Hi Everyone,

I've gotten a lot of questions about tournaments, especially from parents of newer players, so i wanted to pass along some information.  This is more about who is running the tournaments and what the differences are.  I'll also work on something that talks more about the tournaments themselves.  Stay tuned....

I will also bring copies of this to the next couple of classes.

Dan

Clubs & Tournament Info for parents

United States Chess Federation – USCF

·        http://www.uschess.org/

• ·         Any tournament section that is considered “rated” has been previously approved by the USCF and the player will have a rating from that tournament.
• ·         Memberships can be purchased online at USCF or sometimes right at the tournament.
• ·         These ratings are recognized across the US.  Typically the stronger, more serious players will seek out USCF-rated tournaments over local clubs, but these are still suitable for all ages & abilities.
• ·         http://www.uschess.org/tlas/upcoming.php?STATE=WI.  This link allows you to search for USCF-registered tournaments in Wisconsin.   Note that there could sometimes be a slight delay between this website and what is announced.

IAC – International Academy of Chess, run by Matt Schladweiler

• ·        http://ia-chess.com/ for information & to register
• ·         IAC provides the weekly lessons to our club and also on an individual basis (outside of the club)
• ·         IAC also runs several tournaments each year in conjunction w/ different sponsors – e.g. our own tournament on 12/3 at LDMS will be run by IAC
• ·         Depending on the sponsor there may be different sections – some rated and some unrated.  Rated require a USCF membership.
• ·         Players sign up individually but also play as a “team” if they are in the same grade section and the same school (e.g. from Bay Lane K-6, not just MSCC).

Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Federation, run by Bob Patterson

• ·        http://www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org/ for information & to register
• ·         WSCF is a WI club that has its own rating system.  It has tournaments nearly every weekend at different schools and the MSCC attends a number of them as a club, e.g.  @ Golda Meir, Feb 4th, @ USM “All Girls Tournament” Feb 11th, @ UWM “ Grade level Championship” Apr 1st
• ·         Players sign up individually but most times can also play as a “team” even if not the same school, e.g. Baylane K6 and LDSM K6 would be on the same team.  For the WSCF, we sign up as MSCC.

Wisconsin Chess Association, run by Mike Neitman

• ·        http://www.wischess.org/ for to sign up.  mike.nietman@charter.net for questions.
• ·         Conducts bigger tournaments that we go to in Oshkosh, like the upcoming Wi Jr Open on Nov 5/6 or the State Tournament March 18/19 in 2017

Wisconsin Chess Academy, run by Alex Betaneli

• ·        http://wichessacademy.com/
• ·         Provides instruction and runs tournaments, like the one in Oconomowoc on Nov 12th.