World Chess Festivals
2026 World Chess Festival - Orlando
Frequently Asked Questions/Common Questions Asked to Date
1. Is this Festival open only for those in grades K-6?
No. It is open to all ages. There is a requirement to be able to play in the Adult Swiss and Adult Open for ages 4-20 (please read these on their webpages). The only tournaments that have a limit of Grades K-6 are the Non-Rated K/6 Capture the King Tournaments. This is because these are beginner tournaments.
2. Is my child eligible for all tournaments?
Yes, with the exception of the USCF Top 100 USCF Rating List Scholastic. Your child needs to qualify for this tournament. Also, if your child is not in grades K-6, they are ineligible for the Non-Rated, Capture the King tournaments.
3. I am confused. There are some tournaments that say, "Non-Rated". Is this World Chess Festival USCF rated?
Yes, all are USCF rated except for the Beginner Tournaments (K/6 Non-Rated/Capture the King). All other tournaments are regular USCF rated. The Adult & Youth Blitz Hexes are USCF Blitz rated.
4. How do I register and give the needed information?
Step 1: Please fill out the Google WCF Registration Form on the Registration page. Step 2: I will contact/email you confirming the events you are registering for. Step 3: Once this is confirmed, payment is through Zelle or the Paypal buttons. Once this is received, I will post your entries on the Advanced Entries list. This completes registration.
5. If our transportation back home requires us to leave early, can we pick up our child's awards before the Award Ceremony?
We do not award any awards until final confirmation because there can be errors in recording which require a second confirmation. Next, recipients are responsible for arranging delivery and/or replacement of awards not claimed at site.
6. What supplies does my child need? If he/she is competing in a rated event, they need a chess clock as well as a notation booklet to record the moves of each player each game. If they do not have a chess clock, they usually are available for sale at the site with the vendor. You can also hope your child's opponent's has a clock to use each game or...you may start the game without a clock in which case a tournament director will place one down when both players have less than 10 minutes each to complete the game.