Common Questions:

How is the tournament run? I expect every chess game will last less than an hour. Here is a Youtube video with tips of how chess tournaments are run.

How does my school win a prize? The top 4 players from each school (or house team) tally up points, and that is the team’s total points after 4 rounds. For example, if the 4 players from Hawthorne win 3/3 points, 2/3, 2/3, and 1/3 points, the Hawthorne Scholastic Academy team has 8 points together. If those points are more than any other school team, then they win 1st Place.

Are there individual prizes? Yes. The top 5 players in the tournament win a medal.

May I play for my school's team, even if I am not in the chess club this season? Yes! You will still be able to gain points for your school.

Apart from online registration, what do I need to do? The entree fee includes a 1-month CCC membership. As this is a rated tournament, you must also purchase a US Chess membership to get a live rating. Students also have a buy a USCF membership ($20 annual) in advance. They may do so here.

Are there scholarships? If you are unable to afford the entry fee, please contact td@chichess.org.

Will clocks be used? Yes. CCC will provide the chess clocks.

What are the prizes? There will be medals. Trophies to the winners and to each winning team, and medals to everybody with a plus score. 

What do parents do during the tournament? Parents can hang out in the room next door to stay in during the rounds that the kids play chess. After children are done with their games, they may return to their parents.

How do the kids know who to play? We will have pairings before every round, and you may go with the student to the right board number. The boards will be numbered, like the image here.