Tournaments

TOURNAMENTS

TYPES OF TOURNAMENT GAMES

There are varying types of tournaments to our calendar. Most are rated tournaments which means the player must have a US Chess Federation Membership to play.

Some are not rated, but provide a different dynamic to playing.

- Regular Scholastic are Rated tournaments.

- Bug House tournaments are designed for teams of two to play each other and are Not Rated.

- Blitz tournaments are yet another way of playing where individual games are 10 minutes or less. These can be Rated or Unrated depending, so we will state which when scheduled.

- Simul is a tournament whereby a player of very high rank or Rating plays multiple players at once or simultaneously.

FOR NEW PLAYERS

1) PLAYING IN THE TOURNAMENTS REQUIRES A US CHESS FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP, unless otherwise stated.

2) CONNECT AT THE US CHESS FEDERATION SITE TO SIGN UP OR RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP: https://new.uschess.org/join-uschess/

3) ALL PLAYERS FROM THE 2018 FALL SEASON NEED TO RENEW THEIR ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP

TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Registration on this DIG site:

www.teamdigusa.com/chess-tournament-information/

Sunday, 12/22/2019 – “2019 Weston DIG Scholastic Holiday Tournament“

9am-1pm
all players MUST have a USCF membership
located at the Weston Public Library, 56 Norfield Rd, Weston, CT 06883
arrive by 9am
cost is $40/Player (if pay by noon, Thursday, 12/19)
or $60/Player (if pay after 12/19 noon)
all equipment is provided by DIG
to register for this Tournament, choose this link

Saturday, 1/4/2020 – “2020 Weston DIG Scholastic Blitz Tournament“

1-4pm
players do NOT need a USCF membership
located at the Weston Public Library, 56 Norfield Rd, Weston, CT 06883
arrive by 1pm
cost is $40/Player (if pay by noon, Thursday, 1/2)
or $60/Player (if pay after 1/2 noon)
all equipment is provided by DIG
to register for this Tournament, choose this link

Saturday, 1/11/2020 – “2020 Fatima DIG Scholastic Bug House Tournament“

9am-1pm
players do NOT need a USCF membership
located at the Our Lady of Fatima School, 225 Danbury Rd, Wilton, CT 06897
arrive by 9am
cost is $40/Player (if pay by noon, Thursday, 1/9)
or $60/Player (if pay after 1/9 noon)
all equipment is provided by DIG
to register for this Tournament, choose this link

Sunday, 2/23/2020 – “2020 South Norwalk DIG Scholastic Tournament“

1-5pm
all players MUST have a USCF membership
located at the South Norwalk Public Library, 10 Washington St, Norwalk, CT 06854
arrive by 1pm
cost is $40/Player (if pay by noon, Thursday, 2/20)
or $60/Player (if pay after 2/20 noon)
all equipment is provided by DIG
to register for this Tournament, choose this link

Sunday, 3/29/2020 – “2020 Weston DIG Scholastic Spring Tournament“

9am-1pm
all players MUST have a USCF membership
located at the Weston Public Library, 56 Norfield Rd, Weston, CT 06883
arrive by 1pm
cost is $40/Player (if pay by noon, Thursday, 3/26)
or $50/Player (if pay after 3/26 noon)
all equipment is provided by DIG
to register for this Tournament, choose this link

FOOD, PARENTS, VIEWING

Because the day can be long, some parents bring food and/or snacks, but some tournament spaces have concession stands. The tournaments at Fatima will have quick, hot food, snacks and drinks.

The tournament game space is meant to be silent. Players and parents can quietly watch games in progress, but staying for the entire game is discouraged because it interrupts the players' focus.

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Information about the Tournament Experience

OVERVIEW REGULAR TOURNAMENTS:

Tournaments last between 3 and 5 hours. US Chess Federation ratings are used to estimate player ability and find appropriately matched players. Tournaments group players into "sections" based on their rating. This means they only play others of somewhat similar ability. For example a tournament may have U1300 and U600 sections. The U600 section allows players of rating 0 to 600 to participate. The U1300 section allows ratings 0 to 1300, but will likely attract 600 to 1300 ratings because of the availability of the U600 section. Unrated players typically can choose any section and should ask their coach to help them choose.

PLAYING:

The most common type of chess tournament uses "Swiss Pairings". This is designed to lead to a championship game between the top players, but also let all players participate in all rounds.

Round 1: students play a game against someone much higher or much lower rated. This is typically the player's easiest game if they are rated near the top of their section. It is typically the most difficult game if they are rated near the bottom of their section.

Round 2: student is matched with some who performed similarly in round 1. Pairings against teammates are avoided if possible.

Round 3: student is matched with someone who performed similarly in the tournament so far. If a player won two games they would have a score of 2 and be matched against someone else with a score of 2. If they won a game and drew a game they would have a score of 1.5 and if possible matched against someone else with the same score.

Round 4: Again students are matched against someone with the same score.

Sometimes a player does not have a pairing. This is called a "bye". If there are an odd number of players, one will get a bye. It is typically the lowest scoring player. Being given a bye means the player gets a free point towards the standings. They may also be able to play a rated game and should talk to the tournament director once the round has started. There may be another player with a bye from another section they could play. Or a game from the round that finishes early.

Byes can typically be requested before the tournament starts. This can help players who have scheduling conflicts. A requested bye receives half a point towards the standings.

The winner of the tournament is the player with the highest score at the end. Ties are possible and there are tie break procedures to handle who takes home the trophy. Tie breaks are based on how well your opponents did. If your opponents have high scores, you get more tie break points.

Rounds last for as long as the longest games run. Once every game finishes, the next round can begin. Some tournaments post round times. These are minimum starting times that add some predictability. However, if a game is still going on, the next round cannot begin.

We'd love to see you!