Event Overview
ChessFest 2025
A day of fun with chess -- both playing the game and more.
Sponsored by the New Jersey State Chess Federation and by Dwight-Englewood School. Featuring Grandmaster Mac Molner, the former New Jersey state champion, and Dwight-Englewood chess coach.
What: A USCF-rated tournament (mostly!). Coaches going over player games. A lecture by GM Mac Molner. And a special blitz event featuring Mac and the coaches.
Who: Kids in grades K-8… also their siblings and parents.
When: April 27, 2025 from 10:00 am to dinnertime.
Where: Dwight-Englewood School, located at 315 E. Palisade Ave, Englewood, NJ 07631. The tournament will be held in the Hajjar Stem Center.
Schedule: The schedule is as follows:
9:30 am - Players arrive.
10:00 - Round one begins
Noon - Round two begins
1:30 pm - Presentation by GM Mac Molner
2:00 pm - Round three begins
3:30 - Round four begins
3:45 - Casual blitz play with Mac and the coaches
5:00-ish - Awards ceremony
Sections: This tournament features seven sections: six rated and one unrated.
- Grades K-2, under 250 rating
- Grades K-2, open
- Grades 3-5, under 500 rating
- Grades 3-5, open
- Grades 6-8, under 750 rating
- Grades 6-8, open
- Unrated -- Parents, siblings, and friends. Play for fun without worrying about rating.
Tournament structure: All sections are 4 rounds, Swiss-style (“Win, lose, or draw, all players will play four tournament games.”)
Time controls: All games are G25, d5 (“25 minutes per player per game, plus a extra five seconds per turn.”)
Requirements: A USCF membership is required to play in the tournament. Contact the tournament director if you need assistance creating or renewing a membership.
Equipment: Boards and pieces are provided. Players should bring a clock. There may be a few loaner clocks available, but there won’t be enough for everyone. Notation sheets and pencils will be provided.
Registration: The registration fee is $40 if you sign up before 11:59 pm on April 13; $50 after. Online registration closes at 8pm on April 26.
Byes: If you can’t attend the entire tournament, a half-point bye (limit one) is available for any round. Byes must be requested before the tournament begins.
Prizes: Top 5 players in each rated section receive a trophy. Top 3 teams for each grade level (K-2, 3-5, 6-8) receive a trophy. Top 3 individual players in the Friends & Family section receive a trophy.
Teams: Teams are groups of players from any school with two or more players (up to 4) for each grade level (K-2, 3-5, or 6-8). For purposes of forming a team, the Open and Under ### sections are considered combined (ex; a team may have 2 players in the K-2 Open, and 2 players in the K-2 Under 250 section).
Food: There are multiple restaurants within a short drive. There may also be food available on the premises, although that has not yet been determined.
For more information: E-mail Click here to show mail address.
Signup link: https://form.jotform.com/250786198048166
315 E. Palisade Ave
Hajjar Stem Center
Englewood, NJ 07631
United States