Official Chess Summer Scholastic Tournament at Baruch Middle School MS104 – July 12, 2025

Innovative Pairing System:

- Balanced like Quads: avoid big rating gaps

- Exciting like Swiss: compete for awards

School is out but Chess is still IN!  - Play. Learn. Repeat. Improve Your Chess Experience.

*Maximize Ratings – Minimize Mismatches*

- We combine the best attributes of quads (play opponents closest to your rating) with Swiss (best system for determining tournament winners), aka the Monrad system.

- No more early-round blowouts or rating-risk matchups like sometimes happens in a traditional Swiss.

- Top players won’t be penalized with low-rated opponents just for being seeded high.

- Monrad minimizes the dreaded “huge rating risk, very little upside” situation Conversely, kids at the lower-end of the section breaks will not have to fear an “automatic first round loss”.

- Our hybrid system creates the ideal environment for both growth and rating gains – pairing players near their level for meaningful, competitive games.

- Smarter pairings. Fairer competition. Better results.

*No coach to review your games? We have you covered! (Register for "Entry PLUS" at checkout)*

- Upgrade your experience and learn from Grandmaster/reigning Correspondence Chess World Champion  Jon Edwards and FIDE Master Jonathan Subervi in between rounds

Register Here:

https://officialchess.org/event/summer-scholastic-series-manhattan-july-12-2025-baruch-middle-school/

Team Room Requests: Email [email protected]

Location: Simon Baruch Middle School MS104 (330 E 21st St, Manhattan, NYC)

Check-In: 9:00–9:30 AM (In-person only)

Format: 4 Rounds | USCF Rated

Sections:

- Current Published Regular Rating (Supplement) used – Search for player’s rating here: https://new.uschess.org/civicrm/player-search

- Note grade restrictions

• Premier Section K-5 only (u500 – unrated welcome but must have USCF membership) – G/25 d5
• Elite Section K-5 only (u1000) – G/40 d5
• Grand Section K-12 only (u1500) – G/50 d5
• Championship Section K-12 only (Open) – G/60 d5

Pairing Procedures:

- Initial pairings based on closest-rated opponent in same section, NOT traditional Swiss systems or accelerated Swiss

• By contrast, in a traditional Swiss pairing system, if there is a 100-player section, the number 1 seed (ranked by rating) will play number 51, number 2 plays number 52, etc. – This of course leads to much higher ratings gaps between players which does not benefit the higher or the lower rated player

- Subsequent pairings based on current tournament points, followed by closest rated opponent with same points

- 1 point will be awarded for every win, 0.5 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss

- Players may choose up to 2 “byes”

• Attendees will not have to play in that round but will still receive 0.5 points for pairing and tournament result purposes. Usually “byes” are taken for the first round or last round due to scheduling conflicts but it is ok to take a “bye” for any round. “Byes” must be requested at the time of registration.

- Please note that player colors will alternate between each round but in rare cases a player may be assigned the same color in consecutive rounds due to other contraints

Individual Awards:

- Except for the Championship Section, trophies for top 3 individual players in each section

- Those with the same final score but lower tie breaks than the 3rd place winner will NOT LEAVE EMPTY HANDED – They will also receive a “3rd Place Tie Trophy”

- Top 3 players in the Open Section will receive $250, $150, $100, respectively – Monetary awards will be split in cases of ties – e.g. If 2 players score 4.0, they will both split $400 evenly (first and second place awards), any players with 3.5 will split $100 evenly (third place award), if no 3.5 scores, then the 3.0 scores will split the third place award, etc.

Team Awards (Team members must be from the same school):

- Team Trophy 1 (Top Scorers from a School):

• Top 6 individual results from each school contribute to the Top Scorers Team score
• Top Scorers Team trophy given to top 3 schools
• Only the top 6 student scorers should go to stage to receive the Top Scorers Team Trophy

- Team Trophy 2 (All Players from a School):

• Every individual result from each school contribute to the Overall Team score
• Overall Team trophy given to top 3 schools
• Every student from the school should go to stage to receive the Team trophies, regardless of their individual scores

Tie-Break Methods for Awards (2nd and 3rd only if needed):

1) Solkoff - Total points scored by your opponents (half-points for early withdrawals)

2) Average Opposition Rating - Average pre-tournament rating of your opponents

3) Cumulative - Sum of your total points after each round

Additional Info:

- Parental Supervision - Parents must stay with children at all times in between matches. No running or ball play indoors per school safety rules.

- Notation - Required for all sections except U500. Sheets and pencils provided; notation books available for purchase.

- Equipment - Boards and pieces provided. Players must bring their own clocks (available for purchase on-site).

- Lunch - Pizza available for purchase.

-  Must have active USCF membership - If needed, renew here https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess