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$1,000 Winter Exravaganza
Contact Chris Wainscott

DATE & TIME: Saturday, January 9th at 10:00am Central Time. This event is open to all K-12 students. Current US Chess membership is required.

REGISTER HERE: $1,000 Winter Extravaganza - US Chess Online Rated Event (kingregistration.com)

FREE GAME ANALYSIS: All participants will be invited to an analysis session via Zoom with titled players upon conclusion of their section!

US CHESS MEMBERSHIP: You may join or renew your membership here. 

PLAYING SITE: https://lichess.org/ Players must join lichess. Membership is free. 

PRIZES: $1,000 in Amazon Gift Cards (b/100 or else proportional).No tie-breaks: everyone who ties for a prize is considered a co-winner and the prize is split equally. One prize per person. Prizes may take up to a week after the event concludes as games need to be checked for fair play violations. These checks are done through the proprietary methods used by lichess. All potential fair play violations will be reviewed by the tournament organizers.

ENTRY FEE: $30. Players will receive an email with a link and password to join the appropriate section of the tournament. If the link is not received within 12 hours of entering, please contact the organizers at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

BYES and LATE REGISTRATION: Online registration closes on January 9th at 9:15am Central Time, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you wish to register after registration is closed. Players may request a 1/2 bye in round one (players who "late join" after 10:00am will also receive a 1/2 bye). No other 1/2 byes can be requested. 

FORMAT AND TIME CONTROL: G/10+5. All four sections are a 5-round Swiss. Rounds 2, 3, 4, and 5 will be paired five minutes after completion of the final game in the section, so each section will run as an independent event. Only US Chess Online Quick ratings are affected. Lichess Rapid Ratings are used for pairings. You have to be logged in and have joined the tournament in order to be paired.

FOUR SECTIONS: All players must have current US Chess Membership

K-12 Section (all students can enter, but grade 8/below are eligible only for top two prizes)

1st $70
2nd $50
top grade 12 $40
top grade 11 $40
top grade 10 $40
top grade 9   $40

K-8 Section (students in grades K-8 can enter, but grade 5/below are eligible only for top two prizes)

1st $70
2nd $50
top grade 8 $40
top grade 7 $40
top grade 6 $40

K-5 Section (students in grades K-5 can enter, but grade 3/below are eligible only for top two prizes)

1st $70
2nd $50
top grade 5 $40
top grade 4 $40

K-3 Section (students in grades K-3 can enter)

1st $70
2nd $50
top grade 3 $40
top grade 2 $40
top grade 1 $40
top K/below $40

 

QUESTIONS: Please email any questions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

FAIR PLAY:

In case any fair play violations are discovered, none of the games played by the violator will be US Chess rated. For the purposes of standings, any players who lose to someone who violates fair play rules will be given 1/2 point. Any wins or draws against fair play violators will stand, though the games will not be rated.

Winners may be invited to a quick Zoom interview with the organizers after the event.

By registering for this tournament you agree that your child's lichess username might be revealed on player registration and prize winner lists.

Location Online