Texas Challengers Quiz Tournaments (TCQT) was founded in 2023 in order to increase Quiz Bowl participation in Texas and provide more affordable, accessible, and fun opportunities to compete at in person Quiz Bowl tournaments. TCQT and its events are focused on growth, fun, affordability, and opportunity. We hope that all TCQT events will be positive experiences for all students, parents, and coaches and that all interactions with people involved with TCQT events will be respectful and positive.
Given that affordability and accessibility are key parts of TCQT's mission, the plan is for all TCQT events during the 2026-2027 school year, except for the TCQT Middle School State Championship, the TCQT High School Interstate Championship, all History Bee and Bowl events, and the Strake Jesuit Housewrite Invitational, to cost $120 per team, with a $30 discount per team for new programs competing in their first tournament and a $10 discount per buzzer system provided. There will also be a $10 per team fee for schools that do not bring at least one person who can moderate per tournament. Only one potential moderator is required per tournament to avoid this fee, regardless of the number of teams a school has attending. The TCQT Middle School State Championship and the TCQT High School Interstate Championship will each cost $150 per team, with a $10 discount per buzzer system provided and a $60 discount per team for new programs competing in their first tournament in the Open Division during either event. Teams will be required to qualify in order to compete in the Championship Division at the TCQT Middle School State Championship and the TCQT High School Interstate Championship. All History Bee and Bowl events run by TCQT will use IAC pricing guidelines. There will be a smaller, yet-to-be-determined cost, for the Strake Jesuit Housewrite Invitational.
Maximizing the numbers of teams and participants is always one of the primary goals for TCQT events. Additional charges will apply for extra items requested such as pizzas and TCQT t-shirts. Please contact TCQT if you have any questions or concerns about the costs associated with TCQT events. You can also email contact@tcqt.org with any questions. We look forward to working with you to ensure that your team can attend as many tournaments as possible.
Teams will be able to qualify for the Championship Division of the TCQT Middle School State Championship (April 10, 2027 or April 17, 2027 in the Austin area) and the TCQT High School Interstate Championship (April 10, 2027 or April 17, 2027 in the Houston area) by finishing in the top one-third of the highest middle school or high school division at any TCQT event. Middle school teams competing in high school divisions will have the potential to qualify for the Championship Division of the TCQT Middle School State Championship with finishes outside of the top one-third, based on a case-by-case review by TCQT. If your team is located in an area without a TCQT event or there are other extenuating circumstances that prevent your team from qualifying for the Championship Division of the TCQT Middle School State Championship or the TCQT High School Interstate Championship, then email contact@tcqt.org to express your desire to be admitted to the Championship Division as a wildcard entry. TCQT will review all wildcard requests on a case-by-case basis.
All interested teams will be able to compete in the Open Division at the TCQT Middle School State Championship and the TCQT High School Interstate Championship without needing to qualify. There will be no qualification process for the TCQT History Bee and Bowl State Championship. All interested students and teams will be able to compete in the TCQT History Bee and Bowl State Championship.
All TCQT Quiz Bowl tournaments, except for the Strake Jesuit Housewrite Invitational, are slated to serve as qualifiers for the 2027 Small School National Championship Tournament (April 23-25 in Rosemont, IL), the 2027 Middle School National Championship Tournament (May 7-9 in Rosemont, IL), and the 2027 High School National Championship Tournament (May 28-30 in Atlanta, GA). All TCQT Quiz Bowl tournaments will serve as qualifiers for the 2027 PACE National Scholastic Championship.
All TCQT History Bee and Bowl events will serve as qualifiers for the International Academic Competitions (IAC) Varsity and Junior Varsity National Championships (April 2027 in Arlington, VA) and the International Academic Competitions (IAC) Middle and Elementary School National Championships (May 2027 in Orlando, FL).
If you need help covering tournament registration fees, TCQT is proud to partner with QB4ALL (Quizbowl for All), a nonprofit offering financial assistance for academic competitions to eligible students. Please complete the form here to request assistance. For questions, please email feewaiver@qb4all.org.
10 TCQT events were held during the 2023-2024 school year, 18 TCQT events were held during the 2024-2025 school year, and 29 TCQT events were held during the 2026-2027 school year, which were the first 3 years for TCQT. This included holding 9 events in the Houston area and 1 event in the Austin area during the 2023-2024 school year, 12 events in the Houston area, 4 events in the Austin area, and 2 events in the Corpus Christi area during the 2024-2025 school year, and 14 events in the Houston area, 8 events in the Austin area, 5 events in the Corpus Christi area, 1 event in the Waco area, and 1 event in the San Antonio area during the 2025-2026 school year. Links to results for all previous TCQT events are available on the schedule page.
More information about Quiz Bowl can be found on the Start a Program page or on the website of the national organization, NAQT. If you are new to Quiz Bowl, then welcome. Feel free to contact TCQT at any time in order to inquire about what is involved with starting a Quiz Bowl program at your school.
We want to hear from you. Did you have a positive experience at a TCQT event? Is there something we can do better? Whether it's positive or negative feedback or questions about Quiz Bowl or TCQT, feel free to reach out anytime via the contact page. You can also email contact@tcqt.org with any questions. We look forward to hearing from you!