2023 South Texas Grade Championships
Updated as of: October 7, 2023 AT 1:35 am.
Pairings
Playing halls:
0-2 grades, Salon Jacaranda 2.22A
3-8 grades, Gran Salon 2.36
9-10 grades, Salon Gardenia 2.20
11-12 grades Salon Bougainvillea 2.24
ONLY PLAYERS AND TOURNAMENT STAFF CAN ENTER THE SECOND FLOOR OF STUDENT UNION. EXCEPTION: 1 GUARDIAN OF A KID PARTICIPATING IN 0-2 GRADES IS ALLOWED TO WAIT ON BENCHES OF THE SECOND FLOOR OF STUDENT UNION.
NOBODY IS ALLOWED IN LA SALA.
Only Texas residents or students enrolled in secondary or primary schools (including home schools) in Texas may play in this event. This is a USCF rated event (for both Regular and Quick ratings).
- Current USCF membership is required https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
- Current TCA membership is required ( https://texaschess.org/memberships/
- For most participants, “Junior Online” membership is most suitable. It costs $3 and allows them to participate in all Texas championships within a year without any additional payment to TCA.
USCF and TCA Memberships will not be processed by the organizers.
Registration
Payment
Entry List
Flyer
Venue
The Plains Capital Bank El Gran Salon (UTRGV Student Union building),
Brownsville Campus of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
1 W University Blvd
Brownsville, TX 78520
Brownsville, TX 78520
Most convenient parking lot: Intersection of E 24th St. and FJRM Ave.
Date
Saturday, October 7-8, 2023
Round 1 starts at 10 am.
IF YOU DROP OUT, OR WON'T PLAY NEXT ROUND, NOTIFY TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR, PREFERABLY AT LEAST AN HOUR BEFORE. Players who forfeit without notice will be removed from the tournament.
Schedule:
Chief Tournament Director
Louis Reed
Chief Organizer
Bartek Macieja
Deputy Chief Organizers
David Ortiz and Mkhitar Hobosyan
System of Competition:
6 rounds, Swiss System
Latest version of Swiss Sys will be used. Pairings created by this program are considered legal and will stand even if a pairing is not ideal, especially if pairings have been already posted. Current version is 11.33
When individual scores are equal, the following order of tie-break systems will be used to designate individual awards:
1) Modified Median
2) Median
3) Solkoff
4) Sonneborn-Berger
5) Cumulative
When team scores are equal, the following order of tie-break systems will be used to designate team awards:
1) Total Individual Median
2) Total Solkoff
3) Total Sonneborn-Berger
4)Total Cumulative
Championship Format
13 sections:
• Kindergarten (includes Pre-K)
• 1st Grade
• 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade
• 4th Grade
• 5th Grade
• 6th Grade
• 7th Grade
• 8th Grade
• 9th Grade
• 10th Grade
• 11th Grade
• 12th Grade
Entry Fee
• $40 by September 18, 2023• $50 by September 25, 2023
• $60 by October 2, 2023
• $70 by October 6, 2023
• $100 on October 7, 2023
No refunds after September 25, 2023. Refund charge: $5
No P.O.'s will be accepted. No cash will be accepted.
Make checks payable to: UTRGV Chess Program
or
PAY ONLINE HERE - Credit Card or Electronic Check (ACH)Entries on October 7 will be permitted up to 30 minutes before the first round. Players that are not registered by the cutoff time shall be paired from Round 2 only (unless the Chief Tournament Director decides otherwise).
Awards
• $1,000 scholarships to attend UTRGV will be provided to the winner of the 12th grade section (prospective student must pass all requirements to attend).
• Books with signatures of the UTRGV Chess Team will be awarded to the winner of each section.
• The winner of each section will be invited for an online training session with the UTRGV Chess Team.
• Trophies will be awarded to the top 8 individual finishers in each section.
• Championship medals will be awarded to the top 3 individual finishers in each section.
• Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 teams in each section. A team shall consist of any 3 players from the same school, and may be designated at the conclusion of the tournament to include the top scorers from that school.
• Awards will not be split between participants / teams with the same number of points – the tie-break point system described in the Tournament Regulations will be used.
• Awards will not be given out in advance and must be picked up at the Awards Ceremony.
Side Event
After the conclusion of the last round on Saturday, October 8, players are welcome to stay for a free simul with the UTRGV Chess Team - the most successful US collegiate team since 2018.
Additional Information
• Chess sets, notations, pencils, and pens will be provided. Electronic notation devices shall not be used except for players with a disability and only with prior authorization.
• Free game analysis will be provided by members of the UTRGV Chess Team on both days.
• Accommodation for participants with disabilities will be ensured.
• Upon timely request, separate rooms in proximity to the playing venue will be available for rent.
• Free parking (zones 1-3).