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2022 - 2023 Texas Scholastic Online Quick Open Chess Championships

October 29, 2022       

 US Chess Logo

This event is open to all students, Pre-K to Grade 12, of all States!!


Event will be played on Chess.com.  Zoom connection will also be required in four (4) sections:  High School Championship, Middle School Championship, Elementary School Championship, and Primary School Championship.  Zoom will not be required in the other seven (7) sections.


NEW INFORMATION!

 
INFORMATION SENT OUT IN WELCOME EMAIL
Dear Texas Online Quick Open Chess Championships Participant,
 
Welcome to the 2022 - 2023 Texas Scholastic Online Quick Open Chess Championships! The event is on Saturday, October 29 starting at 10AM Central Time.
 
This email contains important information, so please make sure to read it carefully.
 
1. Check your information on the Advanced Entries. Are you in the right section? Is your team listed exactly the same as the others on your team? 
Email us with any updates BEFORE Friday 8PM Central Time.
 
2. What to do on the day of the tournament? 
 
Look up your Pairing: Use the event's Google Sheet with Pairings & Standings
 
If you don't have to log into zoom, skip over the following table.
If you have to log into zoom -- please join the meeting at 9:30AM.
 
Meeting link: Click HERE to Join
Meeting ID: 821 0589 2773
Passcode: 862146
Section Name Zoom?
High School Championship YES
High School JV  
Middle School Championship YES
Middle School JV  
Middle School Novice  
Elementary School Championship YES
Elementary School JV  
Elementary School Novice  
Primary School Championship YES
Primary School JV  
K - 1 Championship  

 
-- How will my game start?
10 minutes before your game, make sure to:
 
1. Log into chess.com
2. go to chess.com/live or chess.com/PLAY/ONLINE--> This is VERY IMPORTANT! Logging in is not enough! Players MUST BE on Chess.com/LIVE or chess.com/PLAY/ONLINE
Round times are SET: 10AM,  11AM,  12PM,  1PM,  2PM,  3PM
Games will start (pop up) automatically within 5 minutes of the round start times.
Reminder: No tournament link to join, since we manually pair and manually start the games. Your game will pop up automatically. Please, do not accept challenge, or initiate any new game. Wait and your game will be started!
 
If your game hasn't started: either you or your opponent is not on chess.com/live
During the game: Zoom chat or the Slack channel is your way to communicate with the TDs . Please, do not use any other channels, or apps.
When you finished your game:
- you do not need to report the results, the zoom TDs are collecting that; 
- you can stand up, walk around, and come back 5 minutes before the next round;
- double check if the TDs marked your results correctly by visiting the Google Sheet.
 
3. Fair Play is critical. 
Players may not use any outside information or help with their games. This includes notes, books, computers, phones, engines or human help.
Keep in mind that following the camera regulations gives you more veracity if you have a dispute about a possible violation on your part. In other words - the harder you work to make sure that your camera is correctly placed, the least suspicion there will be.
You MUST NOT accuse anyone of cheating publicly in the Zoom chat. If you have any concerns, please share that via private chat with your Zoom TDs.
 
4. Join our practice session is on FRIDAY, Oct 28 @ 7PM Central Time.
We'll have: Q & A, Chess.com Practice, and Camera Confirmation Check by jumping into the Zoom meetings. You don't need to stay for the entire meeting, a few minutes is useful and may be enough.
 
Click HERE to join the meeting on Friday!
 
5. Communication for Parents/Coaches/Spectators during the event
Please join the event's Slack channel and select the specific sections to ask questions.
 
To view the video of the Zoom meeting held yesterday, please see Town Hall Meeting  
 
Any rules questions, please direct it to Chief TD Glenn Panner: glennpan@gmail.com
Any technical question regarding Zoom/Chess.com, please direct it to Chief Assistant TD Judit Sztaray: judit.sztaray@gmail.com
 
Best of luck this weekend!   

 
 
ZOOM MEETING FOR PRE-TOURNAMENT PRACTICE (ONLY FOR PLAYERS WHO ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH PLAYING ON CHESS.COM)
Date/Time: Friday, Oct 28, 2022 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 867 4409 4872
Passcode: 324664
 
ZOOM MEETING FOR SATURDAY'S EVENT (ONLY FOR PLAYERS IN HS CHAMP, MS CHAMP, EL CHAMP, AND PS CHAMP)
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct 29, 2022 09:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 821 0589 2773
Passcode: 862146

 

** Questions before, during and after the event, please go to our SLACK CHANNEL **

** For players who are not used to playing in Chess.com, we will have practice time on Friday, October 26 at 7pm Central **

** Addional tournament related information will be emailed to all participants and posted here on Thursday morning. **

To see Pairings and Standings, go to: Google Spreadsheet

 


Six (6) Rounds -- G/15 + 2-second increment

Round Times (All Central Times):

10am -- 11am -- 12noon -- 1pm -- 2pm -- 3pm


 11 SECTIONS

High School Championship (Grade 9 - 12)

High School JV (U1000; Grade 9 - 12)

Middle School Championship (Grade  6 - 8)

Middle School JV (U900; Grade 6 - 8)

MIddle School Novice (U600; Grade 6 - 8)

Elementary School Championship (Grade K - 5)

Elementary School JV (U800; Grade K - 5)

Elementary School Novice (U500; Grade K - 5)

Primary School Championship (Grade K - 3)

Primary School JV (U600; Grade K - 3)

K - 1 Championship (Grade Pre-K - 1)

Playing up is only allowed within the same grade range.  For example, a 6th grader rated 550 would normally play in the Middle School Novice section; however, that player may play up within the Middle School sections into the JV or Championship section.  In addition, players in K - 3 or K -1 sections may play in Elementary School (K - 5) sections.  Unrated players can play in any of the sections allowed for their grade.  For example, an unrated Grade 7 student can play in the Middle School Novice, JV or Championship section.


October 2022 US Rating Supplement will be used. 

The highest of the Over-the-Board or Online Regular or Quick ratings determine eligibility for section and prizes.  


 PRIZES

Personalized plaques will be awarded to the Top 8 Individuals and Top 3 School Teams in each section.  Prizes will be increased based on registrations for each section, at the rate of one extra award for each 10 entries exceeding 80 in any one section.  For example, if a section has 120 players then the top 12 players will receive prizes.  

Team scores:  A team must have a minimum of two players to be eligible for team prizes.  There is no maximum number of students who may play for a team.  Only the top four scores count for team standings  and the top four players in a team will get team awards.

The top Texas player in each section will be recognized as the Texas Champion.

When individual scores are equal, the following order of tie-break systems will be used to designate individual awards: 1) Modified Median, 2) Median, 3) Solkoff, 4) Sonneborn-Berger, 5) Cummulative

When team scores are equal, the following order of tie-break systems will be used to designate team awards:  1) Total Individual Median, 2) Total Solkoff, 3) Total Sonneborn-Berger, 4)Total Cummulative

US Chess Rating Report will be submitted after the Fair Play review is completed, and awards will be mailed after that.

 

ENTRY FEE

$35 by Midnight October 17; $42 by Midnight October 24 $50 by 6 PM Central, October 28.

No entries accepted after 6 PM Central, October 28.

No refunds after 1 AM Central, October 28.


BYES

Up to two 1/2-point byes allowed. Must be requested by 6 PM Central, Friday, October 28.


ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS

 

- US Chess Membership, expiring on or after 10/31/2022, required.  Players with no current US Chess membership may be able to obtain a voucher membership at a reduced rate, through US Chess Voucher Membership.  The cost of the voucher US Chess membership is $9.83.

- All games will be played on Chess.com.  All players must have a chess.com account in good standing (free account is sufficient).  Any previously closed accounts must be disclosed to the Tournament Organizers prior to the tournament.

- All technical setup and reliable internet connection is the responsibility of the player.  Any interruption of the game, such as unreliable internet connection or technical setup errors might result in the loss or forfeit of the game.  Scoring of the forfeited game or disconnected games will be as follows:

    1)  A player who does not log-in for a scheduled round within 15 minutes after the start of a round shall lose the game by forfeit.

    2)  If both players are logged-in but have not made at least one move, the game will be declared a forfeit loss for the absent player.  Ratings will not be impacted.

     In both cases, a player forfeited due to failure to log-in or not moving will be dropped from the remainder of the tournament unless the player notifies the tournament staff via Zoom chat and expreses a desire to stay in the tournament.

    3)  If both players have made at least one move and the game ends because of disconnection, then the game will be rated.  The disconnected player will be removed from the remainder of the tournament unless the player notifies the tournament staff via Zoom chat and expresses a desire to stay in the tournament.  

- There will be a "Town Hall" meeting at 7pm (Central) Friday, 10/28.  All players/parents are encouraged to attend and get answers to their questions.  All registered players will receive an invitation via email on Thursday, 10/27.

-  During the Town Hall meeting, tournament directors will demonstrate what players need to do to be ready for their game, and how the game will be started.  Players will have the opportunity to experience the online playing conditions and practice getting paired up for a non-rated game.

-  Only players in the High School, Middle School, Elementary School and Primary School Championship sections will be required to join a Zoom meeting with an active side-view camera showing them and their computer.  This camera will be positioned to provide a view of the player and his/her playing device.  The camera must be placed at approximately a 45-degree angle to the left or right rear of the player and elevated to at least the same height as the player's desktop.  The view must show the player's upper body, arms, head, and playing device screen.  All of these elements must be visible simultaneously in the video stream.  Players may use a cell phone or a separate webcam to provide this view.  Players should ensure this camera uses a continuous source of power and does not rely on battery power alone, to avoid interruptions in the camera's video feed, resulting from a loss of battery power.  Players in the other seven (7) sections will not be required to use a Zoom connection.

- All players will be sent a welcome email on Thursday, 10/27, with important details on what players need to do to be ready to play their games, including the Zoom meeting links players must join.  

   Communication during the event:

Players will be instructed to communicate with the Tournament Directors via the Zoom chat.  Parents and coaches may receive information and ask questions via the event specific Discord channel.  Link to the channel will be posted as we get closer to the event.

-  All players and their games will be subject to detailed Fair-Play review during and post-tournament.  Therefore, official standings and US Chess rating reports may not be published until three weeks after the event concludes. 

   Penalties during the Event

-  Forfeit time is 15 minutes from the official posted round start time.

-  The Chief TD may impose penalties for prolonged or repeated disconnections.

-  The Organizer and Chief TD reserve the right to remove a player from the tournament and make an adjustment to the scores of the players and her/his opponents.

    When a player is removed due to a Fair-Play violation, scores will be adjusted as follows:

    1)  If two or more rounds remain, all opponents of the disqualified player will receive a win by forfeit, unless they defeated the disqualified player, in which case they will retain the rated win.

    2)  If the tournament has concluded or if there is only one round remaining, the last opponent of the disqualified player will receive a win by forfeit.  Other opponents who lost to the disqualified player will receive a half-point bye.  Opponents who drew with the disqualified player will receive a win by forfeit.  Anyone who defeated the disqualified player will retain a rated win, instead of a forfeit win.

    For any scenarios not covered explicitly above, Tournament Directors will follow Section 26 of the School year 2022 - 2023 US Chess Scholastic Regulations. https://new.uschess.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/us-chess-scholastic-regulations-2022-2023a_8-6-2022.pdf and US Chess Rules of Chess, Chapter 10 https://new.uschess.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/us-chess-rule-book-online-only-edition-chapter-10-8-24-20.pdf        


For questions about the event, please contact Franc Guadalupe, or Barbara Swafford.  


ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION WILL BE PUBLISHED IN THIS PAGE AS THEY ARE RECEIVED.