The Warren Junior Scholar and ICA Rising Stars program year is from July 1 to June 30 of the following year.

To be chosen as a Warren Junior Scholar, students must be residents of Illinois and meet the following criteria:

• List USCF as their FIDE federation, or be enrolled full-time in an Illinois school.
• Membership in the Illinois Chess Association.
• For high school players (entering grades 9-12), have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1900 as of the July rating supplement.
• For players entering 6^th -  8th grade, have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1700 as of the July rating supplement.
• For players entering K-5th grade, have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1500 as of the July rating supplement.
• For female players of any age, have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1500 as of the July rating supplement.
• Players entering Grade 4 and up must have played at least 10 regularly-rated games (not quick-rated only) in open tournaments or sections (as opposed to those limited to scholastic players) since July 1^st of the prior year. (Note: if a player is unable to meet this requirement, the WJS/RS Director may all consider alternate tournaments or activities if requested.)
• All players must have participated in at least two of the following tournaments in the last year: Illinois Class, Illinois Open, Illinois All-Grade Championship, Illinois K-8 Championship, other ICA-sponsored tournaments, any tournament on the Illinois chess tour, National K-12’s, and/or respective spring Nationals. (Note: if a player is unable to meet this requirement, the WJS/RS Director may all consider alternate tournaments or activities if requested.)

 

To be chosen as an ICA Rising Star, students must be residents of Illinois and meet the following criteria:

• List USCF as their FIDE federation.
• Membership in the Illinois Chess Association.
• For high school players (entering grades 9-12), have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1500 as of the July rating supplement.
• For players entering 6th- 8th grade, have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1350 as of the July rating supplement.
• For players entering K-5th grade, have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1200 as of the July rating supplement.
• For female players of any age, have a minimum USCF established (non-provisional) rating of 1200 as of July rating supplement.
• Players entering Grade 4 and up must have played at least 10 regularly-rated games (not quick-rated only) in open tournaments or sections (as opposed to those limited to scholastic players) since July 1^st of the prior year.  (Note: if a player is unable to meet this requirement, the WJS/RS Director may all consider alternate tournaments or activities if requested.)
• All players must have participated in at least two of the following tournaments in the last year: Illinois Class, Illinois Open, Illinois All-Grade Championship, Illinois K-8 Championship, other ICA-sponsored tournaments, any tournament on the Illinois chess tour, National K-12’s, and/or respective spring Nationals. (Note: if a player is unable to meet this requirement, the WJS/RS Director may all consider alternate tournaments or activities if requested.)

 

For returning WJS/RS participants, peak supplement rating from July 1^st of the prior year may also be considered at the discretion of the Director.

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

• Invite players into the WJS/RS learning activities, based upon their activities 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 current year.
• Invite players that are home-schooled, may have graduated early, or are full-time enrolled students in Illinois with an alternate FIDE federation, and may not have a formal school grade designation, but by age and USCF rating meet the Warren Junior Scholar or ICA Rising Star criteria.
• Remove or suspend a player for behavior or conduct detrimental to the program, including improper family/parent behavior. This can be appealed to the ICA Board.
• Use discretion to adjust requirements due to individual circumstances or due to significant chess participation and contributions.