2025-2026 Wisconsin Junior Open

November 08 - 09, 2025

Register  Entry List

Wisconsin Chess Association logo

2025-2026
 Wisconsin Junior Open 

November 8-9, 2025, Manitowoc, WI

2026 US Open Invitational Tournament Qualifiers (in Grand Rapids, MI)
SPECIAL NOTES

Five Wisconsin Junior Open section winners will be eligible to participate in the 2026 US Open in Grand Rapids, MI, as Wisconsin representatives to the following Championships:

  • The High School section winner will be eligible to participate in the 2026 GM Arnold Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions.
  • The top finishing girl in the High School section will be eligible to participate in the 2026 WIM Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions.
  • The top grade 6-8 player in the K-8 section will be eligible to participate in the 2026 Dewain Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions.
  • The top K-5 finisher in the K-8 section will be eligible to participate in the 2026 John D. Rockefeller III National Tournament of Elementary School State Champions.
  • The top K-3 finisher in the K-8 section will be eligible to participate in the 2026 GM Maurice Ashley National Tournament of state K-3 Champions.

These prestigious national events will be held in Grand Rapids, MI, July 2026. If any ties exist, a series of playoff matches will be held on Sunday night beginning 30 minutes after the last game among the qualifiers is concluded. Format is two G/30; if still tied two G/15; then G/10; then G/5.
FORMAT The WJO is open to players in grade 12 and under. The tournament is held in THREE “Rated” sections: High School (grades 9-12), K-8, and Reserve (Under 900 or unrated only); US Chess membership is required in these three sections. There are TWO Non-Rated, Beginners’ sections: Grade K-6 and Grade 7-12. These two sections introduce players to more formal play, without requiring US Chess fees. US Chess memberships may be purchased on-site; your Wisconsin Chess Association membership is included in the entry. Our website address is www.wischess.org. Questions go to: serbach@gmail.com.
PLAYING SITE
Holiday Inn Reservation Site The Manitowoc Holiday Inn, 4601 Calumet Ave., Manitowoc, WI, at the intersection of I-43 and US-151. Guest rooms are $99 for a single night, or $139 for two nights. (The usual hotel tax is extra.) This special rate is available only until Sunday, Nov. 2nd. These room rates include a full breakfast buffet. For reservations you may call (920) 682-6000, or you may use this link: https://tinyurl.com/jrvets25. You must mention CHESS by phone; the web site already shows the special rates for our players. (Scan the QR Code to the left.)
REGISTRATION
Players may register in advance online at https://www.kingregistration.com/register/2025Jr (Scan the QR Code to the right). Late registrations accepted at the site from 8:45-9:30 AM on Saturday, November 8. US Chess memberships are available. A Young Adult membership (ages 19-24 at expiration) is $33. A Youth membership (18 and under at expiration) is $24. Publication content is available online. A printed copy of the monthly Chess Life is an additional $12. A printed copy of the bi-monthly Chess Life Kids is an additional $6. Please bring your chess clock. Chess sets and boards are provided for the playing room only! Phone inquiries: Steve Erbach at (920) 279-5688 before Friday, November 7 or e-mail: Steve Erbach (serbach@gmail.com). Register for the Wisconsin Junior Open on King Registration
SCHEDULE The 2025-2026 Wisconsin Junior Open is a five-round Swiss-System event. Under Swiss rules, all entrants play five games! Rounds start at 10:15 AM, 2:30 PM, and 7:15 PM Saturday; Sunday rounds at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The time control is Game/90 with a 30-second increment. One half-point bye is available for round 1, 2, 3 or 4 if requested with your advance entry, or at Late Registration.
ENTRY FEES

If received by Tuesday, November 4th, the early entry fees are: High School, K-8, & Reserve sections: $27.20. Beginners’ Grade 7-12 and Grade K-6 sections: $25.20. (Entry fees include $2.20 King Registration service charge.) After November 4th, entry fees are $5 more.

If you pre-register but then cannot play, your entry will be refunded only if you notify the tournament director by 9:30 AM on November 8th.
PRIZES

Fifty-seven top-quality trophies are guaranteed for the following place and rating class prizes:

High School: Top five places, top Class ‘B’ (1600-1799), ‘C’ (1400-1599), ‘D’ (1200-1399), ‘E’ (1000-1199), 800-999, 799 & below, top two Unrated, and Top Girl
K-8: Top five places, top Class ‘C’ (1400-1599), ‘D’ (1200-1399), ‘E’ (1000-1199), 800-999, 600-799, Under 600, top two Unrated, and Top Girl
Reserve: Top five places, top two each 600, 500, Under 500, and Unrated.
Non-Rated Beginners’ Grade 7-12: Top five places and top three grades 7-9.
Non-Rated Beginners’ Grade K-6: Top five places and top three grades K-3.

All prizes will be awarded at the site after the final round. In case of ties, trophies will be awarded based on Solkoff, Cumulative, Sum of Opponent’s Cumulative and Sonneborn-Berger tie-break systems.