Event Overview
Event Overview
***2025 TCA Region I Open and Scholastic Championships***
Armstrong, Bailey, Briscoe, Carson, Castro, Childress, Cochran, Collingsworth, Cottle, Crosby, Dallam, Deaf Smith, Dickens, Donley, Fisher, Floyd, Foard, Garza, Gray, Hale, Hall, Hansford, Hardeman, Hartley, Haskell, Hemphill, Hockley, Hutchinson, Kent, King, Knox, Lamb, Lipscomb, Lubbock, Lynn, Moore, Motley, Ochiltree, Oldham, Parmer, Potter, Randall, Reagan, Roberts, Sherman, Stonewall, Swisher, Terry, Wheeler, Yoakum.
PURPOSE: Our goal is to expand rated chess opportunities in our community to benefit and encourage both new and experienced players.
SPECIAL PROMOTIONS: FREE registration for players with current USCF rating over 2000! Entry fee deducted from winnings.
START TIME: Round 1 begins at 11am (PLEASE arrive and check-in before 10:45)
END TIME: Most sections will finish at approximately 5:30 PM. The Elementary Championship Section should finish at approximately 3:30 PM. Section awards will be presented shortly after all players in a section have completed round 4. Lower sections typically wrap up earlier than higher sections.
COST: $20/player registered online and payable at check-in. $25/player for LATE (onsite) registrations, payable immediately. Cash and correct change greatly appreciated! No credit cards)
DEADLINES: Early (Online) pre-registrations are due at https://forms.gle/nFW9hCr3uxtfLLgw8 by 6pm Friday, January 17, 2025. Late (On-site) registrations must be done between 10:00 and 10:30 on Saturday, January 17, 2025.
TOURNAMENT DETAILS:
Tournament Director: Robert Moore, Region I Director – Texas Chess Association
USCF Rated Event: Current USCF membership required for ALL sections, including scholastic sections - PLEASE update your membership prior to tournament day. Contact us if you need help registering or renewing your USCF membership.
Schedule: This is a 4-round swiss style tournament for all sections other than elementary (K-5), which will have 5 rounds. Pairings will be posted 5 minutes after the last game in the previous round ends, and the new round will begin 10 minutes after the previous round is complete. This effectively adds a 10-minute break for players who are the last to finish a round. Round 1 begins promptly at 11 AM.
Equipment: Chess sets and notation supplies will be provided. Some chess clocks will be available, but please bring your own clock if you have one.
Five sections as follows:
- Open Championship - Must be rated at least 1300. If fewer than 8 players are at least 1300, highest rated players below 1300 will be used to ensure at least 8 players in the section. ($20 (Early)/$25 (Late) - all paid onsite; FREE for players with current USCF rating of 2000 or higher (fees deducted from any cash awards!)) 4 Rounds, G/40;d5.
- Reserve (U1300) - Rating below 1300 and unrated players. ($20 (Early)/$25 (Late) - all paid onsite) 4 Rounds, G/40;d5.
- Scholastic High School Championship - Scholastic players enrolled in grades 9-12. Must live within TCA Region I. ($20 (Early)/$25 (Late) - all paid onsite) 4 Rounds, G/40;d5.
- Scholastic Middle School Championship - Scholastic players enrolled in grades 6-8 in TCA. Players in 9th grade may play in this section only if they attend a middle school or junior high school that includes 9th grade. Must live within TCA Region I. ($20 (Early)/$25 (Late) - all paid onsite) 4 Rounds, G/40;d5.
- Scholastic Elementary School Championship - Scholastic players enrolled in grades K-5. Players in 6th grade may play in this section only if they attend an elementary school that includes 6th grade. Must live within TCA Region I. ($20 (Early)/$25 (Late) - all paid onsite) 5 Rounds, G/25;d5.
NOTE: Only players from Region I may be declared the Regional Champion, but all players are eligible to win prizes.
- NOTE ABOUT PLAYERS' SECTION PLACEMENT: Scholastic players must play in the section that matches their grade level. At the TD's discretion, non-scholastic sections may be added, deleted, or combined. A player near the rating cut-off may be moved to maintain an even number of players in as many sections as possible. Also, at the TD's discretion, section rating ranges may be revised onsite based on natural breaks in rating distributions, which could increase the number of players in the Open Championship section to more than 8.
- RATING DETERMINATION: USCF ratings as of January 13 will be used to determine section eligibility for this event.
Cash Prizes for Open Championship and Reserve sections - Cash prize guarantees are based on 50 registered players.
- The total guaranteed prize fund for 50 players is $350.
- The available cash prize fund will be increased or decreased based on registration variance from 50 players.
- If there are fewer than 50 players, prizes may be given for fewer than 3 places in each section.
- Ties will follow USCF rules for splitting cash prizes.
Award for the Region I Champion and Region I Scholastic Champions. A blitz tiebreak will be used in case of a tie to determine trophy recipient, but players will be declared co-champions. Players must reside in Region I to be declared the Region I Champion or a Region I Scholastic Champion.
Trophies for top three finishers in Scholastic sections. Trophies will be labeled Champion, 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place. Medals for players that tie for third but do not receive a trophy. Standard tie breaks will be used.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Photos may be taken during the tournament and awards ceremony. These images may be shared with Texas Chess Association, news outlets, or other interested groups or individuals. Images may be used for promotion of subsequent chess events.
CONTACT: Completing the registration form linked below should generate an email to the address used to complete the form. Prior to the tournament, another email communication will be sent with a link to check tournament registration details.
If you have any questions please email us:
- Robert Moore - bobertwbu@gmail.com; 334-233-4373
- Amy Jones - spherehomeschool@gmail.com; 806-787-3568
1507 Texas Ave.
Lubbock, TX 79401
United States