Board Tournament

REGISTRATION:  Advanced registration is strongly encouraged and available online at www.gatewaychess.org.  The deadline for advanced registration is 7:00 pm, Thursday, February 19.  On-site registration will be available from 8:00 am to 8:30 am on the day of the tournament for an additional fee.

ELIGIBILITY:  All students in Kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) are eligible.

FORMAT:  The tournament will be played in 6 ROUNDS.  Each school may enter any number of players.

• SECTIONS:  All players regardless of grade level will be paired in ONE SECTION.

• DIVISIONS (FOR TEAM AWARDS):  High School, Ninth Grade and Under, Eighth Grade and Under, Sixth Grade and Under, Fifth Grade and Under, and Third Grade and Under

• ROUND TIMES:  9:30, 11:00, 12:30, 2:00, 3:30, and 5:00.  Final 2 rounds will start earlier if possible.

• TIME CONTROL:  Game in 25m + 5s time delay

AWARDS:  The awards ceremony will begin at 6:30 pm (or earlier if possible).  No awards will be presented prior to the ceremony.

• Two (2) school trophies will be awarded in all divisions.  (Minimum of two players constitutes a team.)

  • School score is the sum of the four highest player scores.

• Three (3) individual trophies will be awarded per grade level.  One (1) for Kindergarten.

ENTRY FEE:  The entry fee is $15.00 per player if pre-registered online.  The entry fee is $20.00 per player if registering on-site.  Players who begin registration after 9:00 am may not be paired in round one.  Payment may be made through PayPal during online registration or by cash, check, or credit card on site.

MEMBERSHIP:  United States Chess Federation membership is required for tournament participation.  Players must either show proof of current membership or purchase at the tournament.  Discounted rate (on-site only) starts at $12.00, while supplies last.

RATINGS:  The current month United States Chess Federation rating supplement will be used for pairings.  Players without a rating will be paired as unrated. (Local ratings no longer assigned.)

TIE BREAKERS:  Ties will be broken using Modified Median, Solkoff, Cumulative, and Cumulative Opp. for individual trophies and using Solkoff, Cumulative, Cumulative Opp., and Median for team trophies.

EQUIPMENT:  Players are responsible for providing sets, boards, and clocks.  A limited number of clocks will be available for checkout.  Chess equipment may be on sale during the tournament.

SPONSORS:  Each school must have either a sponsor or parent present.  There will be a sponsors and parents meeting approximately fifteen minutes after the start of round one.

TOURNAMENT COORDINATORS:  The tournament director is Thomas Rehmeier.  The tournament organizer is Sam Kassis.  For further information please call Sam Kassis at 314-496-2266 or visit www.gatewaychess.org.