Virtual Individual-Team Chess Championships

The Fast Facts

• An Online Tournament
• Lichess.org
• Four Rounds
• G/45+5
• USCF Rated Event
• Rating Based Sections
• Scholastic Only Section
• Cash Prizes for Individuals and Teams
• Schools, Clubs and Families Qualify as Teams
• A Recurring Event Held Every Second Saturday

Why This Tournament?

1. A Unique Opportunity

As far as we are aware, no other rated chess tournament is presently offered online and pays out both individual and team prizes. You will not find another tournament even somewhat similar to this one on US Chess's list of upcoming tournaments. This event was created to provide a convenient way for schools, clubs and families to compete as teams on a regular basis without enduring the cost of attending an in-person tournament. Our hope is to support chess players' competitive desires while also promoting teamwork and learning.

2. Time to Think

Every other online chess tournament now listed on US Chess' list of upcoming tournaments and occurring on a regular basis has a time control of thirty minutes or less. Most of them use blitz or quick time controls, which can be fun but are not suitable for improving one's abilities over time or preparing oneself for the rigors of classical over-the-board chess. This event offers an unoffered time control of G/45;d5, ensuring that you have plenty of time to think while also ensuring that the schedule is not too long for a one day tournament.

3. Cash Prizes

We award cash prizes for both individuals and teams. But this is not your usual prize system. As you might expect, there will be individual prizes in each section. With the team prizes, however, we will use the top four scores of a team across all sections. This means that a small team with just four players spread out in many sections can compete on an equal footing with large teams with dozens of players. There will also be bonus prizes just for family teams who do not win the place prizes for all teams.

4. Rating-Based Sections

When registrations allow, this tournament will be divided into a number of rating-based sections, so that you do not need to worry about playing opponents way above your ability. If possible, we will also provide for a Scholastic Only section for players rated under 1000.

5. Fully Refundable

Not sure you can register yet? No need to worry. Your entry fee is fully refundable until seven days before the event. Eventbrite fees are nonrefundable.

T he Details

Qualifications: All chess players who are members of the United States Chess Federation are eligible to participate in this tournament, including players from outside the United States. For the scholastic only section, players must also: (1) Be under seventeen years of age; or; (2) Be seventeen or eighteen years of age and not have graduated high school.

Schedule: The first round will begin at 10:00am (Central Time). After the last game in a round ends, there will be a ten minute break, after which the next round will begin. We expect this tournament to end by 4:30pm, but this is not guaranteed as the end time is dependent on how long the last game of each round takes to complete.

Sections: The Scholastic Only section is limited to U1000 players and is contingent upon at least seven eligible players registering for that section as well as the same number for the sections for all ages (net of withdrawals). Otherwise, the Scholastic Only section will be merged with the other sections of the tournament. All other sections will be determined by the organizer on the last day before the event in light of entries. It is the intention, but not the obligation, of the organizer to have at least one section for every fifteen players. Players who are eligible for the Scholastic Only section may play in the regular sections if they so choose.

Ratings: These tournaments will affect your USCF Online Regular and Lichess ratings. If there are multiple sections, you will be assigned to a section according to the greater of your USCF OTB Regular or Online Regular rating as shown on the supplement for the month of the tournament. Eligibility for class prizes will be determined similarily. You must play in the section you are assigned. Players with foreign ratings must disclose such ratings before the event and we may adjust their section assignment accordingly.

F air-Play: No Zoom call will be required. However, lichess.org has state of the art cheating detection methods that have been approved by US Chess as having a high chance of detecting cheaters. If a player's account is closed during the first week after the tournament, all of his games will be marked as forfeit losses. Should an account be closed for a reason other than fair-play reasons, the player will need to authorize lichess.org to tell us why their account was closed. Absent confirmation by lichess.org that the closure was for some other reason, the games will be forfeited. To ensure that forfeitures may be reflected in the results, prizes will not be issued and the rating report will not be submitted for at least one week after the event.

Prizes: At least 60% of entry fees (net of refunds) will be returned as cash prizes, of which at least half will be awarded as team prizes. Family bonus prizes will only be awarded if at least three family teams register. If two or more players tie for a prize, it will be equally divided between them. For team prizes, one team member or some other person must be designated by the team as its team manager. Team managers will be responsible for receiving team prizes and distributing them among team members in such manner as the players agreed before the event. Absent any such agreement, team prizes are to be equally divided among team members. Winners of individual prizes, and team managers due to receive team prizes, must inform the organizer within six months after each tournament whether they prefer payment through Paypal, Venmo or check, and provide all information necessary to execute the transaction. Failure to do so will result in forfeiture of prize to the organizer. A handling fee of $3 will be deducted from payments of prizes sent by check.

Schools: A school team consists of two or more players who attend the same school and may also include faculty or staff of the school as long as the majority of team members are students. The definition of school includes primary and secondary schools (public, private, homeschool, virtual, etc.), homeschool cooperatives and universities.

C lubs: A club team consists of two or more players who are members of, or regularly attend, the same chess club. If membership of the club is limited to students of an educational institution, faculty or staff of that institution who sponsor or are actively involved in the club may participate as long as the majority of team members are students. The definition of chess club is a group of chess players, organized or otherwise, who meet at least once a month in person for casual chess, instruction or similar activities, and which holds itself out as a chess club to the public. A school club which is absent during school breaks but meets at least twelve times a year may qualify notwithstanding the monthly requirement.

Families: A family team consists of two or more players who are close relatives. Every family team should recognize one person as the family reference point. Whether a person is a sufficiently close relative is determined by referring to the family reference point. Parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces automatically qualify. Other relations require approval of the organizer on a case-by-case basis. Adopted and foster children will be treated as if blood relatives.

T eam Regulations: The organizer reserves the right to require verification of any team or team member's qualifications and may determine such qualifications in its sole discretion. Except for players who have not designated any team, no team designations will be accepted after noon on the Thursday before the tournament.

Technical Arrangements: To participate in this tournament, you will need to do the following: (1) Create a free lichess.org account if you do not already have one; (2) Join our lichess.org team; and; (3) Use the password and link we will provide you on the last day before the event to join the tournament. If you do not have an unexpired US Chess membership by that day, you will not receive the link and password until your membership has been purchased and reflected on the US Chess website (you can also provide a receipt if it does not show up). Players are responsible for ensuring that their devices and internet connection are working properly. The organizer is not responsible for technical difficulties and will not compensate players for any such difficulties.

T erms: By registering for this tournament, you agree to the terms and conditions of participation, which include disclaimers of liability, limitations of remedies and other exculpatory provisions. To read the terms and conditions, please visit: https://innovativechesssolutions.com/legal-notices/terms-and-conditions-of-participation-online-events/

Resources

• To become a USCF member: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
• Our lichess team: https://lichess.org/team/innovative-chess-solutions-tournament-hall
• USCF Rules: https://new.uschess.org/news/7th-edition-rule-book-free-chapters-updated-20212022
• Website: https://innovativechesssolutions.com/
• Contact: csbrown.entrepreneur@gmail.com