The 1st Annual GRADE Metros arrives in New York City on May 9-10, 2026, bringing championship-level scholastic chess back to the city. With approximately 900 entries, the event is hosted in grand fashion at the iconic New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, the Metros welcomes students, from beginners to Masters, across all grades K-12.

After years without a major championship in NYC, the 2026 Metros brings back the essential element that defines a true championship experience: a real hotel venue. A professional setting elevates and legitimizes the event for the kids, motivating them to push further in their chess journeys. The scale, energy, and atmosphere of a hotel ballroom create that larger-than-life moment inspiring all the young players.

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Official Chess 1st Annual GRADE Metros