Tournament on February 6th at Roland Park Elementary/Middle School, welcoming 84 students from 9 schools across the city.

Participating schools included Roland Park, Patterson, Green School, Mount Vernon, Montebello, Cross Country, Thomas Johnson, and Empowerment Academy, making for a diverse and energetic field.

BKCL Classical Quads '26

The Baltimore Kids Chess League Classical Quads took place on March 6, 2026, at Patterson High School and proved to be another fantastic BKCL event. A total of 92 students from over 10 different teams competed across 23 competitive quads, creating a full day of thoughtful play, learning, and community.

Students represented schools and programs, including Roland Park, Patterson, Hampstead Hill Academy, Thomas Johnson, The Green School of Baltimore, John Ruhrah, North Bend, Bard, Poly, and Mount Royal. The quad format allowed players to face three evenly matched opponents, giving everyone a great opportunity to test their skills in longer classical games.

BKCL Girls Tournament '26

The BKCL Girls Tournament was designed to create a welcoming, empowering space where young women could compete confidently, support one another, and see themselves as leaders in the chess community.

For many participants, this tournament was not just another competition — it was a moment of belonging. It was a chance to look around the room and see other young women thinking strategically, competing fiercely, and celebrating each other’s successes.

BKCL Blitz Quads '26

On January 16th, Baltimore Kids Chess League hosted a Blitz Quad Tournament at Patterson High School. The event brought together 45 students from seven schools, including Patterson High School, North Bend, Roland Park, Thomas Johnson, Hampstead Hill Academy, and Poly Tech. Students took advantage of an early school dismissal to participate in an exciting afternoon of fast-paced blitz chess, competing across 10 quads and one small Swiss section.

Rochelle Ballentyne Simultaneous Exhibition

On January 9th, the Baltimore Kids Chess League hosted a special simul exhibition at Patterson High School that brought together students from across the city for a truly memorable day of chess and learning. More than 43 students had the opportunity to play simultaneous games against FM Rochelle Ballentyne, an experience that challenged, inspired, and motivated players of all levels.

In addition to the simul, attendees were treated to a powerful and inspiring TED Talk by Rochelle Ballentyne, where she shared her journey and insights from the world of chess. Throughout the day, students also took advantage of the chance to meet and play chess with peers from other schools, building connections and enjoying the community that chess creates.

BKCL October Action '26

On Saturday, October 11th, the Baltimore Kids Chess League hosted the October Action Tournament at Patterson High School, marking our first USCF-rated event of the school year. The tournament brought together 36 talented students from five city schools—John Rurah, Patterson, Roland Park, North Bend, and the Green School of Baltimore—for a day of competition, learning, and fun.

Players battled through four rounds of G30d0 in a Swiss-style format, showcasing their focus, patience, and sportsmanship. Between rounds, everyone enjoyed pizza and great conversation as we celebrated National Chess Day together.