VBPD Scholastic

November 15, 2025

Register  Entry List Results

Hampton Roads Chess Association

presents the

VBPD Scholastic

Law Enforcement Training Academy

411 Integrity Way

Virginia Beach, Virginia

 

Saturday, November 15, 2025

 

Youth in Pre-K through 12th grade, join us for a tournament suitable for all abilities in Virginia Beach! 
US Chess membership is required for Open, U700, and U300.  
No US Chess membership required for any Rookie section.  

HRCA chess tournaments are NOT drop-off events for youth under the age of 14.  Please ensure you have arranged for a responsible adult to accompany your child to the tournament and stay for the duration.  This can be a parent or guardian, a friend or relative, or parent of a friend or teammate staying on site and agreeing to be responsible for your child.

Registration for this event closes at 11:59pm EST on Thursday, November 13th!  No last-minute or on-site registration!

This is an HRCA Scholastic Cup Event!

SCHEDULE:

  • 8:30-9:30 - Arrival/Check-in 

  • 9:30 AM - New Player Orientation

  • 10:00 AM -- Round 1 begins for all sections

  • Subsequent rounds will be "ASAP", meaning they will begin as soon as the previous round is complete.  Awards immediately     following the completion of the final round.  We cannot give an exact finish time -- likely around 5 PM.  
  •   Lunch:  A lunch break will be announced based on progress of the rounds.  Players may bring lunch or go to any one of a number of nearby restaurants.

 

PARTICIPANTS:  This event is for youth only -- must be in Pre-K through 12th grade in any schooling format - public, private, virtual, or homeschooled.

US Chess membership required for Open, U700, and U300 -- these are rated sections. 

US Chess membership is NOT required for Rookie sections. 

HRCA membership is not required unless you want your points to count toward the Scholastic Cup -- you have one week after the event to join in order to count your points.  Please note that students in most HRCA-coached programs already have HRCA membership.

 

FORMAT:   A Swiss System (like a bracket system -- NOT an elimination event!) tournament of four or five rounds based on entries.  Time control is G/40; d5, meaning each side has 40 minutes to complete all their moves, and the clock will not start counting down for the first 5 seconds of each move. Select a bye during registration ONLY if you know you will be missing a round due to a conflict with another event.  One half-point bye allowed if requested prior to the start of Round 3.

Regular OTB ratings from the November supplement will be used.

Section choices are:

  • ***NEW*** K-3 Rookie:  For youth in grades Pre-K through 3rd with little to no tournament experience.  No rated players allowed.  US Chess membership is not required.
  • K-5 Rookie:  For youth in grades 4th and 5th with little to no tournament experience.  No rated players allowed.  US Chess membership is not required.
  • K-12 Rookie:  For youth in grades 6th-12th with little to no tournament experience.  No rated players allowed.  US Chess membership is not required.

  • Novice (U300):  Youth in grades PK-12th who are US Chess members with a Regular over-the-board (OTB) rating Under 300.  The November supplement will be used.  Unrated players are allowed in the Novice section and are eligible for place prizes or Top Unrated prizes only.

  • Amateur (U700):  Youth in grades PK-12th who are US Chess members with a Regular over-the-board (OTB) rating Under 700.  The November supplement will be used.  Playing up is allowed.  Unrated players are allowed in the Amateur section and are eligible for place prizes only.
  • Open:  Youth in grades PK-12th who are US Chess members -- unrated or of any rating -- but designed for players rated over 700.  The November supplement will be used.  Playing up is allowed.  Unrated players are allowed in the Open section and are eligible for place prizes only.

A note on Unrated players:  Per new US Chess Scholastic Regulations, HRCA will apply the current Regular OTB rating to Unrated players, if applicable, even if earned after the cut-off for the supplement used for the tournament.  In a dual-rated event, if there is no Regular OTB rating, a current Quick rating will be applied, if applicable, but only for prizes, not sectioning (e.g. someone with a 500 published Quick rating but Unrated Regular may still play in the U300 section but is ineligible for Unrated prizes).  Bottom line -- only actually Unrated players at the time of the event will be allowed in Rookie sections and eligible for Unrated class prizes in rated sections.

 

AWARDS: 

  • Individual: 
    • TROPHIES to the Top 5 finishers in each section.  Trophy to Top U900 in Open.  Trophy to Top U500 in Amateur.  Trophies to Top 3 Unrated players (first rated tournament only) in Novice.  Trophies to the Top K-1 in K-3 Rookie.

    • Medals to players with an even or plus score below trophy standings.  Participation ribbons to all others.

 

  • Team:  Cross-section trophies.  Trophies to Top 3 Middle Schools, counting up to the Top 4 individual scores in any section.  Trophies to the Top 3 Elementary Schools, counting up to the Top 4 individual scores in any section.  High Schools must enter teams by November 5th to add a trophy category for Top High School.


ENTRY FEE:  $35 Early Bird Entry Fee through 11:59 PM on Saturday, October 18th.  $40 Standard Entry Fee through 11:59 PM Sunday, November 2nd; $45 Late Entry Fee through 11:59 PM Sunday, November 9th.  $50 Last-minute / week-of Entry Fee through close of registration.  

Registration for this event closes at 11:59pm EST on Thursday, November 13th!  No last-minute or on-site registration!

Scholarship participants approved for discounts and Title I schools who need entry fee assistance MUST contact Tina in advance to register.   Please note that entry fees are required to participate and are NOT tax-deductible.

REFUNDS:   If you need to withdraw, please contact the Event Organizer.   There are absolutely NO refunds after registration closes.

Refunds will be given as a tournament credit ONLY.    Eligible withdrawals will receive a $30 credit towards a future HRCA tournament, regardless of the entry fee amount paid. This is early bird entry rate less a $5 administrative fee.   The credit will be valid for 1 year. 

**Please check the ENTRY LIST before registering to make sure you do not register multiple times.   Duplicate entries are subject to an administrative refund fee of $10 for this event.      

TOURNAMENT VOLUNTEERS ARE ALWAYS NEEDED!  Volunteers help ensure our events run smoothly and that players and families have an enjoyable experience.   Volunteer spots include set up, clean up, hall monitors, scorekeepers, CERTIFIED Tournament Directors (TDs), and assistant/junior TDs (not certified).    Sign up here!  Hampton Roads Chess Association: November Scholastic at VBPD

 

Got questions?  Please contact the Tournament Organizer.   

Please feel free to bring camp chairs/picnic blankets, snacks/lunch and quiet activities to stay entertained during the day.  Parent/designated guardians or responsible adult of elementary/middle school-aged players are expected to remain onsite for the duration of the event.  

 

Tournament Organizer:  For more information/questions, contact Tina at cschweiss2@hrchessclub.org or 757-472-5909.  Email is the fastest way to reach us.    

 

Policies and other Important Information

Please note only designated areas of the facility are open to players and guests.   No one is allowed in undesignated areas (including classrooms) at any time.  

 

Safe Play and Code of Conduct:   It is our goal to provide a fun, safe, and supportive environment.  Community partnerships are vital to HRCA, and we want to ensure we remain good stewards to our partners and their facilities. There is a lot of downtime during tournaments -- parents are responsible for supervising their children when they are not playing a scheduled match.   Running through the facility and horseplay/roughhousing area prohibited.   

 

By registering and attending in this event (as participant or guest), you acknowledge and agree to abide by the US Chess Federation's Safe Play Policy, and HRCA's Code of Conduct and General Liability Waiver and Release.  For more information on Safe Play or HRCA's Code of Conduct and General Liability Waiver and Release, please click the BLUE links above.   Violations of these policies may result in warnings, or ultimately, disqualification or dismissal from the event without refund.   

 

Photo Policy: Please be advised that photos and/or videos may be taken at HRCA events for use in HRCA's marketing, grant reporting, educational, news, or other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other forms of media, including on our website and social channels. HRCA will not identify images using the full names of those photographed without express written permission.   By attending an HRCA event, you consent to have your image recorded for distribution and agree to release, defend, hold harmless, and indemnify HRCA from any and all claims, including compensation, involving using your picture or likeness. If you wish to opt-out, you can make your wishes known to the photographer, and/or the event organizers, and/or contact HRCA at hrca@hrchessclub.org.