2026 Southern California State Championship
May 22-25, 2026

Welcome to the official site of the 2026 Southern California State Championship. Thank you to all of our donors whose generous contributions made this year's event possible.

Meet the Players
AB
1. GM Andrey Baryshpolets
USCF 2610, FIDE 2556
AM
2. GM Arman Mikaelyan
USCF 2583, FIDE 2494
RS
3. IM Robert Shlyakhtenko
USCF 2551, FIDE 2453
NN
4. GM Bachuluun Tsegmed
USCF 2476, FIDE 2431
NN
5. GM Melikset Khachiyan
USCF 2465, FIDE 2389
NN
6. FM Rose Atwell
USCF 2445, FIDE 2390
NN
7. IM Julian Colville
USCF 2375, FIDE 2364
NN
8. Winner of the Candidates Tournament

Format

Tournament rules and format are as follows:

Format: Eight player single round robin

Participants: Seeds for event are as follows: The top six players on the SoCal resident rating list who accepted their invitation, the top finisher in the SuperStates K-12 Championship (SoCal resident), and the winner of the Candidates Tournament.

Time Control: 40/90 + SD/30; +30 increment from move one

Pairings: Pairings will be determined after a drawing of lots in the opening ceremony.

Opening Ceremony: Friday 5:00 pm

Rounds:
Friday: One-6:00 pm
Saturday: Two-10:00 am, Three-5:00 pm
Sunday: Four-10:00 am, Five-5:00 pm
Monday: Six-10:00 am, Seven-5:00 pm

Prizes: $$9,700 guaranteed prizes

Prize Schedule
1st Place $2,500 + Trophy + Title of State Champion
2nd Place $2,000
3rd Place $1,500
4th Place $1,200
5th Place $1,000
6th Place $750
7th Place $500
8th Place $250

Cash prizes: Cash prizes are combined and divided equally when players tie. For example: If three players tie for first, the first, second, and third prizes will be combined and divided equally: $2500 + $2000 + $1500 = $6000. $6000/3 = $2000 each.

Tiebreaks for trophy and title:

1. Direct Encounter. If All the tied players have met each other, the sum of points from these encounters is used. The player with the highest score is ranked number 1.

2. Sonneborn-Berger System (calculation). Sonneborn-Berger for Round Robin Individual Tournaments is the sum of the scores of the opponents a player has defeated (including wins by forfeit) and half the scores of the players with whom he has drawn.

3. Koya System for Round-Robin Tournaments. This is the number of points achieved against all opponents who have achieved 50% or more (including wins by forfeit).

4. Sum of Progressive Scores. After each round a player has a certain tournament score. These scores are added to determine the total Sum of Progressive Score.

5. Sum of Progressive Scores Cuts. The Sum of Progressive Score reduced by the tournament score of one or more rounds, starting with the first round.

Ratings: The tournament will be FIDE- and USCF-rated

Default (late) time: The standard default time is one hour. You have one to appear at the board.

Draws: There is no mandatory minimum number of moves that must be completed before a draw can be offered.

Electronic Devices: Players must place all electronic devices in a designated box before the start of the round. They are to have no electronic devices on their person at any time during the round. If a player is caught with an electronic device on their person, the game they are playing will be declared a forfeit loss. If the infraction is deemed an accident the player shall be allowed to participate in the remaining games. If the infraction not accidental, the player will be expelled from the event.

Security Wand: Players agree to be "wanded" when entering or leaving the playing hall subject to Arbiter's descretion.

Score sheets: A copy of their scoresheet shall be given by each player to the TD after each round

Chief Arbiter: IA Anthony Ong chesspalace2@gmail.com

Site: Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX Hotel, 5985 W. Century Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90045

Spectators: All spectators welcome

Standings

No. Player Player USCF
Rtg
FIDE
Rtg
1
AB
2
AM
3
RS
4
BT
5
MK
6
RA
7
JC
8
NN
Total Place
1 Baryshpolets GM Andrey Baryshpolets 2610 2556 X                  
2 Mikaelyan GM Arman Mikaelyan 2583 2494   X                
3 Shlyakhtenko IM Robert Shlyakhtenko 2551 2453     X              
4 Tsegmed GM Bachuluun Tsegmed 2476 2431       X            
5 Khachiyan GM Melikset Khachiyan 2465 2389         X          
6 Atwell FM Rose Atwell 2445 2390           X        
7 Colville IM Julian Colville 2375 2364             X      
8 Candidates Candidates Winner tbd tbd               X    
  Average Average                        

Pairings & Results

Round 1: Friday May 22, 6 p.m.

Board White Result Black
1
2
3
4

Round 2: Saturday May 23, 10 a.m.

Board White Result Black
1
2
3
4

Round 3: Saturday May 23, 5 p.m.

Board White Result Black
1      
2      
3      
4      

Round 4: Sunday May 24, 10 a.m.

Board White Result Black
1      
2      
3      
4      

Round 5: Sunday May 24, 5 p.m.

Board White Result Black
1      
2      
3      
4      

Round 6: Monday May 25, 10 a.m.

Board White Result Black
1      
2      
3      
4      

Round 7: Monday May 25, 5 p.m.

Board White Result Black
1      
2      
3      
4      

Donations

Our goal is to collect $14,000 in donations

Our Partners

Donations This Year

Donor $
Brenda Nardi $5,000
Total $5,000

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