FORMAT
The WJO is open to players in grade 12 and under. The tournament is held in THREE “Rated” sections: High School (grades 9-12), K-8, and Reserve (Under 900 or unrated only); US Chess membership is required in these sections. TWO sections form the Non-Rated, Beginners’ Section: Grade K-6 and Grade 7-12. These two sections are meant to introduce players to more formal play, without requiring US Chess fees. If needed, US Chess memberships may be purchased at site; your Wisconsin Chess Association membership is included in the entry. Our website address is www.wischess.org. Questions go to: mike.nietman@charter.net.
PLAYING SITE
Our playing rooms are the Badger State and University Rooms in the lower level of the Gruenhagen Conference Center, UW-Oshkosh, corner of High and Osceola Sts., Oshkosh, WI 54901. Full-service dorm rooms for FRI and SAT nights are available for $40 - 1 or 2 per room. The reservation phone number is (920) 424-1106. You must mention chess. There is a 10% city tax assessed on the rooms. Schools must provide a tax-exempt certificate to avoid paying this tax. Parking is $5 for overnight parking. Non printed permits need to be purchased ahead of time at Parking Services (aimsparking.com). Select ‘Purchase a Permit’ then ‘Weekend Visitor Permit’.
REGISTRATION
Late registrations accepted at the site from 8:45-9:30 AM on Saturday, November 5. US Chess memberships are available. A Young Adult membership (ages 19-24 at expiration) is $27. A Youth membership (18 and under at expiration) is $20. Publication content is available online. A printed copy of the monthly Chess Life is an additional $12. A printed copy of the bi-monthly Chess Life Kids is an additional $6. Please bring your chess clock. Chess sets and boards are provided for the playing room only! Phone inquiries: Mike Nietman at (608) 467-8510 before Friday, November 3 or e-mail: mike.nietman@charter.net.
SCHEDULE
The 2023-2024 Wisconsin Junior Open is a five-round Swiss-System event. Under Swiss rules, all entrants play five games! Rounds start at 10:15 AM - 2:30 PM - 7:15 PM Saturday, Sunday at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The time control is Game in 120 minutes with a 5 second delay. One half-point bye is available for round 1, 2, 3 or 4 if requested with your advance entry, or at Late Registration.
ENTRY FEES
If received by October 31, the early entry fees are
High School, K-8, Junior Open & Reserve sections: $20
Beginner’s Grade 7-12 or Grade K-6 sections: $19
At site entries are $5 more. If you pre-register but then cannot play, your entry will be refunded, less any fees paid by the organizer for online registration, only if you notify the tournament director by 9:30 AM on November 4.
PRIZES
Fifty-five top-quality trophies are unconditionally guaranteed for the following place and rating class prizes:
High School: Top five places, top two each Class ‘B’, ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’/Unrated and top girl
K-8: Top five places, top two each Class ‘C’, ‘D’ and ‘E’/Unrated and top girl
Reserve: Top five places, top two each 600, 500, Under 500 and Unrated.
Non-Rated Beginner’s Grade 7-12: Top five places and top three grades 7-9.
Non-Rated Beginner’s Grade K-6: Top five places and top three grades K-3.
All prizes will be awarded at the site after the final round. In case of ties, trophies will be awarded based on Solkoff, Cumulative, Sum of Opponent’s Cumulative and Sonneborn-Berger tie-break systems.
SPECIAL NOTES
The High School section winner will be eligible to participate in the 2024 GM Arnold Denker National Tournament of High School State Championships. The top finishing girl in the High School section will be eligible to participate in the 2024 WIM Ruth Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions. The top grade 6-8 player in the K-8 section will be eligible to participate in the 2024 Dewain Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions. The top K-5 finisher in the K-8 section will be eligible to participate in the 2024 John D. Rockefeller III National Tournament of Elementary School State Champions. These prestigious national events will be held in Norfolk, VA July 2024. If a tie exists among those desiring to participate in the Denker, Barber, Haring or Rockefeller event, a series of playoff matches will be held on Sunday night beginning 30 minutes after the last game among the participants is concluded. Format is two G/30, if still tied two G/15, then G/10, then G/5.