Registration Form is at the very bottom of this page.
Houston City Scholastic
June 28th, 2025
14 day only $23 pre-sale entry from 4/21/25 - 5/4/25!
Entry Fees: $28 EF for scholastic event players if paid by 10pm cst on 6/1/25.
$35 if paid by 10pm cst on 6/22/25.
$49 EF for all registrations after 10pm cst 6/22/25.
This event is limited to students in grades K-12.
Online registration ends once spots run out or by 12 noon Friday June 27th whichever comes first. There is no on-site registration - fill out the online reg. form and we will call/text you if there are still spots available and to collect payment prior to attending.
Pre-sale EFs are 50% refundable if you need to withdraw/cancel participation but you must notify Kwunnie by June 1st 2025 via confirmed received text message to 281.698.0068 or email.
Pre-sale EFs MUST be paid via Zelle and must be received by end of day 5/4/25 to be valid.
A registration form must be completed online prior to sending Zelle payment to “[email protected]”. If your app asks to set up the email as a recipient, use “Chess” as first name, “Refinery” as last name. Include a memo “Houston City EF for XXXX XXXX” where XXXX XXXX is the full name of the competing player. Credit cards, check, paypal are not accepted for pre-sale EF registration.
Refund/Withdrawal Policy:
All regular non pre-sale entries are eligible to receive an 80% refund if requested no later than 10pm Wed June 25th 2025 via TEXT message to 281.698.0068 or email to “[email protected]”. Please check for confirmation after sending the request. Any requests afterwards will not be refunded.
Scholastic event details as follows:
It will be a 5 round Swiss, G25;d5 (1-day Saturday will start about 9am and finish about 4pm). Minimum top 5 scoring individual players will win a trophy in each section. Top 2 “School Teams” in each section will win a team trophy. Team trophies are awarded based on a team of the highest scoring top 3 players with minimum 2 players from the same school or home-school. Sections will be rating based, not divided by age/grade. The event will be USCF rated. Current paid US Chess membership required to participate. If you have to miss a round or leave early, please request a bye.
Scholastic event round times:
Be present no later than 845am on-site. First round starts at 9am sharp. Rounds 1-3 will go ‘back-to-back’. After your child is done with round 3, go to lunch and be back before 1:30pm for round 4. Entire event expected to end approx 4:15pm including award distribution which starts immediately after round 5 is finished.
Venue:
The Moran at CityCentre
800 Sorella Ct, Houston, TX 77024
Free complimentary parking in CityCentre garage nearby on 3rd/4th floors. $149/night room rate while rooms are available valid thru May 28th 2025. $25 destination fee is charged by hotel per night due to prime location within CityCentre. Lots of shopping & dining within walking distance!!! Hotel Room discounted booking link here.
The Unknowns:
Total number of sections or spots available. We are still working with the hotel to determine space limitations.
Byes:
Please request an advance “bye” if you have to miss a round of the tournament and you know this already in advance of attending the tournament. Please request a “withdrawal” if you are leaving early and cannot play the remaining rounds.
Only 2 half point byes may be requested and must be done in advance no later than 12 noon on June 27th if it’s a first round bye or by 12 noon on June 28th for any other round. Last round byes once requested may not be rescinded. Text 281.698.0068 to request byes using the phone number that you registered for the event with or see a TD in person on-site. Alternatively, email from the email you registered with to [email protected].
Forfeit Time:
If an opponent does not show up to the board, a player must wait the amount of “forfeit time” before getting a free win (1F point). For scholastic time controls of G25;d5 the forfeit time is once 25 minutes has elapsed from the start of the round. You must speak directly to a TD in person to claim a forfeit win.
Other Details:
US Chess June 2025 supplement will be used for section placement. Electronic scorekeeping will be allowed in Scholastic sections via US Chess approved devices only.
Special Prizes:
The highest-scoring female player (with a minimum 3pt score) in each Scholastic section will receive a custom medal and two private 1-hour chess lessons with WIM Marie Antoinette San Diego! In the event of a tie, standard MSCO US Chess tiebreaks will be used. These medals and lessons are generously donated by Girl Chess Power and Beyond, a nonprofit organization committed to empowering girls to become confident and independent thinkers.
Questions?
Email me at [email protected] or even better, TEXT message me at 281.698.0068. I respond much faster if it’s a text message. No calls please.
Chess boards and pieces will be provided for use for both Main event and Scholastic events.
Players will need to BRING CHESS CLOCKS!
We cannot provide clocks for everyone to use.
Players will need to BRING CHESS CLOCKS!
We cannot provide clocks for everyone to use.
Past Tournament History with Player Counts
Once you submit the form, please submit payment. After we confirm payment has been received, you will get a reply to the registration submission with confirmation. Give 1-2 days response time please. Thank you! - Kwunnie