2026 Chicago Labor Day Scholastic
Monday, September 7, 2026
2902 West Armitage Avenue
Chicago, IL (Logan Square neighborhood)

Noon to 12:20pm Check-in / Warm-up,
1st round 12:30pm (wrap up by 4:30ish)

Rounds 2 - 4 will start as soon as possible (ASAP)

Four rounds: Swiss-Paired

Many, many trophies to encourage further chess participation!

 A joint venture of Fox Valley Chess Club and Green Relish Event Space!

Limited Space (64) -- Sign up early
to assure participation!

$30 Early Entry Fee -- gently increasing to $40 at the door
(if space is available)

Fee goes up Sunday, 8/30 at 10pm

Be a part of something new and exciting 
for Chicago youth chess!

There will be FOUR sections -- and three will be rated, requiring participants must have active USCF memberships to compete.

There is a fourth UNRATED section which requires no membership -- but if folks have played US Chess events, their rating must be rated below 375 as of 9/1.

As are most chess tournaments, this is a non-elimination event -- meaning players compete in all rounds, even upon defeat.

All aspects of this posting are subject to change -- as the tournament organizer sees fit.

There will be four rounds of Game/25 plus 5-second delay games, abbreviated G/25; d5.

Standard USCF tiebreaks will be used -- essentially deciding who gets which trophy if people finish with the same score.

The sections will be Steinitz: U1250, Lasker: U850 and Capablanca: U450 -- with awards for top three finishers in each section and FOUR MORE: for top U350 and top Unrated in U450, Top U650 in U850 and Top U1050 in U1250. It is the Fox Valley belief that EVERYONE should have a good shot at a trophy -- not just under miracle circumstances!

That's a generous 25% trophy allocation in the three rated sections.  Will bump this up if early sign-ups dictate.

We plan to give out awards for ALL the players in the non-rated Morphy section to encourage more chess participation.

That's 100% trophy allocation for the non-rated section.  Who does that?

64 players is the likely maximum of players in the event (16 per section) -- but this is subject to change at organizer's discretion. We want to keep this a comfortable environment!

September 1 published ratings will be used for pairing order and section eligibility -- most likely your ratings will have changed after August -- don't worry, we'll update automatically.

All equipment -- including sets and clocks -- will be provided.  You may NOT substitute your own set -- but upon TD approval, you may use your own clock provided owner has a) previously set the clock to the appropriate time control and b) can demonstrate complete understanding of how the clock settings work to the director.  Black has the first option to substitute.

In rated sections, notation is encouraged but will not be enforced against third graders and below -- or those playing rated chess for the first time. When either player's clock drops below five minutes BOTH players may cease notating.

Questions?  Email to info@aurorachess.com or WhatsApp to Coach Bill if a Fox Valley club member. 

Open to players Age 18 or younger as of the tournament  --
Published rating up to 1250 as of September 1.

Refunds (less $5) available for timely withdrawals
prior to 9am 9/7 via email.

No refunds for no-shows
without advance communication.

If you're experiencing financial hardship
in these uncertain times, contact us and
we'll try to find a scholarship for your player.
Kids should not have their chess progress
stilted due to financial uncertainty.