2025 Texas State Girls' Championship
Content updated as of September 25 , 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.
Helpful Links:
US Chess Member Lookup
US Chess New/Renewing Membership Page
TCA Members List
TCA New/Renewing Membership Page
Registration & Online Payment
Registration and payment can be completed online using the link below. We accept both credit/debit cards and electronic checks.
2025 Texas State Girls' Championship Registration/Payment Link
School Registrations & Batch Payments
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.
- 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 September 29
- $50 – by October 6
- $60 – by October 10
- $80 – on October 11
Important Deadlines & Policies
- Online registration closes at 9:00 AM on October 11. Late registrations made after this time might not be paired for Round 1.
- One (1) half-point bye is available if requested before 9:00 AM on October 11.
- Refunds may be requested until October 5, subject to a $10 service fee.
Participants will have the option to pre-order meals from El Comedor, the on-campus restaurant located directly below the playing area.
Important: All meals must be pre-ordered at least 48 hours before the tournament using our online form. Walk-up meal orders will not be accepted during the event.
Meal Pre-Order Link
Pickup Details
- Pickup Time: 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Location: El Comedor
- Requirements: Participants must present their name and ID to collect their order.
Meal Details
Each pre-ordered meal is priced at $9.95 and includes:
- One main entrée
- A side of chips
- A cookie
- A bottle of water
Entrée Options:
- Turkey Cheddar Melt
- Three Tender Combo
- Cheeseburger
- Grilled Chicken Caesar Wrap
Participants may also order food independently from the many options outside campus, however only food prepared in El Comedor will be allowed in 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 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 October 9th.
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.
Venue & Parking
Location:
Student Union, Room BSTUN 2.36
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
- September 29: Last day for $40 early entry fee
- October 6: Last day for $50 standard entry fee and refund requests
- October 9: Final day to request team rooms and submit meal pre-orders
- October 10: Last day for $60 late entry fee and for batch registration payments
- October 11: Tournament Day
Tournament Day – Saturday, October 11
Arrival & Check-In
- 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 Round 1 seating
Rounds & Schedule
- 10:00 AM: Round 1 begins promptly
- Subsequent Rounds: Start times will be announced via Telegram and will begin shortly after the conclusion of the previous round
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Pre-ordered meal pickup at El Comedor (participants must present name and ID)
Awards Ceremony
-
~4:30 PM: Target time for the conclusion of all rounds and the start of Awards Ceremony (approximate and subject to change based on round duration)
Arriving on time ensures a smooth check-in and avoids pairing delays. Pairings will not be adjusted for late arrivals once posted.
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
Only Texas female 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). Players must play within their section by grade.
A team shall consist of any four players from the same school, and may be designated
at the conclusion of the tournament to include the top scorers from that school. A minimum of two players from the same school and section are required to be considered a team.
Tournament Sections
The championship will consist of five sections, based on grade level:
- Kinder – 1st Grade
- Primary (K–3)
- Elementary (K–5)
- Middle School (6–8)
- High School (9–12)
Participants must compete in the section corresponding to their current grade level.
Pairings & Tournament Format
- Format: 5 rounds, Swiss System
- Time Control: G30/d5 (Game in 30 minutes with a 5-second delay) for all sections
- 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 required in the Elementary, Middle School, and High School sections.
- Choosing not to notate in these sections will incur a 5-minute penalty to their remaining time.
- Notation is optional in the Kinder–1st and Primary (K–3) sections.
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: 50 individual trophies, 15 team trophies, $2,000 in scholarships provided by UTRGV and the Texas Chess Association (TCA), 4 seats at the 2025 Texas Junior Invitational
Trophies
- Individual Awards: Trophies will be awarded to the top 10 players in each section.
- Team Awards: Trophies will be awarded to the top 3 teams in each section.
- Tie-Breaks: Trophies will not be shared among players or teams with the same score. The tie-break systems outlined in the Tournament Regulations will be used to determine final standings, except in the case of a tie for 1st Place.
- Playoff for 1st Place Trophy: In the event of a tie between the top two placing girls in any section, both players will be declared Texas State Girls Co-champions for their section. However, an Armageddon playoff will be used to determine the 1st place trophy winner.
Scholarships
- The top two finishers (by tiebreak) in the High School section will each receive a $500 TCA scholarship to attend any college or university.
- Additionally, those two players will compete in an Armageddon playoff during the start of the Awards Ceremony, and the winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship to attend UTRGV.
Note: If the top two players in the High School section are tied on points, a single Armageddon game will determine both the 1st place trophy and the UTRGV scholarship recipient.
Armageddon Rules:
- Colors will be determined by a coin flip.
- White time: 5 minutes + 1 second increment
- Black time: 4 minutes + 1 second increment
- A draw counts as a win for Black.
2026 Texas Junior Invitational Qualifier
The top placing player in the High School, Middle School, Elementary, and Primary sections from this event will each qualify to participate in the 2026 Texas Junior Invitational, as defined by Texas Chess Association bylaws:
“2c3. Girls Qualifier. The four highest-placing players in the Texas Girls Championship shall be entitled to participate in the girls section of the tournament. If the Girls Championship is divided into grade-based sections, the oldest section shall have one representative, the second oldest section shall have another, and so on, until all seats are filled. Any remaining seats will be allocated to the oldest section.”
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-Muñoz
Program Manager, UTRGV Chess
Chief Tournament Director
Louis Reed
International Arbiter
The UTRGV Chess Program is dedicated 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 security presence throughout the 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 everyone.