When:  Saturday August 31

NOTE:  Players playing in the Scholastic Tournament who also register for the Main Tournament receive a half-point Bye for Round 1 of the Main Tournament, PLUS $5 off the Main Tournament Entry Fee.

Format:  4 or 5 Rounds using the Swiss System.  Time Control for all games is Game-40, with a 5-second Time Delay in all rounds.  We will determine the number of rounds to play after all the players are Registered on Saturday morning.

Location:  Hilton Garden Inn Richmond-Innsbrook, 4050 Cox Rd., Glen Allen, VA (804)521-2900. Conveniently located off I-295 ... Same location as the Main Tournament.

SECTIONS:  Four Sections of players ...
    - K12 and K5 Open:  Play in these sections is USCF-Rated and requires an active USCF Membership.  Renew your membership, or join the USCF at www.uschess.org.  The Winner in each Section is eligible to receive $15 off the Main Tournament's $62 Entry Fee and a 1-year free VA Chess Federation Membership, click on the Main Tournament button above to learn more about the VA Closed main event.
    - K12 and K5 Not-Rated:  Play in these sections is "for fun."  It is designed for new and inexperienced Players who want a Tournament-like experience without the pressure of a rated event.  It also is for 6-12th Graders with USCF ratings below 600, or K-5th Graders with ratings below 400.  Players whose USCF ratings exceed those threshholds will not be allowed to play in the Not-Rated sections.  USCF Membership is NOT required to play in the Not-Rated sections of the Scholastics Tournament.  The Winner in each Section is eligible to receive $15 off the Main Tournament's $62 Entry Fee and a 1-year Free VA Chess Federation membership, but remember that participation in the Main Tournament requires a USCF Membership.  Click on the Main Tournament button above to learn more about the VA Closed main event.
NOTE:  Your "grade" for this tournament is the Grade you will be attending during the new school year, not your grade from the 2012-13 school year.

Prizes:  Trophies, Medals and Ribbons ... everyone gets something!!
    - Open Sections:  Top 6 players and Top 3 Teams in the K5 and K12 Open Sections.  A "team" is two or more players playing in the same section and who will be attending the same school in Sept 2013.
    - Not-Rated Sections:  Top 5 players and Top 2 Teams in the K5 and K12 Not-Rated Sections.  Teams are defined the same as in the Open Section.
    - ALSO ... Trophies to the Top 2 K3 players and Top 2 K8 players in the Rated and Not-Rated Sections
    - Medals to all players finishing with at least an "even" score
    - Ribbons to all other players

Eligibility:  Open to all Scholastic-age Players in grades K-12, this event is NOT just for Virginia residents. 

Registration:  Three ways to register ... take your pick
    1.  On-Line:  After July 1st, click the link below to register and pay on line.  Entry Fee is $15.
        
    2.  Mail-In Entry:  Complete the Mail-in Scholastics Entry Form and send your Entry and Payment to arrive by Thurs Aug 29 to Mike Hoffpauir, ATTN: VA Scholastic, 405 Hounds Chase, Yorktown, VA 23693. Checks to "VCF".  Entry Fee is $15.  Click here for the Mail-in Entry Form.
    3.  At the Tournament (on-site):  Friday Aug 30, 3-6:00 pm and Sat Aug 31, 8:00-9:00 am. Walk-ins who arrive after 9am Saturday morning risk not being paired for Rd 1.  Entry Fee is $20 if you wait to enter at the Tournament.  Sign-up on-line or by mail to avoid the extra $5.
        

Entry Fee:  $15 IF WE RECEIVED IT BY Aug 28, $20 thereafter and on site.

NOTE:  Players playing in the Scholastic Tournament who also register for the Main Tournament receive a half-point Bye for Round 1 of the Main Tournament, PLUS $5 off the Main Tournament Entry Fee.

Round Times:  One 1/2-point Bye available, must declare before start of Round 2.
    - Round 1 at 9:45 am, later Rounds will be played about 10 min after the end of the previous round ... BY SECTION.  The Scholastic Tournament will likely end between 3:30 and 5pm.
    - There is no "lunch break" ... so bring something to eat and drink, or pick up something at one of the many eateries that are within a short 2-minute walk of the Tournament location.

Info: mhoffpauir@aol.com, 757-846-4805, or www.vachess.org.