2022 Waco Scholastic Chess Championship

Waco Scholastic Chess Championship

September 17, 2022

 

Waco Convention Center

Five Rounds: G/30;d0

Individual and Team Prizes Offered

Five Sections: Championship, U1200, U800, U400 & Unrated

Benefits

1. An Opportunity to Explore Waco

This unique event is set in the heart of downtown Waco, overlooking the Brazos river and the historic 1870 suspension bridge. Within a mile or less is the Dr. Pepper Museum, Magnolia Market and the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame & Museum. Cameron Park Zoo and the Waco Mammoth National Monument are also nearby.

2. A Real Chance of Victory

With five-rating based sections, you will be playing against other students who are rated close to your rating level. No need to worry about being crushed by players several times your rating as is the case in tournaments structured by grade.

3. Affordable

We are committed to empowering as many students as possible to participate. For this reason, our entry fees remain unchanged from last year. Entry fees start at just $15.

4. Individual-Team Tournament

Both individuals and teams may compete in this tournament. In addition to possibly winning a trophy as a individual, you would have the opportunity to help your team win team prizes as well. Importantly, your score could help your team even if your team does not have very many players in your section. This is because we calculate team standings from the results of the whole tournament rather than any one section.

5. Inclusive Team Eligibility

We allow both schools and scholastic chess clubs to compete for team prizes. As a result, you can participate in scholastic team chess even if you do not belong to a school with a large chess program.

Testimonials

• The organizer went out of his way to make this a memorable event for my kids who participated for the first time. It left a great impression on them and motivated them to continue competing. Many Thanks! [Aysheh Masri]
• Well organized, good communication and planning, quick responses to complications. [Dan Shafer]
• The location was easy to access with lots of restaurants in walking/driving distance. [Megan Ramey]
• Great experience. Well conducted. Great venue. [Venkata Chetlapalli]
• So much fun for the kids! [Gena Ferrabee]

The Details

Qualifications: Every scholastic player who is a member of the United States Chess Federation in good standing shall be eligible to participate in this tournament, regardless of geographic location.

Entry Fee: $15 until July 9; $20 until August 6; $25 until September 3; and $30 thereafter.

Registration: To register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2022-waco-scholastic-chess-championship-registration-360239966437 Eventbrite fees apply to electronic registrations. Entries are refundable until the thirtieth day before the event; provided that Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable in all cases. Registration closes at 5:00pm on September 16. No onsite registration.

Schedule: Round 1, 9:00am-10:00am; Round 2, 10:15am-11:15am; Round 3, 11:30am-12:30pm; Lunch Break; Round 4, 1:30pm-2:30pm; and; Round 5, 2:45-pm-3:45pm. The awards ceremony shall commence at a convenient time at or around 4:00pm.

Capacity: The maximum capacity of this event is eighty players. Please register soon to ensure that someone else does not take your place.

Byes: Each player will be entitled to a maximum of one ½ bye if requested before the close of registration. Bye requests are irrevocable for prize purposes. If in any round, for a section, there is an odd number of players, the player with the lowest rating (but not an unrated player) that has not been assigned or has requested a bye will be assigned a one point bye.

Notation: All players in the Championship and U1200 sections must notate their moves. Absent a physical impediment to notating, anyone required to notate who fails to do so will have five minutes deducted from their time. Notation sheets will be provided free or charge.

Prizes: Twenty individual trophies and five sets of team plaques (with four plaques in a set) will be awarded in this tournament if the maximum capacity is reached by September 1. If a smaller number have registered by that date, the number of trophies and plaques may be proportionally reduced. All players will receive medals. Trophies will be equally divided between sections. Plaques will be awarded to the teams whose four highest-scoring players have the greatest cumulative scores across all sections. For instance, a 4.0 score in the U1200 would have equal weight to a 4.0 in the U400. When determining which players in a team receive plaques, we will not confer preference upon any player due to the section in which they participated, but instead, will award the plaques to the four-highest scoring team-members. In the event that any player fails to collect their prize at the awards ceremony, it will be mailed to them, but only if they first pay the cost of shipping.

Team Rules: A team comprises any number of students (but at least two) who attend the same school or homeschool cooperative, or are members of a scholastic chess club. When participants register, they will be assumed to be representing their school unless they indicate to the contrary. For the purposes of qualifying as teams, scholastic chess clubs shall be defined as any association or group which: (1) Regularly meets as a chess club in-person at least monthly; (2) Is not a subsidiary of, or controlled by, any other entity; and; (3) Has six or more members or regular attendees, of whom at least half are scholastic players. Teammates will not be paired with each other. In order to represent a team other than their school, players must designate their affiliation with such qualifying team through the registration form or by emailing the organizer before the close of registration. Although this event will have team prizes, students who do not belong to a team are welcome to compete for individual prizes.

Directors: The Chief Tournament Director will be Caleb S. Brown. Individuals interested in serving as assistant tournament directors should contact the organizer as soon as possible.

Tiebreaks: In the event that any prize is tied between two or more persons, the following tiebreaks, in the stated order, will determine its recipient:-

• Modified Median
• Solkoff
• Cumulative
• Kashdan
• Sonneborn-Berger
• Cumulative of Opposition
• Coin-Flip.

Spectators: Except for players with games in progress and our tournament directors/staff, no spectators may be present in the Tournament Hall during any round.

Ratings: This tournament will use players' regular over-the-board rating as shown on the September Supplement.

Consumption: Players may not consume food or beverages in the Tournament Hall. Only water is allowed.

Rules: Subject to our special rules and regulations, this tournament will be governed by the United States Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess, 7th Edition.

Amenities: The tournament will be held in the Texas Room South on the lower floor of the Waco Convention Center. There will be a separate room (w/tables and chairs) adjacent to the Tournament Hall that will serve as a waiting area for players and their families. Abundant seating is also available throughout the Convention Center. Water will be provided in both the Tournament Hall and waiting area. The organizer will provide the chess sets for this tournament, but players should bring chess clocks if possible. Chess control will be at tables outside of the Tournament Hall to answer questions and provide assistance.

Other Notes: Sections may be merged in the event of low turnout.

Resources

• To become a USCF member: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
• Our Website: https://innovativechesssolutions.com/
• Contact: csbrown.entrepreneur@gmail.com