Easter Egg Hunt

This event takes place early in the morning, so please be on time and arrive no later than 8:45 AM. The hunt cannot be held later in the day, as it takes time to set up and hide the eggs. If everyone is already present, the eggs would disappear too quickly! To keep the event fair and enjoyable for all, anyone caught taking eggs before the official start may be prohibited from future egg hunts and chess tournaments hosted by The Chess Refinery. A great deal of effort goes into preparing this event, so we kindly ask for your cooperation and respect in following the guidelines. Thank you for helping us make this a fun experience for everyone!

Click here to watch the video of last year's Easter Egg Hunt & Chess Tournament. This year it's at a different venue though!!!

Entry Fees

Early Lowest Entry Fee is $28 if paid BEFORE 10pm CST Thursday 4/10/25
EF (entry fee) increases to $38 if paid AFTER 10pm CST Thursday 4/10/25
EF increases to $50 after 10pm CST Wed 4/16/25

Sections & Time Controls*

"Kings" section (900+) - for players rated 900 USCF and up
"Bishops" section (U900) - for players who are rated 899 USCF and below
"Knights" section (U700) - for players who are rated 699 USCF and below
"Rooks" section (U500) - for players who are rated 499 USCF and below or UNRATED

*Players will be placed in a section based on their OTB SUPPLEMENT RTG for the month of April 2025.
Live ratings may be used for section placement if HIGHER than the supplement rating.
Sections may be merged if there is a low number of attendees.
Any players who do not have an official OTB rating and only an online USCF rating, you will be placed in a section based on your highest available online supplement rating listed. UNR players who have OTB tournament history after the supplement was published will be placed in a section according to their latest live post tournament rating.

# of Rounds

Each player will play all 5 rounds regardless if the player loses his/her first round. This is NOT a knock-out tournament. However, It is possible a player may not play all rounds in the event of forfeits, byes due to odd numbered of players, etc.

G25;d5 Round Times*

Saturday Rd 1 9:15am
Saturday Rd 2 10:30am*
​​​​​​​Saturday Rd 3 11:45am*
​​​​​​​Saturday Lunch - leave when finished with round 3 and come back before 1:30pm
​​​​​​​Saturday Rd 4 1:30pm
​​​​​​​Saturday Rd 5 2:45pm*
​​​​​​​Saturday Awards 3:45pm or so. As soon as possible after all games are finished.
*The rounds will go back-to-back. This means, even though we have a start time of 10:30am for round 2, actual start time will be whenever round 1 finishes and pairings are finalized. So if round 1 finishes in 45 min, then round 2 will start earlier than 1030am and so on or possibly slightly later than expected. Most of our scholastic 5 rd G25;d5 events will be wrapped up between 3:30pm - 4:30pm. 

Prizes

Minimum of 5 place Trophies awarded for each section.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th place Trophies plus possible medals depending on tiebreaks.
​USCF MSCO Tiebreak calculations used for award distribution in the event of ties.
To see information about tiebreaks, go to page 114 of this PDF link.
​Please note, resulting crosstables shown on USCF website after tournament is rated are not displayed in tiebreak order.

Venue Information

Westin Houston Memorial is connected via a skywalk to Memorial City Mall
945 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77024
Google Maps Link

Parking Information

Westin garage self-parking is $10 per day (ask for sticker voucher with one of the TDs) to affix to your parking ticket the day of the event. No discounts for overnight parking stays available. One-day Valet is discounted to $15 (not valid for overnight stay). If using the skybridge from the mall, look for signs guiding you to the Starbucks which is inside the hotel. Mall security will tow your vehicle if it stays overnight. They will not tow you if are a mall visitor during operating hours. If parking mall security asks, tell them you will be visiting the mall food court and Westin hotel throughout the day.

What to Bring

Please bring a pencil for notation, your own scorebook if you have one and a digital chess clock.
​This basic single time control is a recommended clock.
We will be providing boards, sets and notation sheets for the scholastic tournament.
Failure to do notation will not be penalized if your child is new to tournament chess. However, please have them learn how to do so.
If you show up without a clock and your opponent also does not have a clock, the kids will start play without a clock.
​We may however add a clock to the board as needed towards the end of the round.

Bring portable seating as desired (i.e. folding camp chair). We are unable to provide chairs for every individual waiting in the lobby.
There will be waiting areas within the Lantana room and in the outdoor covered patio area near Lantana.

What to Do Before and Upon Arrival

​There is no check-in process. You do not have to check in with the TD. Plan to be early, not late.
If you plan to participate in the Easter egg hunt, show up no later than 8:45am!
If you register and cannot make the tournament or are running late, please email or text us.
Email:  [email protected]   Text:  281-698-0068
Find your pairings. They will be posted online and/or on a piece of paper posted on-site at the event.
You will be notified via text message or email of where the pairings can be found.
You have to join our text list for this event to get these notifications. TEXT the word "scholastic" to 888-680-9134.
​This will be done late Friday evening or early Sat morning.
A link will also be posted on this website. Just check in the drop down menu at the very top.
Determine what board your child is playing at and have them seated accordingly.
Leave your child at the board and make sure he/she knows where to find you after he/she finishes each game.
Parents wait outside of the tournament hall, not inside. Wait in the foyer or any other lobby space nearby the playing hall.

70% Refund Policy

​Refunds/Withdrawals must be requested by 1:00 pm central on Friday April 18th 2025 to receive a 70% refund.
Send a text to 281.698.0068. Include full player name, etc.
All subsequent withdrawals are not refunded regardless of when you registered.
All changes/requests will incur additional transaction fees due to processing charges.

Online Registration Only

There is not on-site registration for this event. We have total 92 spots available. Please register as soon as possible.
​Helpful information for parents to share with their kids:
How to notate your game: ​www.chesskid.com/videos/how-to-keep-score-algebraic-notation
Tournament chess etiquette: www.gatewaychess.org/Quick_Guide.pdf
Parent Tournament Guidelines: www.thechessrefinery.org/parent-guidelines.html
For parents and players new to tournament chess: www.thechessrefinery.org/tournament-newbie.html

    Register here then click for payment
    All competing players MUST have a current US chess membership in order to play in this event. See details here.
    Need to skip a round? Total 2 half point byes allowed. Please indicate below if you need to miss a round of the tournament.
    Terms and conditions: The player is age 18 and below and currently enrolled in a school or is home-schooled. This event is limited to students in grades K-12 only. I have read and understand the refund policy noted on this page. I am aware that Tournament staff, volunteers, directors are not responsible for the guardianship of my child. I will be present or will have an adult/guardian present to oversee my child for the duration of the event as needed.

Registration List Below

Online Pairings Link

​Only 92 spots total available. 2 spots left.

Please give a few days after registration to view your name on the list after signing up. List is not updated automatically.
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