The Open and K-12 Sections held in conjunction with the Rocks & Rooks scholastic chess tournament on October 5, 2024, all in celebration of National Chess Week. USCF rated chess tournament for adults and more advanced scholastic players. 5SS of G/40 +5!
Verify your entry on the advance entry list.
Thank you for playing! Final Results are online! The tournament has been rated by the USCF.
Day-of reminders:
+We play in the ELEMENTARY BUILDING on Great Northern. This is tbe building behind the big black middle school building!
+Read our player reminders (you are responsible for all this info!)
+Pairings will be online.
+Games will be played in room 123 (building map).
+We start promptly at 9am!
+NO CONCESSIONS will be offered (bring all of your food and drinks!)
+Watch for a player reminder email – check your junk folder!
Basics
This is a Swiss-system tournament, so everyone plays all day—there is no “elimination.” Players must know how to play the game of chess! We follow USCF rules including: touch-move, mandatory clocks (bring your own if at all possible), and mandatory notation. If registrations exceed 32, we reserve the right to split into two sections.
Location
Paragon Prep
7944 Great Northern Boulevard
Austin, TX 78757
Eligibility
Open Section:
All adults
Any youth who have reached at least 1300 by the October 2024 USCF supplement.
K-12 Elite:
Any youth rated between 950 and 1399 on the October 2024 USCF Supplement
Ineligible entries will be moved to the appropriate ‘under’ scholastic section of the 2024 National Chess Week Scholastic Chess Tournament.
This is a rated tournament. You must have a USCF ID and your membership (can be purchased/renewed at check out or online with the USCF in advance of registration) . You can verify your USCF membership ID and expiration by visiting the USCF’s Member Services Area. Anyone can become a USCF member. Players new to tournament chess are welcome to play. Your USCF membership cannot expire before October 31, 2024. USCF memberships can be renewed/purchased at check-out.
Schedule
No check-in necessary for preregistrations. We will make every attempt to contact you in advance if we see a problem with your registration. Verify your entry ONLINE!
9:00 a.m. Open and K-12 Elite sections begin.Both sections have 5 rounds, all rounds are G/40, +5.
No changes for round 1 (bye or section) allowed after online registration closes. Requests for byes, withdrawals, player info edits be made onsite with your chief TD and go into effect as of round 2.
Approximate Round Times
Open and K-12 Elite Sections:
rd 1 – 9:00am, rd 2 – 10:50am, rd 3 – 12:40pm, rd 4 – 2:25pm, rd 5 – 4:05pm
Notes
There will be some “down time” between rounds since many games will finish early. We will provide an area (outside the tournament room) for casual “skittles” chess and/or other indoor activities.
No concessions currently scheduled. Please bring your lunch and snacks. Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.
Proper handwashing and adherence to COVID 19 exposure guidelines mandatory!
Awards
Open section:
Cash prizes based on number of entries. Special trophies will be awarded to the highest scoring Family & Child teams (Uncles, Aunts, Siblings, Parents, or Grandparents paired with at least one scholastic aged player.).
K-12 Elite:
Trophies to top finishers. Medals to positive scores not receiving a trophy. Trophies top teams.
Registration Information
Entry fee pricing is staggered and based on date of entry/payment.
*youth – $35/adult – $25 thru Saturday, 8/31/2024.
*youth – $40/adult – $30 thru Saturday, 9/14/2024
*youth – $45/adult – $35 thru Saturday, 9/28/2024.
*Late entry youth-$50 / adult – $40 begins Sunday, 9/29/2024 and ENDS at 5pm on Thursday 10/3/24, at which time online entry closes.
*If space permits, onsite registration on Saturday, 10/5/24 will be permitted, $60 youth – $50 adult. Cash or venmo only. First round play requires registration and payment before 8:45am. **No space for onsite entries**
Withdrawals requested via email before midnight on Wednesday 10/2/24 are eligible for a refund (minus a $10 service fee). No exceptions. No refunds for USCF memberships after purchased from the USCF. NO email/phone entries.
Please request byes when you register if possible. First bye receives 1/2-point. Further byes receive 0-points. Email the registrar to make changes to your requested byes. Deadline to add or remove a 1st round requested bye is 9am Friday 10/4/2024. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2.
Email Lori Balkum, registrar (registrar@AustinChessTournaments.com) with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.
Organized by Rocks & Rooks. Gary Gaiffe, tournament organizer (ggaiffe@att.net).