The United States College Chess Championship

Every year the President's Cup, formerly nicknamed the Final Four of College Chess, pits the top four U.S. schools from the annual Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship against one another. Universities spend millions in pursuit of national championships, with the most successful schools offering chess scholarships. Webster University has won the most President's Cups--seven as of 2026. This rich history of the United States College Chess Championship, written by a former U.S. Women's Champion, recounts the cup from its 2001 inception, covering a diverse roster of winners. Webster University recruited Grandmaster Wesley So from the Philippines, who would go on to become one of the world's best players. Like So, some President's Cup players compete for USA Olympiad teams, while others play for their home countries. Many become chess coaches. One helped Abhimanyu Mishra, the world's youngest grandmaster; another taught Daniel "Danya" Naroditsky, who died tragically. Others excel in diverse fields, such as business and engineering. A handful are notorious. This definitive history includes first-hand photographs and 98 annotated games, many contributed by President's Cup players.