Entry Fees
Early EF $32 if paid by 10pm CST Friday December 23rd 2022
EF increases to $38 if paid between 10pm 12/23/22 and 10pm Wed 1/4/23
EF increases to $45 after 10pm Wed 1/4/23
EF increases to $38 if paid between 10pm 12/23/22 and 10pm Wed 1/4/23
EF increases to $45 after 10pm Wed 1/4/23
Sections*
Section I - for players rated between 1000 - 1300 USCF
Section II - for players who are USCF 600 - 999
Section III - for players who are USCF 200 - 599 USCF
Section IV - for players who are Unrated up to 199 USCF
*Players will be placed in a section based on their OTB SUPPLEMENT RTG for the month of January 2023, not on the latest LIVE ratings.
This January supplement list should be reflected online by USCF on December 21st, 2022 but isn't official until the 1st of the month.
You may request for your player to play "up one section" if and only if he/she has achieved a live OTB rating within 50 points of the higher section limit in the year of 2022. Any players who do not have an OTB rating and only an online rating, you will be required to play in Section IV regardless of what your online rating is. OTB provisionally rated players will be handled on a case by case basis.
Section II - for players who are USCF 600 - 999
Section III - for players who are USCF 200 - 599 USCF
Section IV - for players who are Unrated up to 199 USCF
*Players will be placed in a section based on their OTB SUPPLEMENT RTG for the month of January 2023, not on the latest LIVE ratings.
This January supplement list should be reflected online by USCF on December 21st, 2022 but isn't official until the 1st of the month.
You may request for your player to play "up one section" if and only if he/she has achieved a live OTB rating within 50 points of the higher section limit in the year of 2022. Any players who do not have an OTB rating and only an online rating, you will be required to play in Section IV regardless of what your online rating is. OTB provisionally rated players will be handled on a case by case basis.
Time Control
G/25;d5
(each side gets 25 minutes plus a five second delay - NOT increment)
(each side gets 25 minutes plus a five second delay - NOT increment)
# 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 five rounds in the event of forfeits, byes due to odd numbered of players, etc.
Round Times*
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Rd 1 | 9:15am |
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Rd 2 | 10:15am* |
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Rd 3 | 11:15am* |
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Lunch - leave when finished with round 3 and come back before 1:15pm | |
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Rd 4 | 1:15pm |
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Rd 5 | 2:15pm* |
| Saturday, 1/7/23 | Awards | 3:15pm or earlier possible |
*The rounds will go back-to-back. This means, even though we have a start time of 10:15am 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 1015am and so on or possibly slightly later than expected. Most of our scholastic events will be wrapped up by 330-345pm.
Prizes
Minimum of 5 trophies awarded for each section.
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.
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 connected via skywalk to Memorial City Mall
945 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77024
Google Maps Link
945 Gessner Rd, Houston, TX 77024
Google Maps Link
Hotel booking discounted rate link. Deadline for booking with discounted rate is December 9th 2022.
Parking Information
Westin garage self-parking is $8 per day (ask for sticker voucher with one of the TDs) to affix to your parking ticket. No discounts for overnight parking stays available. Valet is discounted to $12. 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.
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.
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 register and cannot make the tournament or are running late, please email/text us.
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.
This will be done late Friday evening or early Sat morning.
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.
If you register and cannot make the tournament or are running late, please email/text us.
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.
This will be done late Friday evening or early Sat morning.
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.
Mask Policy
Masks are recommended but will not be required to be worn.
Please refrain from attending if you have any cold, severe coughing, flu like symptoms.
We appreciate your cooperation and respect for the well being of other participants.
Please refrain from attending if you have any cold, severe coughing, flu like symptoms.
We appreciate your cooperation and respect for the well being of other participants.
70% Refund Policy
Refunds/Withdrawals must be requested by Wed January 4th to receive a 70% refund.
All subsequent withdrawals are not refunded regardless of when you registered.
All changes/requests will incur additional transaction fees due to processing charges.
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 can and frequently do run out of spots. 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
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