2023 National Middle School (K-8) Championships

US Chess Junior Grand Prix!

Apr. 21-23, Texas

2023 National Middle School (K-8) Championship

Format:  7SS, G/90 d10.  (NEW time control!)  7 Sections:  K-8 Championship,

K-8 U1700, K-8 U1400, K-8 U1100, K-8 U900, K-8 U700, and K-8 Unrated.  “Playing up” is allowed.  Unrated players may play either Championship or Unrated sections only.  April rating supplement will be used. 

Site:  Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, 3001 Kalahari Drive, Round Rock TX 78665.  HR: $179.  Guest rooms may be booked, NLT 3/18/2023 by calling (512) 501-3493, mention “US Chess", or online at: https://book.passkey.com/e/50450182.

Byes: Maximum two half-point byes available any round if requested prior to the start of Rd. 1.  A half-point bye in round 1 must be requested at the time of registration, or on-site before 11 AM Friday.  A half-point bye request for rounds 2-7 not requested in advance must be requested two hours before the scheduled start of round 2.  Byes may not be revoked after Rd. 1.

Scoring: Team score = total of top four (minimum two) finishers from each school per section. K-8 Championship first place individual and team, including ties, will be the National Middle School Champion.

Schedule: Opening ceremony: Fri. 12:45 pm. Round start times: Fri. 1 pm and 6 pm, Sat. 9 am, 1:30 pm and 6 pm, Sun. 9 am and 1:30 pm. Awards Ceremony:  Sun., approx. 6 pm.

Entry Fee: $80/participant postmarked or online by 3/20, $100 postmarked or online by 4/3, $115 online by 4/10, $120 thereafter or on site; $30.00 extra for all phone registrations; $30 fee for roster or section changes after 4/4 or any onsite changes. ONLINE REGISTRATION STRONGLY ENCOURAGED!  DO NOT MAIL ANY REGISTRATIONS AFTER 4/3!

Onsite registration: Thurs. 9 am - 9 pm & Fri. 8 am - 11 am. Players who register or change sections after 11 am on Friday will receive a 1/2-point bye for Round 1. Players must disclose any other, non-US Chess over-the-board (OTB) ratings.

Awards: Medals to top individuals & trophies to top teams in each section.  Every player receives a commemorative item! Full list of awards on tournament website.

Side Events: Bughouse: Thurs. 11 am, Reg. onsite only (no online or phone reg for Bughouse) Thurs. 9 -10 am, $30/team. K-12 Blitz: Thurs. 5 pm, Reg. online until Thurs. 2 pm, onsite until 4 pm. Blitz EF: $30 by 4/3, $40 after or at site. Class medals will be awarded in Blitz. Full list of awards on tournament website.

General questions: Contact Click here to show email address. Also check tournament website; many questions answered there. Team Room questions: Contact Pete Karagianis at Click here to show email address.

Entries: online (STRONGLY PREFERRED!) at www.uschess.org/tournaments/2023/ms or by mail at U.S. Chess Federation, Attn.: 2022 MS Championship, P.O. Box 775308, St. Louis, MO 63177. (Do not mail registrations after 4/3!)  Advance entries and pre-tournament instructions are given on tournament website. See website for additional information about the event, advance entries, awards, meetings, team rooms, updates, corrections, and registration forms.

Tournament website:  www.uschess.org/tournaments/2023/ms.