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Cedar Park January 2026 Scholastic Tournament

Cedar Park Public Library

Event Overview

Tournament Folder with the Entry List and where Pairings/Wall Charts will be Posted 
 
You won’t get a confirmation email upon registration or payment, so check the above entry list and your child should be listed within 24 hours. Parents will receive an email the week of the tournament.
 
Make sure to save the above link!


The tournament is held in the Event Space to the very left of the library upon entering. It’s where the Sunday Open Chess Play is held. 


Tournament capped at 100 students! My past tournaments have always filled up, so REGISTER ASAP! Will note here and/or potentially stop accepting registrations once it fills up, but will accept 10-20 kids onto the waitlist in case there are withdrawals. 
 

Sections (Subject to Change depending on registration)
K-12 Elite
K-12 U1000
K-5 U600
 
No playing down. For example, a player rated 700 at the time of the tournament cannot play in K-5U600.
*K-12 Elite is restricted to kids that are (or have been previously) 900+ USCF regular/quick rated.
 
Awards (Subject to Change depending on registration)
Trophy for top 5 places in each Section, medals for positive score, ribbon for everyone else.
Additional Trophy for Top U300 Student and Top Unrated Student in K-5 U600.
Additional Trophy for Top U800 Student and Top U600 Student in K-12 U1000.
Additional Trophy for Top U1200 Student and Top U1100 Student in K-12 Elite.
Awards will be handed out after the last round!
*Top 5 places determined by points and tiebreakers calculated by WinTD.
*One trophy max per student. 

No check in required. Be seated at 9:15AM for announcements.
The five rounds aim to be at 9:30AM, 10:45AM, 12PM, 1:15PM, and 2:30PM. 

 
Time Control: G25/d5; will be USCF regular/quick rated 

Registration Information
Early Entry $30 before noon December 10, 2025
Regular Entry $40 before noon December 24, 2025, if there are any spots available
Late Entry $50 before noon January 9, 2026 if there are any spots available
*$5 off registration for kids with Current USCF Regular Rating over 1,200
*$10 off registration for kids with Current USCF Regular Rating over 1,300
*$15 off registration for kids with Current USCF Regular Rating over 1,400
*$20 off registration for kids with Current USCF Regular Rating over 1,500
*$25 off registration for kids with Current USCF Regular Rating over 1,600

Payment methods: Prefer venmo (Daniel-Hung-3) or zelle (danielhung@utexas.edu or 956-639-5311) (legal name for both Daniel Flood). Payment must be made before the above deadlines to lock in your price and registration. 
Cash and check can be dropped off at my teaching locations: Leander Library Monday/Friday 5-7pm and Cedar Park Library Sunday 12-6pm. Contact me to coordinate drop off or to mail it to me. Cash/check will no longer be accepted on site!

What to Bring and Know
Please bring a clock if you have one. We will provide all the chess sets this time. 
US Chess Membership is required. Please be responsible for your membership prior to the event to help the organizers and prevent delays.
Notation is required for everyone 4th grade and up. Notation sheets will be available if needed, but please bring a pencil or pen. Strongly encouraged to bring your own notation book/sheets.
 
Additional Rules
Parents/guardians will not be allowed in the playing hall or hallway leading up to the playing hall while play is in process as this was too distracting at the last tournament. Additionally, to make room for up to 100 kids to compete, there will not be enough chairs for the parents in the playing hall. Each player must also leave the playing hall after each round as it was also too distracting for the remaining players when other players crowd their chess game. Parents and players that are done with their game should stay at the main library building. Only drinks allowed in the playing hall. Food must be consumed outside. See the library website for more information about where food may be consumed https://www.cedarparktexas.gov/198/Guidelines-Policies 
Address:

425 S Parkwest Dr
Cedar Park, TX 78613
United States

Sections:
Grand Prix Points:
Prize Fund:
FIDE Rated: No
Handicap Accessible: No
Residency Restriction: No
Online Event: No

Organizer Overview

Leander Chess Club
Email: danielhung@utexas.edu
Phone: 9566395311
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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.

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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 AG/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section BG/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section CG/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section DG/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. 
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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.

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Texas Chess Triathlon

TEXAS CHESS TRIATHLON

A TEXAS STATE CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

SATURDAY OCTOBER 25, 2025

One-day tournament. 12 ROUNDS!  6 rounds of Blitz (G/5), followed by 4 rounds of Quick(G/20) and then by 2 rounds of Classical (G/90,d5).

For pairing purposes each win equals 1 point and each draw equals ½ point.  But for prize distribution each Blitz win equals 1 point and each draw equals ½ point; each Quick win equals 2 points and each draw equals 1 point; each Classical win equals 3 points and each draw equals 1 ½ points.

First six rounds paired using your Blitz rating.  Quick rounds paired using your Quick rating.  Classical rounds paired using your regular rating.  Scoring carries over; for example if you had 4 points in the Blitz rounds you will be paired in the first Quick round with you having a score of 4.

PRIZES: $500 + trophy for 1st, $300 for 2nd.  $200 for 1st U1600.  The $1,000 prize fund is based on 40 paid entries.  Prizes increased with each entry over 40.  Everyone who completes all 12 rounds gets a commemorative medal.  Only 72 spots available so enter now!  Everyone is eligible for the cash, but only Texas residents are eligible for the TEXAS CHESS TRIATHLON State Championship Trophy.  Standard US Chess tiebreaks used if necessary. 

SECTIONS: One open section.

SCHEDULE: Round 1 at 9:30am Saturday the 25th of October 2025.  Following rounds ASAP.  45 minute lunch break between the Quick games and the Classical games.

ENTRY FEE: Early entry $55 by October 4th, regular entry $65 by October 22nd, late entry $80 by midnight October 24th.  $90 for on site entry.  Poison Pawn members $35 anytime.  GMs and IMs enter for free, entry fee deducted from any winnings.  Must be a member of both US Chess and the Texas Chess Association (TCA membership just $5 annually for “regular non-subscriber”).  Renew or join the Texas Chess Association at:  https://texaschess.org/memberships/ 

CANCELLATION:  You may cancel up to 24 hours before the beginning of round 1 and get a refund of what you paid minus $15, or you may apply the entire amount towards a future Poison Pawns entry fee.  

BYES: NO BYES except for zero point byes.  This is a Triathlon endurance format. Suck it up!

HOTEL INFO:  Holiday Inn Express, 3401 N. Main St., is less than a mile from The Studio. Phone 832-834-6197 and ask for The Houston Chess Studio discount, or if booking online use code ALDR9.  Also within a mile is the Heights House Hotel, an America’s Best Value, and a Luxury Inn.  Google them for info.

THE HOUSTON CHESS STUDIO is dedicated to providing a quality, high tech, chess playing experience for players of all levels, their parents and spectators.  Centrally and conveniently located at 250 Patton St., Suite H, Houston TX 77009.  Just inside North Loop 610 and just 2 blocks off North I-45.  There are 3 restaurants in the same strip center as The Studio: The Red Hot Noodle (Asian), Subway, and Patron Pizza.  Several others are within walking distance.  Plenty of FREE parking.

SCANNING  All players are subject to being scanned (“wanded”) in order to help prevent cheating.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS :

 https://www.kingregistration.com/affiliate/poisonpawns

QUESTIONS?  Contact Edgar at poisonpawnschessclub@gmail.com or 281-844-4139.

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Waco November Swiss

Registration is now open for the Waco November 1 Swiss.

Register here:  https://forms.gle/Tyz43nfgWzTcS9Eg7

See flyer below, and note from organizers: Since we’re not having a National Chess Day tournament in October, we’re having the special 4-section tournament in Nov. 

4 Sections: 

This is a special change from our regular sections.   We only do these 4 sections occasionally.

*Please read the sections carefully.

  • Championship (1800+) 
  • Under 1800 (1301-1799)
  • Under 1300 (801-1299)
  • Under 800 (0-799)

Thanks!