February 8, 2008
Dear Chess Parent,
The Pennsylvania State Scholastic Championships will be held the weekend of March 8th and 9th. Any number of players can enter from a school. The team score for the school is calculated after the tournament by combining the scores of the four highest scoring players from that school. The format for the tournament is called a Swiss System. Players compete against those with identical scores. For example, if a player is 3 – 0, she or he will be paired (matched) against another player with a 3 – 0 score. No player is ever eliminated from a tournament for losing. Players are grouped into sections based on age and ability.
For players sixth grade and younger who have chess ratings of under (less) than 800, (K -6, U800), there is a one day tournament on Saturday. There are 5 rounds (games). Each player has 40 minutes to complete each game (G/40). The round times are Sat, 3/8. 10:00, 11:45, 2:00, 3:45,& 5:30. The cost (Entry Fee) is $27.00.
For players sixth grade and younger (K- 6 Open) who have chess rating 800 and above, there is a two day tournament with an Entry Fee of $30.50. Players with ratings less than 800 may also play in this event, but players with ratings of 800 and above cannot play in the one day section. Players can always play up against stronger or older players, but they cannot play down by entering sections with age or rating limits below their own.
For players up to and including eighth grade with any rating (K – 8 Open) there is a two day section with an Entry Fee of $31.50. High School players (K – 12 Open) may play in another two day section with an EF of $32.50.
For all two day sections the round (game) times are Rds. Sat 3/8, 10:00, 2:00, & 5:30. Sun 3/9, 9:00 & 1:00.
All entries including fees must be received by the organizers by Feb 18th. For players who send in the entry fee and cannot attend, there is a charge. One does not get all of the entry fee back. I do not know what that charge is, but you can probably find it buried somewhere in the massive amount of information in the TLA if one cares to look.
If you want your child to participate in this tournament, please sign and return the bottom portion of this letter ASAP. I will send in the entries on the 15th. You can copy the entry form from my online attachment into a word document and fill it out and email it to me at stephenshutt@gmail.com.
Details are available on the Masterman Chess web site»
If your child will be attending, fill out and return the permission form»
Thanks,
Stephen Shutt