National Collegiate Chess Championship
Alongside the 25th President’s Cup, an annual championship of the top U.S. Collegiate chess teams, Mizzou will also host the first edition of the Women’s President’s Cup. Competitors are the top four qualifying teams from the recent Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship, and the top four qualifying teams from the 2025 U.S. National Collegiate Women’s Championship. Teams come from Mizzou, Webster University, Saint Louis University, University of Texas–Rio Grande Valley and University of Texas–Dallas. The College of Arts and Science is proud to bring these teams together at Mizzou for the National Collegiate Chess Championship.
Spectator Opportunities
Dates: Mar 21 - 22
Location: Memorial Student Union, 518 Hitt Street, Columbia, MO, 65211
Cost: Free
The championship can be viewed live from Room N103C, Memorial Union or online at chess.com — web address coming soon.
Schedule
Friday, March 20, 2026
Opening Banquet and drawing of lots
- for participants by invitation only
Saturday, March 21, 2026
Tournament Play
- Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Open Competition: Memorial Union, N201 BC
- Women’s Competition: Memorial Union, N214 CDE
- Time: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Sunday, March 22, 2026
Final Rounds of Play
- Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Open Competition: Memorial Union, N201 BC
- Women’s Competition: Memorial Union, N214 CDE
- Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Awards Ceremony
- Time: 2:00 PM or immediately following the final match
Parking Information
Hitt Street Parking Structure
Address: 309 Hitt St, Columbia MO 65201
Phone: (573) 882-4568
Accomodations
Rooms are reserved for participants, families, supporters and spectators at voco The Tiger Hotel, and The Broadway Columbia - a DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
Mizzou Chess Team
Competitors
Aryan Tari
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2541
FIDE Rating: 2642
Major: Psychology
Isik Can
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2659
FIDE Rating: 2562
Major: Business Administration
Luka Budisavljevic
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2579
FIDE Rating: 2501
Major: Business Finance
Mahel Boyer
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2511
FIDE Rating: 2475
Mizzou Staff
Cristian Chirila
Grandmaster
Director & Head Coach
Grigory Oparin
Grandmaster
Assistant Coach
About Mizzou
Founded in 1839 as the first public university west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri (Mizzou) is a committed flagship and land-grant institution, a member of the competitive Southeastern Conference (SEC) — and a proud member of the Association of American Universities (AAU). Our mission is to provide the benefits of a world-class research university to the people of Missouri through teaching, research, service and economic development on behalf of all its citizens.
With an enrollment of over 30,000 students from all 50 states and 100+ countries, Mizzou is a $5 billion global enterprise, with areas of strength including journalism, agriculture and plant science, human and animal health, sustainable energy and more.
A pioneer of experiential learning and the famed Missouri Method, Mizzou is a place where hands-on learning leads to academic excellence, scientific discovery and unparalleled student success.
Saint Louis University Chess Team
Competitors
Aryan Chopra
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2642
FIDE Rating: 2631
Major: Business
Viktor Gazik
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2603
FIDE Rating: 2537
Major: Business Administration
Nikolozi Kacharava
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2607
FIDE Rating: 2497
Major: Economics
Tianqi Wang
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2423
FIDE Rating: 2331
Major: Public Health
Thalia Cervantes Landeiro
Woman Grandmaster
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2330
FIDE Rating: 2247
Major: Sports Business
Gabriela Antova
Woman Grandmaster
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2299
FIDE Rating: 2168
Major: International Business
Sila Çağlar
Woman International Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2309
FIDE Rating: 2215
Major: Neuroscience
Aksithi Eswaran
Women Candidate Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2068
FIDE Rating: 1911
Major: Biology
Dhyana Patel
Woman FIDE Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2130
FIDE Rating: 2023
Major: Data Science
Saint Louis University Staff
Varuzhan Akobian
Grandmaster
Head Coach
Dariusz Świercz
Grandmaster
Assistant Coach
Julianne Hunter
Program Director
About Saint Louis University
Founded in 1818, Saint Louis University is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious Catholic research institutions. Rooted in Jesuit values and its pioneering history as the first university west of the Mississippi River, SLU offers more than 13,300 students a rigorous, transformative education that challenges and prepares them to make the world a better place. As a nationally recognized leader in research and innovation, SLU is an R1 research university, advancing groundbreaking, life-changing discoveries that promote the greater good.
University of Texas at Dallas Chess Team
Competitors
Munkhzul Davaakhuu
Women International Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2295
FIDE Rating: 2215
Major: Finance
Maili-Jade Ouellet
Woman Grand Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2364
FIDE Rating: 2304
Major: Healthcare Management
Anastasia Paramzina
Woman Grand Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2234
FIDE Rating: 2078
Major: Computer Science
Gergana Peycheva
FIDE Master
US Chess Rating: 2315
FIDE Rating: 2197
Major: Business Administration
Ann Lindsay Chumpitaz
Woman International Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2326
FIDE Rating: 2258
Major: Physics
University of Texas at Dallas Staff
Julio Sadorra
Grandmaster
Director and Head Coach
Mikhail Antipov
Grandmaster
Coach and Trainer
About University of Texas at Dallas
UT Dallas is a top public university located in one of the nation’s fastest-growing metropolitan regions. Our seven schools offer more than 160 undergraduate and graduate programs, plus professional certificates and fast-track programs.
UTD is the university for those who diverge from the status quo. Comets are innovators whose curiosity and intellect spawn elegant solutions for complex issues.
Created by bold visionaries and tech pioneers, UT Dallas has nurtured generations of innovators in its first 50 years. Our creativity and enterprising spirit has been — and will continue to be — UT Dallas’ guiding light.
Our mission and vision center on providing Texas and the nation with excellent, innovative education and research.
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Chess Team
Competitors
Gleb Dudin
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2637
FIDE Rating: 2585
Major: Psychology
Jose Gabriel Cardoso Cardoso
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2609
FIDE Rating: 2543
Major: Marketing
Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2574
FIDE Rating: 2532
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Santiago Avila Pavas
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2625
FIDE Rating: 2503
Major: Computer Engineering
Jakub Fus
International Master
US Chess Rating: 2488
FIDE Rating: 2419
Major: Psychology
Ekin Baris Ozenir
International Master
US Chess Rating: 2530
FIDE Rating: 2447
Major: Computer Engineering
Martyna Starosta
Woman FIDE Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2301
FIDE Rating: 2184
Major: Economics
Manuela Hernandez Bermudez
Woman FIDE Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 1991
FIDE Rating: 1885
Major: Marketing
Rachel Palmero Martinez
Woman FIDE Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2031
FIDE Rating: 1899
Major: Mass Communication
Lauren Tovias
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 1218
FIDE Rating: 1575
Major: Multidisciplinary Studies
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Staff
Bartek Macieja
Grandmaster
Head Coach
Colt-Smith Munoz
Program Manager
About University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) was created by the Texas Legislature in 2013 as the first major public university of the 21st century in Texas. This transformative initiative provided the opportunity to expand educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley, including a new School of Medicine, and made it possible for residents of the region to benefit from the Permanent University Fund – a public endowment contributing support to the University of Texas System and other institutions.
UTRGV has campuses and off-campus research and teaching sites throughout the Rio Grande Valley including in Boca Chica Beach, Brownsville (formerly The University of Texas at Brownsville campus), Edinburg (formerly The University of Texas-Pan American campus), Harlingen, Port Isabel, Rio Grande City, and South Padre Island. UTRGV, a comprehensive academic institution, enrolled its first class in the fall of 2015, and the School of Medicine welcomed its first class in the summer of 2016.
Webster University Chess Team
Competitors
Awonder Liang
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2784
FIDE Rating: 2714
Major: Business Administration
Francesco Sonis
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2618
FIDE Rating: 2553
Major: Cybersecurity Operations
Yasser Quesada
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2631
FIDE Rating: 2562
Major: Computer Science
Harsha Bharathakoti
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2621
FIDE Rating: 2538
Major: Psychology
Lazaro Bruzon
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2611
FIDE Rating: 2555
Major: Business Administration
Emilio Cordova
Grandmaster
US Chess Rating: 2568
FIDE Rating: 2487
Major: Business Administration
Anna Sargsyan
International Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2452
FIDE Rating: 2380
Major: Computer Science
Mounika Akshaya Bommin
Woman International Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2261
FIDE Rating: 2139
Major: Data Analytics (MS)
Toshali Vittanala
Woman FIDE Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 2107
FIDE Rating: 2052
Major: Business Analytics (MS)
Naledi Marape
Woman FIDE Master
Women's President's Cup
US Chess Rating: 1885
FIDE Rating: 1920
Major: Biological Sciences
Webster University Staff
Liem Le
Grandmaster
Director & Head Coach
About Webster University
With its main campus in St. Louis, Missouri, Webster University’s network of faculty, staff, students and alumni forge powerful bonds with each other and their communities around the globe.
Founded in 1915, Webster is an independent nonprofit university with students studying at campus locations in North America, Europe and Asia, and in a robust online learning environment. The University is committed to engaged learning experiences and empowering our students to become catalysts for change.
College Committee Chair
Andrew Schley
Founder and Head Coach of Growth Chess
Schley is a lifelong competitive chess player and full-time coach with over a decade of experience building champions, teams, and thriving chess programs across the country.
As a scholastic player, Andrew earned individual and team state and national titles — and he has since dedicated his career to helping the next generation achieve the same success.
Now based in Madison, Wisconsin, Andrew leads Growth Chess — the only brick-and-mortar chess center in Wisconsin — with a mission to make high-quality training accessible, structured, and competitive.
