To be chosen as either a Warren Junior Scholar or an ICA Rising Star, students must meet the following criteria:

• Must reside in Illinois.
• Must list US Chess as their FIDE federation, or be enrolled full-time in an Illinois school.
• Must maintain membership in the Illinois Chess Association.
• Must have an established, non-provisional rating (at least 26 rated games).Players entering Grade 4 and up, must have played at least 10 regular-rated games (not quick-rated only) in all-age tournaments (not merely scholastic) during the past year.
• Must have participated in at least two of the following tournaments in the last year:

Illinois Class(November)

Illinois Open(August)

Illinois All-Grade(November)

Illinois K-8 Championship(March)

Other ICA-sponsored tournaments or tournaments on the ICA Chess Tour

National K-12's and/or respective spring Nationals

(Note: if a candidate is unable to meet this requirement, the WJS Director may consider alternate tournaments or activities if requested.)

• Must achieve a peak rating during the prior year in accordance to this table:

 

	ICA Rising Stars	Warren Junior Scholars
Grades 9-12	1400	1800
Grades 6-8	1200	1600
Grades K-5	1000	1400

 

The Director of the Warren Junior Scholar/ICA Rising Star Program, at their discretion, may:

• Add players listed on one of the US Chess Top 100 Lists to the program.
• Invite players into the WJS/RS activities, based upon their accomplishments related to chess, including but not limited to mid-year ratings and tournament play. These players will not carry the title of Warren Junior Scholar or ICA Rising Star for the furrent year.
• Invit players that are home-schooled, may have graduated early, or are full-time enrolled atudents in Illinois with an alternate FIDE federation, and may not have a formal school grade designation, but by age and US Chess rating meet the program criteria.
• Remove or suspend a player for behavior or conduct detrimental to the program, including improper family/parent behavior. Such action can be appealed to the ICA Board.
• Adjust requirements due to individual circumstances or arising from significant chess participation and contributions.
• Modify the above criteria at the begining of a program year and publish accordingly.

Please Note:

As the requirements have changed for the 2025 year, any players who were previously in the Warren Junior Scholar or Rising Star Program will be allowed to continue with that progrram.