Registration is now closed. USCF rated chess tournament on Saturday, January 29, 2022 in multiple RATED scholastic sections: K-3 U300, K-3 U600, K-5 U600, K-5 U1000, 6-12 U600, 6-12 U1000, and K-12 Any. View the preregistration list here. Pairings will be posted only online. Please note: all scholastic players rated 1400 and over must play in the Open section.
Tournament Day Links
Maps: Campus Map – – Grammar Building Floor Plan
Pairings, wall charts, and standings: all sections
Reminder Emails: Scholastic
**please note – because section counts are variable due to registrations and withdrawals, locations may change due to size constraints**
NEW!!!
Following the award ceremony, GM Vladimir Belous, the 2021 US Class Champion, will be hosting a short lecture and a simultaneous exhibition. The simul is open to any parent/relative/coach that is playing in the event, or has a child playing in the event, or ANY child for a cost of $10. A commemorative notation sheet will be given to all participants and signed by GM Belous at the finish of their game.
Basics
This is a Swiss-system tournament, so everyone plays all day—there is no “elimination.” Players must know how to play the game of chess! We follow USCF rules including: touch-move, mandatory clocks if available, and notation. K-3 and younger sections are excused from taking notation. Please review the Parent/Coach Responsibilities before registering!
Location
Regents School of Austin
3230 Travis Country Circle
Austin, Texas 78735
Parents may wait in the Events Center or outside. Chess play will take place in classrooms.
Review a map of campus.
Eligibility
This is a rated tournament. You must have a USCF ID and your membership (can be purchased/renewed at check out or online with the USCF in advance of registration) . You can verify your USCF membership ID and expiration by visiting the USCF’s Member Services Area. Anyone can become a USCF member. Players new to tournament chess are welcome to play. Your USCF membership cannot expire before January 31, 2022. USCF memberships can be renewed/purchased at check-out. (JTPs ok in K-3 and younger sections only. New players in 3rd grade and below may request a non-member ID as a part of USCF’s Junior Tournament Player Program during registration)
“Under” sections are only for students meeting the rating criteria. All players who are new to tournaments are eligible for their age appropriate ‘under’ section. (Look up your player’s rating here. Please email the registrar or ask your chess coach for placement information.
If your 6th grader attends an Elementary School, please contact the registrar for options. With enough registrations, any section may be divided into two sections, or small similar sections may be combined.
Please note: ‘Regular’ OTB ratings will be used for pairing purposes. If no regular rating is available, then other USCF ratings (quick, blitz, online) can and will be considered for section placement.
All players in this event must be in 12th grade (or lower).
Schedule
No check-in necessary for preregistrations. We will make every attempt to contact you in advance if we see a problem with your registration. Verify your entry ONLINE!
8:30 a.m Announcements begin in all scholastic playing rooms.
Players and coaches should be present.
9:00 a.m. Rd 1 begins. Scholastic sections have 5 rds, G/30, d5.
9:00 a.m. Open section begins. Open has 4 rounds, all rounds are are G/45, d5.
9:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Problem desk open. No changes for round 1 (bye or section) allowed after online registration closes. Requests for byes, withdrawals, and player or school information edits go in effect immediately if made via email before the close of online registration. Changes requested onsite go into effect as of round 2. NO Onsite registrations.
Approximate Round Times
Scholastic Sections:
round 1 – 9:00am, rd 2 – 11:00am, rd 3 – 12:45 pm, rd 4 – 2:30 pm
rd 5 – 4:00 pm
Notes
There will be some “down time” between rounds since many games will finish early. We will provide an area (outside the tournament room) for casual “skittles” chess and/or other indoor activities. Parents and/or coaches, please provide age-appropriate activities during the time between rounds. The organizers cannot baby-sit. No child should be left unattended!
Concessions will be provided by Regents School. Coolers welcome. Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.
COVID-19 protocols are set based on the Travis County Stage of COVID-19. As of January 15th, Travis county is at Stage 5. Facemasks are required. Players are asked to wash hands frequently and use common sense. If you’re not feeling well or have been exposed to COVID-19 in the 14 days preceding the event, please do not attend. All pairings and wall charts will be posted online only to avoid crowding. If Austin-Travis County is reduced to Stage 3 by the time of the event, facemasks will become optional. Proper handwashing and adherence to exposure guidelines are always in force!
Awards
Trophies & Medals to Top Contenders! Ribbons to all participants! Trophies to the top individuals in each scholastic section. Trophies to the top teams in all sections. Number of individual and team trophies will depend on number of entries. Chess medals will go to all players (excluding Open section) that finish the tournament with a positive score (3.0 & 3.5 points). Trophies to players scoring 4.0 and above. No teams in Open section, but special trophies will be awarded to the highest scoring Parent & Child teams.
Entry fee pricing is staggered and based on date of entry/payment. Registration is now closed.
*Early entry $25 thru Saturday 11/27/2021.
* Regular entry $30 thru Saturday, 01/15/2022
*Late entry $40 begins Sunday, 01/16/2022 and ENDS at NOON on Thursday 01/27/2022, at which time online entry closes.
*No onsite entries allowed. No entries accepted after online registration closes.
Withdrawals requested via email before noon on Thursday 1/27/2022 are eligible for a refund (minus a $5 service fee). No refunds for USCF memberships after purchased from the USCF. NO email/phone entries.
Please request byes when you register if possible. First bye receives 1/2-point. Further byes receive 0-points. Email the registrar to make changes to your requested byes. Deadline to add or remove a 1st round requested bye is 9am Friday 1/28/2022. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2.
Email Lori Balkum, registrar@austinchesstournaments.com with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.
Organized by Rocks & Rooks. Gary Gaiffe, tournament organizer (ggaiffe@att.net).
View the preregistration list here.
