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Mizzou Chess wins 2026 President’s Cup


After two days and three rounds of play, Mizzou Chess Team took home the title of 2026 national collegiate chess champion with 7.5 points out of a possible 12 — adding a second trophy to the team’s 2024 national title.


About Us

Founded in 2019, the Mizzou Chess Program is a partnership between the University of Missouri and the Saint Louis Chess Club. Collegiate chess has been experiencing a meteoric rise at the national level, and Missouri quickly became the epicenter of the movement through strategic investments and the pursuit of top tier players and coaches. Through its tradition of excellence, Mizzou has always strived for the best. Mizzou Chess will work towards raising the bar and bringing our institution’s ethos of Respect, Responsibility, Discovery and Excellence to the chess board.

Head Coach Cristian Chirila

Mizzou is home to top athletic teams, and I am planning for the MU Chess Team to continue that tradition of excellence and be a top competitor from year one.

--Cristian Chirila