2025 South Texas State Grade Championships
Content updated as of October 23, 2025
All participants must have active memberships with both the US Chess Federation and the Texas Chess Association (TCA) in order to compete.
- US Chess Membership: Required for all participants.
- TCA Membership: Also required. For most players, the “Junior Online” membership is the most appropriate option. It costs $3 and grants eligibility to participate in all Texas championship events for one year with no additional TCA fees.
UTRGV does not process USCF or TCA memberships or renewals. Players must complete or renew these memberships independently prior to the tournament.
Shortcut Links:
US Chess Member Lookup
US Chess New/Renewing Membership Page
TCA Members List
TCA New/Renewing Membership Page
Direct Registration & Payment
Registration and payment can be completed online using the link below. We accept both credit/debit cards and electronic checks.
2025 South Texas State Grades Championships Direct Registration/Payment Link
Batch Registrations & Payment
Schools that wish to register multiple players but are unable to make payment at the time of registration may instead submit a batch registration form to chess@UTRGV.edu with a request for alternative or delayed payment arrangements. Payment must still be received prior to the tournament date.
- Entry fee amounts will be determined based on the date the batch form is submitted.
- Unpaid batch entries will be removed from registration if payment is not received by October 10.
Entry Fees
- $40 – by October 13
- $50 – by October 27
- $60 – by November 7
- $80 – on November 8
Important Deadlines & Policies
- Online registration closes at 9:00 AM on November 8. Late registrations made after this time may not be paired for Round 1.
- One (1) half-point bye is available if requested before 9:00 AM on November 8.
- Refunds may be requested until October 25, subject to a $10 service fee.
Participants will have the option to order from a selection of meals in El Comedor, the on-campus restaurant located directly below the playing area. Walk-in orders will be accepted from 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday and 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM on Sunday.
For large team orders, we recommend pre-ordering in advance to minimize wait and preparation time. Meal pre-orders and pick up date can be made via the link below:
2025 South Texas State Grade Championships- Group Meal Pre-order
Meal Details
Each meal combo is priced at $9.95 and includes:
- One main entrée
- A side of chips
- A cookie
- A bottle of water
Main Entrée Options:
- Turkey Cheddar Melt
- Three Tender Combo
- Cheeseburger
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
Participants may also order food independently from the many options off campus, however only food prepared in El Comedor will be allowed within the El Comedor dining area.
Public Access Areas & Skittles Rooms
The UTRGV on-campus restaurant, El Comedor, and two large auditoriums (designated as Skittles Rooms) will be available at no cost to all participants, parents, and sponsors throughout the event. These spaces are sufficiently sized for all small to medium sized groups or teams.
Team Rooms
Private team rooms located within walking distance of the playing venue are available by request.
- Cost: $100 per day for a standard-size team room.
- How to Request: Email chess@UTRGV.edu and include the total number of attendees from your school (participants plus accompanying adults). This helps us assign a team room of appropriate size.
- Due to limited availability, team room requests may prioritized by demand and team size. Team room requests must be made no later than November 3rd.
Pre-registration Lists, Pairings, and Standings will be hosted on the Paperclip Pairings website.
Chess Tournament Pairings | PaperClip Pairings — USCF Gold Affiliate
The Pre-registration is now live, and will be updated every 24 to 48 hours.
Round Pairings will be shared via our Telegram Announcements Channel.
Location
Student Union (BSTUN), Life & Health Sciences Building (LHSB)
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley – Brownsville Campus
650 Ringgold Rd, Brownsville, TX 78520
Parking Information
Parking will be free for all participants and guests during the championship.
Please note, per university policy:
“Any vehicle parked on university property must display a valid permit at all times, except on weekends and university-approved holidays that require campus closure.”
Important Deadlines
- October 13: Last day for $40 early entry fee
- October 27: Last day for $50 standard entry fee and refund requests
- November 3: Last day to request a team room
- November 7: Last day for $60 late entry fee and for batch registration payments
- November 8-9: Tournament Days
Tournament Days – November 8th & 9th, Saturday & Sunday
Saturday: Opening Ceremony, Rounds 1-4
- 9:00 - 9:30 AM: Recommended arrival window
- 9:00 AM: Final opportunity to register and still be eligible for Round 1 pairing ($80 on-site entry)
- 9:30 AM: Pairings posted
- 9:45 AM: Tournament hall opens for Opening Ceremony & Round 1 seating. Parents, Coaches, and Sponsors will be allowed in the Playing Hall ONLY during the Opening Ceremony.
- 10:00 AM: Round 1 begins promptly
- 2:00 PM: Approximate end of Round 4 for Kinder, 1st, & 2nd.
- 5:00 PM: Approximate end of Round 4 for All other sections
Sunday: Rounds 5-6, Awards Ceremonies
- 10:00 AM: Start of Round 5 for all sections
- 12:00 PM: Approximate start of Kinder, 1st, & 2nd Grade Awards Ceremonies
- 2:00 PM: Approximate start of 3rd-8th Grade Awards Ceremonies
- 3:00 PM: Approximate start of Scholarship Armageddon Match & 9th-12th Grade Awards Ceremonies
Rounds will start shortly after the conclusion of the previous round and be announced on site & via Telegram. Note that 9th-12th will play with G60/d5 for Rounds 5 & 6.
For any questions before the tournament, please contact us at:
chess@UTRGV.edu
(956) 882-5761
During the tournament, all official announcements and real-time updates such as round times and pairings will be shared via Telegram to ensure fast and efficient communication. We strongly recommend downloading and installing the Telegram app in advance so you don’t miss any important information.
Join our Telegram Announcements channel here:
t.me/utrgvchess
This tournament is opened to any pre K-12th grade student either living or attending school in
Texas.
A team shall consist of any three players from the same school, and may be
designated at the conclusion of the tournament to include top scorers from that school. Sections
may be combined if deemed necessary, but trophies shall be awarded for all grades represented.
Tournament Sections
There will be 13 sections (one for each grade) and students will only play opponents in their grade, unless otherwise specified.
Participants must compete in the section corresponding to their current grade level.
Pairings & Tournament Format
- Format: 6 rounds, Swiss System
- Time Control:
- K-2nd: G30/d5 for all rounds
- 3rd-8th: G45/d5 for all rounds
- 9th-12th:
- Rounds 1-4: G45/d5
- Rounds 5-6: G60/d5
- Pairing Software: The latest version of Swiss Sys (v11.74) will be used.
- Pairings generated by Swiss Sys are considered final and official.
Notation Requirements
- Notation is optional in Kinder-3rd and required in 4th-12th.
- Players that do not notate in notation-required sections will incur a 5-minute penalty to their remaining time.
Electronic notation devices are not permitted, except for players with disabilities and only with prior authorization.
Individual Tie-Breaks
If two or more players finish with the same score, the following tie-break systems will be applied in order to determine individual awards:
- Modified Median
- Median
- Solkoff
- Sonneborn-Berger
- Cumulative
Team Tie-Breaks
If two or more teams finish with the same score, the following tie-break systems will be applied in order to determine team awards:
- Total Individual Median
- Total Solkoff
- Total Sonneborn-Berger
- Total Cumulative
Total Awards: 78 individual trophies, 13 team trophies, $2,000 in scholarships provided by UTRGV and the Texas Chess Association
Trophies
- Individual Awards: Trophies will be awarded to the top 6 players in each section.
- Team Awards: A trophy will be awarded to the top team in each section.
- Tie-Breaks: Trophies will not be shared among players or teams with the same score. The tie-break systems outlined in Sections, Tournament Rules, & Tiebreaks will be used to determine final standings.
Scholarships
- The top placing finisher (by tiebreak) in the 11th and 12th Grade sections will each receive a $500 TCA scholarship to attend any college or university.
- Additionally, at the beginning of the Awards Ceremony, both of these players will play an Armageddon playoff in front of a live audience and the winner will receive a $1000 scholarship to attend UTRGV.
Armageddon Rules:
- Choice of color will be determined by the 12th Grade player.
- White time: 5 minutes + 1 second increment
- Black time: 4 minutes + 1 second increment
- A draw counts as a win for Black.
- USCF Rules will be enforced.
State Titles
The top scoring player in each grade will be declared the Champion of their respective grade throughout all of South Texas. If two players tie for 1st place in a section, they will be declared co-champions. Trophies will still be awarded based on previously announced tie-breaks.
Awards will not be distributed early. All trophies must be collected during the Awards Ceremony.
- All necessary equipment, including chess sets, clocks, notation sheets, and pens, will be provided by the organizers.
- Electronic notation devices are not permitted, except for players with disabilities and only with prior authorization.
- Upon prior request, accessibility accommodations may be provided to ensure that all participants with disabilities can fully participate in the event.
Chief Tournament Organizers
GM Bartek Macieja
Head Coach, UTRGV Chess Team
Colt Smith-Munoz
Program Manager, UTRGV Chess
Chief Tournament Director
Louis Reed
International Arbiter, National Tournament Director
The UTRGV Chess Program is committed to ensuring the safety, success, and overall experience of all participants and guests.
We have coordinated with the UTRGV Police Department to ensure a sufficient police and security presence throughout the entire event. In addition, our staff is trained and certified in the latest university-mandated crowd management and first-aid procedures to provide a safe and supportive environment for all attendees.