Event Overview
Event Overview
***2026 TCA Region I Women & Girls Championships***
Compete in the first ever Region I Women & Girls Championships for your chance to be named the Region I Women’s Champion, High School Girls Champion, Middle School Girls Champion, or Elementary Girls Champion. One scholastic girl will be invited to represent Region I in the Texas Junior Invitational; see selection details below..
Note: Please register EARLY! We will make adjustments for the number of participants.
Memberships Required: US Chess and Texas Chess Association (TCA) memberships are required.
US Chess Membership: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
For discount US Chess Memberships (please allow at least 3 days for discount memberships, which are processed manually): http://www.dallaschess.com/getuscfgrpmem.htm
Texas Chess Association Membership: https://texaschess.org/memberships/
NOTE: Players from outside of Region I may register for ANY section that is appropriate, including scholastic sections. Only Region I players may be declared the Region 1 Champion, but players from outside Region I are eligible for all other prizes.
TCA REGION I (Panhandle):
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. This event specifically aims to increase participation by female players.
SPECIAL PROMOTIONS: FREE entry for adult women (ages 18 and up, or no longer in high school). Note: register early! We will let you know when we have enough adult women to make a women’s section.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES: Additional special opportunities are being pursued, but have not yet been confirmed. Ideas we are pursuing include sponsored lunch, female college players onsite, photo backdrops, and more! If you’d like to volunteer or donate, please let us know in the form. More details will be released when confirmed.
START TIME: Round 1 begins at 10:30am (PLEASE arrive and check-in before 10:15)
LUNCH BREAK: There will be a lunch break after Round 2.
END TIME: All sections and awards should finish before 5pm.
COST:
Regular (online) registration : Register online at https://forms.gle/b6YypvA6GiDRXenp8 by Friday, January 9, 2026 and pay $21via PayPal, or $20 cash at door; there is a $1 discount for cash payment.
LATE (onsite) registration: Register onsite the morning of Saturday, January 10, 2026 and pay $25 immediately. Cash and correct change greatly appreciated! No credit cards
DEADLINES: Early (Online) pre-registrations are due by 6pm Friday, January 9, 2026 at https://forms.gle/b6YypvA6GiDRXenp8https://forms.gle/b6YypvA6GiDRXenp8. Late (On-site) registrations must be done between 9:45 and 10:00 on Saturday, January 10, 2026.
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. 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 10:30 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:
NOTE: Only players from Region I may be declared the Regional Champion, but all players are eligible to win prizes.
Women’s Championship - Adult female players at least age 18 or no longer in high school. Regular/Online Registration: FREE; 4 Rounds, G/30;d5; The Region I Champion must reside in Region I, but all players are eligible for other prizes.
High School Girls Champion - Female scholastic players enrolled in grades 9-12. Regular/Online Registration: $21 (PayPal)/$20 (cash at door); Late Registration: $25 (cash at door); 4 Rounds, G/30;d5; The Region I Champion must reside in Region I, but all players are eligible for other prizes.
Middle School Girls Champion - Female scholastic players enrolled in grades 6-8. Regular/Online Registration: $21 (PayPal)/$20 (cash at door); Late Registration: $25 (cash at door); 4 Rounds, G/30;d5; The Region I Champion must reside in Region I, but all players are eligible for other prizes.
Elementary Girls Champion - Female scholastic players enrolled in grades K-5. Regular/Online Registration: $21 (PayPal)/$20 (cash at door); Late Registration: $25 (cash at door); 4 Rounds, G/30;d5; The Region I Champion must reside in Region I, but all players are eligible for other prizes.
NOTE ABOUT PLAYERS' SECTION PLACEMENT: Scholastic players must play in the section that matches their grade level. At the TD's discretion, sections may be added, deleted, or combined. All prizes for each grade tier will be awarded even if sections are combined.
RATING DETERMINATION: USCF ratings as of January 1 will be used to determine section eligibility for this event.
Prizes will be determined and awarded as follows:
Award for the Region I Women Champion and Region I Girls 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 Girls Champion.
Region I Girls’ Representative for the 2026 Texas Junior Invitational. The representative must reside in TCA Region I and be a current TCA member. The Region I 2026 Texas Junior Invitational spot will be awarded to the first player available in the following order:
The High School Champion, or Co-Champion with highest blitz tiebreaks.
Any additional High School Co-Champion(s) in blitz tiebreak order.
The Middle School Champion, or Co-Champion with highest blitz tiebreaks.
Any additional Middle School Co-Champion(s) in blitz tiebreak order.
The Elementary Champion, or Co-Champion with highest blitz tiebreaks.
Any additional Elementary Co-Champion(s) in blitz tiebreak order.
If no Champion or Co-Champion of any section is available, the remaining players will be given the opportunity in order of tiebreaks for high school players, the middle school players, and then elementary players.
Awards for Women’s Championship. The championship award is the only guaranteed award for the women’s section.
Trophies for top three finishers in Scholastic sections. Trophies will be labeled Champion, 1st Place, 2nd Place, and 3rd Place. Medals for players who tie for third but do not receive a trophy. Standard tie breaks will be used. Note: If sections are combined, all awards for each grade tier will be awarded.
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 above 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 - [email protected]; 334-233-4373
Amy Jones - [email protected]; 806-787-3568
2805 98th Street
Lubbock, TX 79423
United States