New WJS/RS Qualifications
- Details
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Written by WJS Director WJS Director
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.