LOCATION:
Tempe Mission Palms Resort, 60 E 5th St. Tempe, AZ 85281
DESCRIPTION:
US Chess rated 5 round Swiss tournament in 10 sections based on grade.
Sections are Kindergarten through 8th grade and High School (9th-12th).
Players must be residents of Arizona and register in their current grade level. Players cannot play up. Sections may be combined.
Players play all 5 rounds (unless a bye is requested). This is not an elimination tournament.
TIME CONTROL:
Time control: G/40;d5.
REGISTRATION:
US Chess membership is required for all sections. Annual membership is available on uschess.org.
Renew onsite through SACA before round one if needed. Players without proof of paid membership before round one will not be paired.
Online registration closes Thursday, December 31, 6pm Arizona time.
Onsite registration: Friday, January 1, 7:30-8:30am.
Entries after 8:30am may receive a ½ point bye for round 1.
ENTRY FEES:
$50 if received by December 2.
$60 between December 3–19.
$70 after December 19.
Friday, January 1 onsite entries are $100 and may receive a ½-point bye for round 1.
$10 processing fee for any refunds from December 15-31. No refunds on January 1.
SCHEDULE:
9am, 11am, 12:45pm, 2:30pm, 4:15pm.
Byes: ½ point byes available for all rounds if requested prior to round one.
Please arrive by 8:45am for pairings and announcements.
There is no tournament check-in.
An awards ceremony will take place after the last round is completed.
PRIZES:
K, 1st, 7th, 8th & 9th–12th sections: 1st - 3rd place individual trophies, 1st - 2nd place team.
2, 3, 4, 5, 6 sections: 1st - 5th place individual trophies; 1st - 3rd place team.
Participation ribbons to all.
Medals to all scoring 3.5 points not receiving a trophy.
Participation item to all players in the K section.
Top 3 scores comprise a team.
EQUIPMENT:
Boards & sets provided. Players are responsible for scoresheets, pencils/pens, bringing/setting their own clocks.
CONTACT:
Michelle Martinez, (520) 615-1308 (text); sazchess.org; southernarizonachess@gmail.com
CHESS FESTIVAL:
The State Grades Championship kicks off a full weekend chess festival at Tempe Mission Palms Resort, sharing its venue with the 2027 Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship, drawing 100+ college teams from across the country. Watch top boards, meet college players, and see where scholastic chess can lead!
New Year’s Encore Swiss
Saturday, January 2, 2027
Open to all ages and skill levels.
4-round Swiss; G/45; d5. Five sections: Premier (1800+), U1800 (1300–1799), U1300 (1000–1299), U1000, and Scholastics (K-8, U800). Current 2200+ play free.
Entry fees start at $25 (Scholastics) and go up to $60 (Premier), increasing $5 per tier as deadlines pass. Play-up fee $20 (one section only).
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/NewYearsEncoreSwiss
New Year’s Encore Blitz
Saturday, January 2, 2027
Open to all ages and skill levels.
Two sections: Open and U1400. $500 prize fund based on 30 entries. 5 double rounds at G/3; inc. 2.
Onsite registration 5:00–6:00pm. Round 1 begins at 6:30pm.
Entry fee $15, increasing $5 as deadlines pass. https://www.kingregistration.com/event/NewYearsEncoreBlitz