Tag: quick rated

Posted on by

4th Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #1

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on January 17, 2026. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 100 players!

Top 10 places in Section A will earn Junior Qualifier Points – see https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/ for information about the points system.

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Players are not allowed to play up or down*

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 9:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony: After the last game of the section finishes.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-4-junior-qualifier-1/ by 11:59pm, January 11, 2026
●  $50  on or after January 12, 2026
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com
 
PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)
 
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 
Posted on by

Waco January 17 Swiss

Saturday, January 17, 2026
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 1624 Wooded Acres Dr., Waco, TX 76710 (Behind Target)

 (Enter through main door and turn right. Tournament room is at the end of Parish Hall.)
 
VIEW ENTRY LIST   (This is manually entered, so it may not reflect recent registrations.)

4 Rounds at a time control of G/45;d5 (45 minutes with a 5 second delay)

3 Sections: 
  • Championship- Ratings 1600+ (1400-1599 may play up for $10 fee)
  • Under 1601- Ratings 1000-1601 (800-999 may play up for $10 fee) 
  • Under 1000- Ratings up to 999
 
Notes on Sections:
  • Most unrated players should play in the Under 1000 section, but you may play in the U1601.
  • We go by monthly published ratings, but if your live current rating goes up before the tournament, you may request to move sections.  There may be a play-up fee, depending on your rating.
  • There is a $10 PLAY-UP FEE for those playing up to a higher section.  You must still meet the section minimum rating to play up.
                
Check-in & Pay: 9:30 to 9:50 AM
 (*Because we do not accept payment in advance,  players not checked in by 9:50 am will NOT be paired in Round 1 –unless you notify us that you are on the way.  If you are registered, but can no longer play, please let us know.)

Round Times: 
  • Round 1- 10:00 AM
  • Round 2- 11:45 AM 
  • Round 3- 2:00 PM 
  • Round 4- 3:45 PM
 
Entry Fee: $20 CASH (no credit, no debit) upon arrival.  Exact change is appreciated! Extra $10 play-up fee for those playing up.
Cash Prizes- Based on the number of entries. The prize list will be posted on-site, after the start of Round 1.

Limited Capacity of 70 players!
Register by filling out the form below.

—————————————————————
 
This is a rated tournament. Current US Chess membership required (https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess.)
Please check that your membership is not expired before registering (https://ratings.uschess.org.) If you need help creating or renewing your US Chess membership, please email us (contact info is below.)
 
Notation is required.  We provide notation sheets if you don’t have your own. You may also use your own notation book/ sheets or a USCF approved notation device.  Please bring a pen or pencil.
If you don’t know how to notate, learn here: 

Please bring a chess clock if you have one.  The club has a limited supply.  Chess sets are provided. 
 
For those new to tournaments: Swiss means all players will play all 4 rounds, unless there is a requested bye (1/2 point) because you need to miss a round or an assigned bye (full point) due to uneven sections.
 
——————————————————————
 
For questions or problems registering, please email:
Dan Shafer (daniel_m_shafer@baylor.edu) or Deborah Shafer (dshaferchess@yahoo.com)
 
Posted on by

2026 Region VI Scholastic Championships 2/28/26

The 2026 Region VI Scholastic Championship tournament will be held in San Antonio and presented by Complete Chess!

This tournament will be a qualifier for the Spring 2026 Texas Junior Invitationals! The Invitational winners earn the right to represent Texas in the national invitationals to be held just before the US Open in the summer. For more information, see the invitationals policy here: https://texaschess.org/2025-2026-invitationals-policy/

Overview

USCF rated Scholastic chess tournament on 2/28/2026. Trophies, medals, and regional championships awarded. Accompanying Adult section offered. Hosted by Complete Chess.

Visit the Complete Chess Website today to learn more! Registration page: HERE


USCF rated chess tournament on February 28th in 14 RATED scholastic sections open to all Region VI players:

High School (9-12) Championship
High School (9-12) U1000
Middle School (6-8) Championship
Middle School (6-8) U1000
Middle School (6-8) U600
Elementary (K-5) Championship
Elementary (K-5) U800
Elementary (K-5) U400
Primary (K-3) Championship
Primary (K-3) U800
Primary (K-3) U600
Primary (K-3) U400
Sprout (K-1) U600
Adult (no youth)

Elementary sections are restricted to Elementary students. Middle School sections are restricted to Middle School students. Homeschoolers should follow traditional age guidelines, with 6th grade age players in Middle School.

If turnout for any one section is small (under 17 players), we may (or may not) merge it with another section having the same time controls and neighboring ratings or grades.

Location

Dwight Middle School
2454 W. Southcross
San Antonio, TX 78211

Eligibility

This tournament is an official Texas Chess Association sanctioned event. TCA has specific guidelines on section placement. If you are unsure of which section you should choose, please read a description of the TCA guidelines.

“Under” sections are only for students meeting the rating criteria. All players who are new to tournaments are eligible for their age appropriate ‘under’ section. (Look up your player’s rating here. Please email or ask your chess coach for placement information,services.completechess@gmail.com

You must have a USCF ID and your membership cannot expire before February 28, 2026

Schedule and Round Times

Round time Championship Sections and Adult section:

  • In person registration at 8:00-8:45 am if not done online.
  • Rounds start promptly on Feb 28th at 9:00am, 10:15am, 11:30am 1:15pm and 3:00pm.
  • Rounds 1, 2, & 3: G/30;d5
  • Rounds 4, & 5: G/45;d5.

Round times for all ‘Under’ Sections (U1000,U800,U600,U400):

  • In person registration at 8:00-8:45 am if not done online.
  • Rounds start promptly on Feb 28th at 10:00am, 11:15am, 12:20pm, 1:00pm and 2:10pm.
  • All Rounds: G/30;d5

Speed games will determine the winner if multiple perfect scores occur.

Awards

Individual or team winners of each championship section are declared the Texas Region VI champion for their respective grade group.
Individual trophies are awarded in each advertised scholastic section, even if merged
Individual cash prizes (50% payout based on 20 entries) are awarded in the Adult section (see website for specifics).
Medals are awarded to all non-trophy players with positive scores in non-adult sections.
Team trophies are awarded separately in each section. School teams count the top four players (minimum two) in their respective sections. Exact number and division of trophies will depend on advance entries for individuals and teams.

Registration Information

Entry fee pricing is staggered and based on date of entry/payment. Onsite entries accepted, but may require a round 1 bye.

Register online today!

  • Early Entry – $30 (through January 10, 2026)
  • Regular Entry – $40 (January 11 – February 7, 2026)
  • Late Entry – $50 (February 8 – February 20, 2026)
  • On-Site Entry – $60 (February 21, 2026, may receive 1st-round bye)

Withdrawals requested via email no later than Saturday 2/21/2026 are eligible for a refund (minus a $7 processing and transaction fee).

One 1/2-point available for any round if notified before Round 2 is paired. Further byes receive 0-points. No last round byes. Email services.completechess@gmail.com with changes to your ticket OR edit your ticket by logging into your account on eventbrite at any time.

Questions

Contact services.completechess@gmail.com with any questions.

Organized by Complete Chess.

Posted on by

Open and K-12 Elite Sections at the Paragon Prep January 2026 Tournament-NOW ON 1/31/26

Awards:

Full pairings and standings can be found at the registration link below (click on the blue “Live” text to get to them).

The wrap-up email sent out the evening of 1/31 can be found HERE

Player reminder email sent Thursday evening is linked HERE

The Open and K-12 Sections held in conjunction with the Rocks & Rooks scholastic chess tournament on January 31, 2026. The first major Rocks & Rooks event of 2026! This USCF rated chess tournament is for adults and more advanced scholastic players.

Register HERE! When you click the link, scroll to the bottom for registration.

See Preregistration List HERE

 

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 in any one section, 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 1200 on the January 2026 USCF supplement (exceptions made for live ratings).
K-12 Elite:
Any youth rated between 950 and 1299 on the January 2026 USCF supplement (exceptions made for live ratings).

Ineligible entries will be moved to the appropriate ‘under’ scholastic section of the Paragon Prep January 2026 Scholastic 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. Adults new to tournament chess are welcome to play in the open section. Youth players MUST have a ratings-history. Your USCF membership cannot expire before January 31, 2026. 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!
8:45 a.m. K-12 Elite begins
9:15 a.m. Open  sections begin. Open has 4 rounds of G/45,+5; K-12 Elite has 5 rounds of 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*:
Open (4 rounds):
rd 1 – 9:15am, rd 2 – 11:10am, rd 3 – 1:30pm, rd 4 – 3:30pm
K-12 Elite (5 rounds):
rd 1 – 8:45am, rd 2 – 10:35am, rd 3 – 12:25pm, rd 4 – 2:15pm, rd 5 – 4:00pm

(Sections will play in separate rooms.)

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.

Concessions will be offered for purchase. You may bring your lunch and snacks.  Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.

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 to top teams.

Registration Information

*$40 (youth) /$30 (adult) through Saturday, 12/20/2025
*$50 (youth) /$40 (adult) through Saturday, 1/10/2026
*$55 (youth) /$45 (adult) as of Sunday, 1/11/2026 and ENDS at 5pm on Thursday 1/29/26, at which time online entry closes.
*$65 (youth) / $50 (adult) Late entry (after regular online entry closes), IF space is available. Link will be available from the time regular online entry closes thru 9:30am Saturday 1/31/2026. All scholastic late entries receive a 1/2pt bye in round 1, and begin play in round 2. Open section first round play requires registration and payment before 8:45am Saturday.

Withdrawals requested via email before midnight on Wednesday 1/28/26 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.
*K-12 Elite: Deadline to add or remove a 1st round requested bye is 9am Friday 1/30/2026. All 1/2-point byes must be requested or removed before the end of round 2. After 9am Friday, please make all changes and requests onsite at Chess Control.
*Open section: Will be paired onsite.  Round 1 changes must be made no later than 8:45am.

Email Sarah Brauner (AustinChessTournaments@gmail.com) with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.

View the ONLINE TLA!

Posted on by

ACC Quick-rated G/24 Swiss

A one-day tournament on November 22, 2025 offering G/24 with 5 sec. delay per move. 4 Round Swiss. Sections dependent on turnout. EF: $15.00 all. USCF membership required.  Online registration and payment requested.

Austin Chess Club is a wonderful atmosphere for the mature, experienced chess player. Scholastic players are welcome, but expected to play quiet, serious chess. We suggest that scholastic players have reached a rating of 400 before participating.  USCF membership must not expire before November 30, 2025. Please renew with the USCF (https://new.uschess.org/) before coming to the event.

We would like to start on-time. Please arrive early. Entries must be received and paid in full by 3:45pm.  Online entry preferred.

Entry fee is $15/player. We would like the first round to begin at 4:00pm sharp. Doors open at 3:00pm, so please arrive early. Follow the signs to our meeting areas.

Equipment provided. We look forward to seeing you!

Location: entrance is at the back of the parking lot, up the stairway with the Austin Chess Club sign
3407 Red River St
Austin TX 78705

Finding the club Click for picture of area.
FIND THE ENTRANCE: Enter the front parking lot of the school via Luther Lane (green line on photo). Find the elevator outside the building (marked on photo by green dot);
go up the stairs to enter via the door, follow the hallway until you find lit classrooms.
PARKING: Additional parking may be found at:

  • St. Paul Lutheran Church parking lot (marked by a blue blotch)
  • Sabina Apartments (underground) parking, open to the public

For more information about the Austin Chess Club, including contact information, click here.

Posted on by

3rd Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #5

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on December 20, 2025 starting at 10:00 AM.  USCF Membership required.   Capacity: 100 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Note that no player will be allowed to play up or down*
*The higher of the official or most recent rating will determine section selection.**
*If two adjacent sections each have an odd number of players, and the highest-rated player in the lower section is within 50 rating points of the higher section, they may be moved up to balance the sections**
These rules are to avoid byes and better pairings for all.
*USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED*

RATING INFORMATION:
● December 2025 official USCF ratings will be used.

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 12:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 2:30 PM
●  3rd round: 3:30 PM
●  4th round: 5:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony for any section takes place after the last game finishes for that section.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-3-junior-qualifier-5/  by 11:59pm, December 14, 2025
●  $50  on or after December 15, 2025
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 
Posted on by

3rd Austin Chess Tour: Open Qualifier #5

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting an Open USCF Rated Tournament on December 6, 2025 starting at 10:00 AM.  USCF Membership required.  Capacity: 100 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Ste 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

 

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
4SS, time controls determined by section
SECTION A:  1800 +  USCF rated
SECTION B:  1400 – 1799  USCF rated
SECTION C:  1000-1399 USCF rated
SECTION D:  U1000 USCF rated

*USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED*
**Players are not allowed to play up or down**

RATING INFORMATION:
● December 2025 official USCF ratings will be used.
● Unofficial USCF ratings will be used if unrated or to play in a
higher section.
● Players must reveal foreign, FIDE, and other over-the-board
ratings. These ratings will be adjusted, if necessary, and may be
used if they are higher than USCF ratings.

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 12:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 2:30 PM
●  3rd round: 3:30 PM
●  4th round: 5:45 PM

Sections C & D (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

●  Closing ceremony for any section takes place after the last game finishes for that section.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Early Bird: $50  by November 30th at 11:59 pm.
●  $60 on or after December 1st (if space is available)
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com
Link for registration: https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-3-open-qualifier-5/

PRIZES:
●  Section A : $400, $200, $100
●  Section B: $200, $100, $50
●  Section C: $100, $75, $50
●  Section D: Chess books
Medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each section.

OPEN QUALIFIER POINTS:
The top 10 places in Section A will earn points according to the following table
1st Place: 25 OQ Points
2nd Place: 18 OQ Points
3rd Place: 15 OQ Points
4th Place: 12 OQ Points
5th Place: 10 OQ Points
6th Place: 8 OQ Points
7th Place: 6 OQ Points
8th Place: 4 OQ Points
9th Place: 2 OQ Points
10th Place: 1 OQ Points

For more information about the point system, visit https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance.  We reserve the right to charge a $15 service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. 
NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns.

Posted on by

Wednesday Rapid Quads 2/11/26

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting USCF Rated 3 round Quads. Capacity: 60 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided

*US Chess Membership Required*

SECTIONS: Players rated above 1100 USCF will be allowed into the tournament.

QUAD FORMAT: A Quad Tournament is a four-player round-robin event where each player faces the other three opponents. Players are grouped by rating (1–4, 5–8, etc.), and each section plays three rounds. If the total number of players isn’t divisible by four, the remaining players (e.g., last 5–6) are placed into a small Swiss section instead.

TIME CONTROL: G/24, d5 (rapid-rated)

3-Round Round-Robin System Schedule
1st round: 6:00 PM
2nd round: ASAP after 1st round finishes
3rd round: ASAP after 2nd round finishes
No closing ceremony, prize will be sent by PayPal after the end of the tournament.

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $25 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/ before 11:59 on 2/4; $35 2/5 and after.
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES:
●  $50 for 1st place in each quad

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance. We reserve the right to charge a $10 service fee for cancellations. 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins. 

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 

Posted on by

2026 Greater Austin Scholastic Championships 2/21/26

Would you like to be an Austin area scholastic chess champion? Here’s your chance!

Scholastic chess tournament in multiple sections to be held on February 21, 2026. G/25, +5 inc. Trophies and medals awarded.

Full pairings and standings can be found at the registration link below (click on the blue “Live” text to get to them).

Register HERE! When you click the link, scroll to the bottom for registration.

See Preregistration List HERE

Basics

USCF rated chess tournament in multiple RATED scholastic sections: K-3 U400, K-3 U700, K-5 U600,  K-5 U1000,  6-12 U600, 6-12 U1000, and K-12 Elite (for players rated 950-1399). Please note: all scholastic players rated 1400 and over must play in the Open section. View the Advance Entry List online. Please note, at the event pairings will be posted only online.  

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 US Chess rules including: touch-move, mandatory clocks if available, and notation. K-3 and younger sections are excused from taking notation. Please review the Parent/Coach Responsibilities before registering.

Location

NYOS Charter School
12333 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78753

Eligibility

This is a rated tournament. You must have a USCF ID and your membership can be purchased/renewed online with US Chess in advance of registration. You can verify your US Chess membership ID and expiration by visiting the US Chess Member Services Area. Anyone can become a USCF member. Players new to tournament chess are welcome to play. Your US Chess membership cannot expire before February 28, 2026. (New players in 3rd grade and below may request a non-member ID as a part of USCF’s Junior Tournament Player program during registration. JTPs ok in K-3 sections only.)

“Under” sections are only for students meeting the rating criteria. All players who are new to tournaments are eligible for their age appropriate ‘under’ section. (Look up your player’s rating here. Please email the registrar or ask your chess coach for placement information.
If your 6th grader attends an Elementary School, please contact the registrar for options. With enough registrations, any section may be divided into two sections so we can offer more prizes. Sections with fewer than 20 entries may be merged into a similar section to provide optimal pairings and competition.

Please note: February 2026 ‘Regular’ OTB ratings will be used for pairing purposes. If no regular rating is available, then other USCF ratings (quick, blitz, online) can and will be considered for section placement.  Requests to play down will not be honored. FYI: Any event that is rated after January 21st will not affect your February supplement rating, as those events takes place after February ratings are calculated.

All players in this event must be in 12th grade or lower.

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!
8:00 a.m. Chess Control opens for onsite registration.  Onsite registrations before 9:30am accepted, but must start play in round 2.
8:30 a.m Announcements begin in all scholastic playing rooms.
Players and coaches should be present.
9:00 a.m. Rd 1 begins. Scholastic sections have 5 rds, G/25, +5.
9:00 a.m. Open section (different event allowing adults) begins. Open has 4 rounds, all rounds are are G/45, +5.
9:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Chess control open for event issues. No changes for round 1 (bye or section) allowed after online registration closes. Requests for byes, withdrawals, and player or school information edits go in effect immediately if made via email before the close of online registration. Changes requested onsite go into effect as of round 2.

Approximate Round Times

Scholastic Sections:
round 1 – 9:00am, rd 2 – 11:00am, rd 3 – 12:45 pm, rd 4 – 2:30 pm, rd 5 – 4:00 pm
Awards in the cafeteria as each section finishes.

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. Parents and/or coaches, please provide age-appropriate activities during the time between rounds. The organizers cannot baby-sit. No child should be left unattended!

Concessions details coming soon.  Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.

Awards

Trophies & Medals to Top Contenders! Ribbons to all participants!

Trophies to the top individuals in each scholastic section. Trophies to the top teams in all sections. Number of individual and team trophies will depend on number of entries. Chess medals will go to all players (excluding Open section) that finish the tournament with a positive score (3.0 & 3.5 points). Trophies to players scoring 4.0 and above. No teams in Open section, but special trophies will be awarded to the highest scoring Family & Child teams (Uncles, Aunts, Adult siblings, Parents, Grandparents, or coach paired with at least one scholastic aged player.)

Registration Information

*$35 thru Saturday, 1/31/2026.
*$45 thru Saturday, 2/14/2026.
*Late entry $50 begins Sunday, 2/15/2026 and ENDS at midnight on Wednesday, 2/18/2026, at which time online entry closes.
*$60 Onsite entry receives 1/2pt bye in round 1, and begins play in round 2.

Withdrawals requested via email before online registration closes (midnight on Wednesday 2/18/26) 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 by adding a note when you register. 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 2/20/2026. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2.

Email Sarah Brauner (austinchesstournaments@gmail.com) with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.

Organized by Rocks & Rooks

Posted on by

2025 South Texas State Grade Championships

State Championship Event
UT Rio Grande Valley (Brownsville campus)
 – 

 

Event website:

https://www.utrgv.edu/chess/tournaments/2025-south-texas-state-grade-championships/

 

During the tournament, to improve the efficiency of mass communication, we will be using Telegram for the announcements. We recommend you installing it in advance.

The event will be played at the UTRGV Brownsville Campus. Precise building/location details to follow.

Chief Tournament Organizers: GM Bartek Macieja and LTD Colt Smith-Munoz

Chief Tournament Director: IA Louis Reed

Only Texas residents or students enrolled in secondary or primary schools (including home schools) in Texas may play in this event.

Current TCA membership is required. 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.

There will be 13 sections (one for each grade) and students will only play opponents in their grade, unless otherwise specified. Winners in each grade will be declared the State Champion of their respective grade throughout all of South Texas.

Grades:

  • 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

Schedule and round times: TBD

Registration and payment shall be made online. Registration links TBD

$40 by October 13

$50 by October 27

$60 by November 7

$80 on November 8

Entries on November 8 will be permitted till 9:00 am. Players not registered by the cutoff time shall be paired from Round 2 only, unless the Chief Tournament Director decides otherwise.

One 1/2-point bye is allowed if requested by November 8 at 9:00 am.

Refunds by October 25; $10 refund charge.

6 rounds, Swiss System

The 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 11.55.

Total awards: 91 trophies, $2000 in scholarships from UTRGV and TCA

• Trophies will be awarded to the top 6 individual finishers in each section.

• A trophy will be awarded to the top team in each section.

• 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.

• Chess sets, notations, pens, and clocks will be provided.

• Electronic notation devices shall not be used except for players with a disability and only with prior authorization.

• Accommodation for participants with disabilities will be ensured.

Address:

650 Ringgold Rd
Brownsville, TX 78520
United States