State Teams Tournament posting || State Alternates Tournament posting
Pairings
Questions?
For all questions, go to the Chess Control table in the lobby. Please do not enter the playing areas unless you are an active player. Chess Control can contact the TDs for you.
Schedule
Unlike our other scholastic tournaments this is a fixed-time round tournament. All rounds will begin at exactly the time listed. All times are Eastern Time.
Coach & Team Captain Meeting: 8:30 AM
Running late? E-mail k12@kychess.org by 8:30 AM to ensure your team is paired for Round 1.
K-1 Championship and K-3 Sections (Team & Alternates)
- Time Control: G/25; delay 5
- Round 1: 9:00 AM
- Round 2: 10:45 AM
- Round 3: 1:30 PM
- Round 4: 3:00 PM
- Awards: Following Round 4
K-5, K-8, and K-12 Sections (Team & Alternates)
- Time Control: G/60; delay 5
- Round 1: 9:00 AM
- Round 2: 11:30 AM
- Round 3: 2:00 PM
- Round 4: 4:30 PM
- Awards: Following Round 4
Layout
- Map of Bullitt Central High School
- Skittles Area will be in the gym.
- Pairings
- K1, K3 will be posted inside of the Gym (near their exit)
- K5, K8, K12 will be posted in the lobby, on the trophy cases.
- Restrooms for non-players and players not in active games: in the lobby.
- Playing Hall for K-1, K-3, K-5: Small Gym, to the rear of the Skittles Area.
- Exception: Parents of K-1 students may escort them to their boards and may wait for them in the small area outside the playing hall.
- Restrooms are available right outside of the Small Gym
- Playing Hall for K-5 & K-8: in the cafeteria. No non-players should come into the hallway to the cafeteria.
- Restrooms near the cafeteria are only for active players in these sections (boys are to the left at the end of the hallway, girls to the right). Players in active games may not leave this hallway.
- Playing Hall for K-12: The “Hub” in the center of the building.
- Due to unexpected plumbing problems, the bathrooms in this area do not work, so players will need to use the restrooms in the lobby. Players in active games are not permitted to talk to anyone while going to the restroom and vice-versa.
Tournament Rules & Logistics
- Swiss System tournament at the team level: All teams play all rounds!
- Equipment: Boards, pieces, and clocks provided. We strongly encourage students to have their own notation book.
- Notation: Required for players in K-8 & K-12. Players not taking notation will be assessed a time penalty. Players are responsible for bringing their own notation sheets and writing utensils. Printable score sheets can be found here and some extras will be available. Electronic scoresheets are prohibited.
- Standard Rules: Strict adherence to Touch-Move and all US Chess regulations.
- Technical Rules: Rule 15A (writing moves prior to making them) and 10I2 (touching rook first when castling) are in effect. Accelerated pairings may be used. The TD reserves the right to use live Regular or Quick ratings for pairing purposes. The “No-Show” or “Forfeit” time for late arrival is 30 minutes for all sections.
- Registering for the tournament includes consent to be contacted by the KCA for future tournaments
- Observers: No parents, coaches, or observers allowed in playing areas (Exception: pre-approved special needs; parents of K-1 players may help them find their seats).
- Player Exit: Players must exit the playing area immediately after their game and may not return until the next round. Exception: the team captain must stay until all games for their team finish.
- Player communication: Players may not interfere in other games in any way. No talking to their teammates, no gasps, no facial expressions about other games, nothing whatsoever. Violations may result in forfeiture of games and expulsion from the tournament.
- Electronics: Cell phones, smart watches, and other electronic devices are prohibited. Penalties range from severe warnings and time deductions to forfeiture and expulsion.
Amenities & Safety
- Supervision: Players under age 14 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the event.
- Concessions are available on-site. There is no separate lunch break, but students will always have at least 30 minutes between rounds.
- Seating: Parents/players are strongly encouraged to bring camp chairs and folding tables.
Trophies and Tiebreaks
- Trophies: 1st – 5th Place Teams. Medals for the alternates section and players who are undefeated in the team tournaments.
- 2-way tie for 1st: Head-to-head Blitz match.
- 3+ way tie for 1st and all ties for other positions: Numerical tiebreaks (Blue Book section O2.2
- K-1 exception: K-1 is played as a team-modified Swiss, with the top four scores from each school forming the team score. This is the same as your Quad tournaments.
Tiebreaks basically boil down to “strength of schedule” in various forms. They are quite complex but details can be found in Section O of the Blue Book.
For more information on chess tournaments, see A Parent’s Guide to Scholastic Chess in Kentucky.