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Grade Tournament

October 25, 2025

K-12 | 4 Rounds | G/45 d5

@De Smet Jesuit High School

233 N New Ballas Rd, St. Louis, MO 63141, USA

Online registration is closed.

Saturday walk-in registration is available

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Event Details

  • REGISTRATION: Advanced registration is strongly encouraged and available online at www.gatewaychess.org. The deadline for advanced registration is 7:00 pm, Thursday, October 23. 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 4 ROUNDS. Each school may enter any number of players.

    • SECTIONS: Players will be paired with players only in the SAME GRADE. (Sections may be combined for pairing purposes if there are not enough players.)

    • DIVISIONS (FOR TEAM TROPHIES): 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, 11:30, 1:30, and 3:30. Final 2 rounds will start earlier if possible.

    • TIME CONTROL: Game in 45m + 5s time delay

  • AWARDS: The awards ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm (or earlier if possible). No awards will be presented prior to the ceremony.

    • Four (4) school trophies will be awarded in the High School division. Two (2) school trophies will be awarded in each of the other 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.

    • Players who score 3 points but do not score high enough to win a trophy will receive a medal.

  • 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, and Cumulative Opp. 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.

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