Event Overview
Palmetto Scholastic Chess League III
A Premier Monthly Scholastic Tournament Series
The Columbia Chess Club organizes the Palmetto Scholastic Chess League (PSCL) as a regular monthly tournament series to encourage the organization of scholastic chess clubs and to promote scholastic chess throughout the state! Separate sections for High School, Middle School, and Elementary School provides balanced competition and encourages players to form teams representing their school to win awards.
Conveniently Scheduled, Easy to Enter
PSCL events occur once a month on a Saturday. Games start at 10:00 a.m. and finish before lunch. The games are officially rated by US Chess, meaning that all players will be nationally ranked after playing (for example, see scholastic player Charlie Jordan's US Chess profile). If you are already a US Chess member, it's only $20 to enter.
First Timers Get a US Chess Membership!
For those playing their first US Chess tournament, registration is $25, which includes a US Chess membership that the Columbia Chess Club will create for you! (A youth membership itself costs $24 from US Chess as of January 1, 2025).
First-Class Facilities
The Columbia Chess Club is located at 6169 St Andrews Road, Columbia, SC and is the vision of passionate chess players who wanted to create the perfect atmosphere to play chess. Wood pieces, specially-designed chess tables, a well-appointed spectator lounge with concessions, and state-of-the-art technology displaying real-time results and video of the top boards make the Columbia Chess Club the place to play chess.
Tournament Details:
Online Registration
Standard Registration is $20 for players with US Chess memberships. First-time tournament players $25, which includes a US Chess membership that the club will create for you using the email you provide at registration. Registration limited to first 74 players. If you need to renew your existing US Chess membership, please visit https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess.
Format
4-Round Swiss - players play all 4 rounds and are not eliminated. Each player will play with a 10 minute starting time and will get an additional 5 seconds with each move. (G/10;+5). This will affect the player's US Chess "Quick" rating. All equipment provided. Tournament has three sections: High School (9-12), Middle School (6-8), Elementary School (K-5). We reserve the right to combine sections during play, but prizes will be awarded separately for each section.
Schedule
Round 1: 10:00 a.m.
Round 2: 10:35 a.m.
Round 3: 11:10 a.m.
Round 4: 11:45 a.m.
Awards: 12:15 p.m.
Can't make every round? We can give you one 1/2 point bye for any round if you let us know in the registration comments or before the tournament starts.
Awards:
Team Trophies
Trophies to first place each top-finishing High School, Middle School, and Elementary School teams. The top three players from each school have their points combined to form a team score. The school with the highest team score wins. Results will be reported to school administration.
Individual Trophies
The top three players from each of the High School, Middle School, and Elementary School sections receive individual trophies. In the event of a tie for first, a blitz playoff is played between the players tied to determine first place. US Chess tiebreaks are used otherwise.
Superlative Awards
Special Awards to:
Biggest Upset
Top Female Performance
Youngest Participant
Best First Tournament
Columbia Chess Club
6169 St. Andrews Road, Suite A
Columbia, SC 29212
United States