Hawaii Defends National Chess Title with Perfect 9–0 Season
HONOLULU, Hawaii — May 1, 2026 — The Hawaii Chess Team has successfully defended its national championship, finishing atop the Premier Division of the U.S. Team Chess League (USTCL) with a perfect 9–0 record. The achievement marks back-to-back national titles for Hawaii, which claimed its first championship last year with an 8–1 finish.
The USTCL is the premier online correspondence chess competition in North America, comprising 44 teams from U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Matches in the ten-month season are played at a correspondence pace — three days per move — with all participants pledging not to use computer assistance.
Hawaii's 101-player roster — with players ranging in age from 6 to 80 — overpowered the field through sheer depth of talent. Pennsylvania finished a strong second at 8–1, boasting an impressive lineup of titled masters on the top boards, but fell to Hawaii in a closely contested 98-player match in Round 2. Hawaii's depth on the lower boards proved the decisive factor.
"The results speak to the extraordinary foundation that has been built for chess in Hawaii over the past three decades," said Damian Nash, who has captained the team since 2023. Nash credits Guy Ontai, whose 30 years of monthly tournaments in Honolulu cultivated the broad and talented player base Hawaii draws from today. Ontai remained a formidable competitor this season, posting a 14–2 individual record. Josh White now directs Hawaii's K–12 in-person chess events, continuing that legacy. Team manager Scott Valkenaar of Kauai coordinated all online match logistics and player communications throughout the three-year run.
Other Division Results:
Division 2: Minnesota claimed the title with a dominant 9–0 record and will advance to Division 1 next season.
Division 3: Illinois won at 7–0 and will move up to Division 2, joined by Quebec.
Division 4: Maine finished first at 6–1.
Division 5: The division remains unresolved, with close matches against Kansas set to determine whether Florida, Oklahoma, and/or Nebraska earn promotion to Division 4.
Chess players of all skill levels from every U.S. state and Canadian province are welcome to join their state or provincial team and compete on the Chess.com platform. The 2027 season opens on July 4th. Full details and registration information are available at www.ustcl.org.