Evanston High Chess Team Wins Home Tournament

The Evanston Township High School chess team secured first place after defeating reigning state champion Stevenson High School.

Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in eSports

Evanston High Chess Team Wins Home Tournament

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Evanston Township High School finished in first place at its annual chess tournament held on October 24. The team swept all four of its matches to claim the title, including a decisive final victory over Stevenson High School.

Why it matters

The win marks a significant recovery for the team after falling to Stevenson earlier this month. The tournament victory establishes Evanston as a top contender, overcoming a rival that held the state championship title.

Evanston finished with a perfect record, fueled by 15 wins and one draw across Boards 2 through 5. The team also secured a 58.5-9.5 victory against Lincoln Park High School during the tournament.

The players

Evanston Township High School

This educational institution serves the Evanston community and hosted the regional chess tournament.

Stevenson High School

Based in Lincolnshire, this school is a reigning state champion and a perennial competitor in scholastic chess.

The details

Evanston defeated reigning state champion Stevenson High School with a score of 50-18 in the final round. The victory broke a long drought, as the host school had not won its home tournament since 2013.

October 3, 2026: Stevenson defeated Evanston during a tournament at Stevenson.
October 24, 2026: Evanston won its home tournament.

Season Trajectory

This tournament win signals a major shift in the competitive hierarchy of the current chess season. By besting the reigning state champion, Evanston significantly improves its postseason standing and momentum heading into the remainder of the school year.

The victory secures a critical head-to-head advantage for Evanston against the state's reigning champion. This outcome also confirms the depth of the team, which relied on consistent performance from its middle boards to secure victory.

The takeaway

Maintaining depth across all board positions is essential for securing tournament victories against elite competition. Focusing on consistent wins in the middle-order boards proved to be the winning strategy for the hosts.