BayAreaChess Rising Star (Nov 23, 2025)

Start your chess journey with BayAreaChess Rising Star event, a non-rated practice tournament specially designed for first-time players. This event offers a supportive environment where young enthusiasts can experience the structure of a USCF-rated tournament — minus the pressure!

Who should attend?

• Unrated players who have NEVER participated in a rated tournament (excluding ChessKid.com)
• A player MAY NOT attend more than one Rising Star event.

Schedule

• November 23rd, 2025 @ 5:00 p.m. - 6:45 p.m.
• 3-4 games
• Time Control: G/25; d5
  (Each player gets 25 minutes, with 5 second delay of the clock (if clocks are used) at each move)

Register here

• You must log in or sign up before you can register.
• On-location registration available only if you arrive 15 minutes earlier.
• Fee: $35.00 (tournament, seminar and award)
  (Note: Price may adjust based on attendance)
• Cancellation fee: $3 (prior to the day of the event)

Awards

• The experience itself!
• Every participant will be presented a Rising-Star trophy/medal, regardless of their final score or performance. 

Tandem Parent Seminar

An informational session for parents as the tournament is in progress, including:

• explanation of benefits of chess to your child.
• introduction to tournaments with various formats.
• exposure to the United States Chess Federation (USCF) system — membership, website, rating system.

introduction to the BayAreaChess Tournament homepage.
(Note: The seminar may limit one adult per player, depending on enrollment and venue)