Century High School in Rochester, Minnesota, will host the 26th annual Rochester Area Scholastic Chess League City Cup tournament on February 28. The defending champion Varsity Silver team aims to retain the title amid semifinals starting at 9 a.m. The event concludes with awards presentations around 2 p.m.
The 26th annual Rochester Area Scholastic Chess League (RASCL) City Cup tournament takes place on February 28 at Century High School's north cafeteria in Rochester, Minnesota. Century High School, the defending champion, hosts the event, with its Varsity Silver team seeking to uphold its title. The school has won the City Cup approximately 14 times in the tournament's 26-year history, according to chess coach Chuck Handlon.
Semifinals begin at 9 a.m., featuring matchups between Century's Varsity Silver and Varsity Navy teams, as well as Mayo High School against the Homeschool Team. Winners advance to the final for the City Cup trophy, while losers play a consolation game. Concurrently, the RASCL Swiss Invitational Tournament will run for about 30 varsity players not qualified for the City Cup, following a four-round Swiss format.
The tournament is expected to end around 2 p.m., followed by presentations of the 2025-26 regular season awards, the City Cup trophy, top five RASCL varsity players, top five Swiss Tournament players, the All RASCL team, and the Coach of the Year. Handlon noted Century's recent successes, including co-championship at last year's state tournament with Eastview High School and Eden Prairie High School. The team qualified for the 61st Annual State Scholastic Chess Championship at the University of St. Thomas on March 7 and 8, organized by the Minnesota State Chess Association K-12.
"We've reached one of our goals, which was to win the regular season," Handlon said. "Hopefully we retain the City Cup, that's goal number two, and then goal number three we repeat as state champion."
Local chess growth has been influenced by online platforms, as discussed by Rochester Chess Club coach Dennis Mays. "Nowadays, when they show up at the club, they may be better than most of the other players in the club because they have taught themselves online," Mays said. The club promotes chess for mental and social benefits, with the motto: "Play chess, grow your brain."