AGE DETERMINATION:  As of February 1. For example, if you turn 9 on February 1 you must compete as a 9 year old.

SECTIONS 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. There is also a Special Open group where anyone 9 years old or younger who wants longer time controls and/or desires competition against higher rated players than those in their own age group can join. We suggest that players in this group should have a minimum U.S. Chess Federation rating of 1000. Please be sure to check the box on the entry form if you wish to compete in this special section.

REGISTRATION: 

$35 standard entry. The entry is FREE if born on February 1 or for anyone who is or has been on the U.S. Chess Federation's Top 100 list in the last six months; Team entry is $30 per player when submitted with at least six applications. A form for your individual registration is available at: https://successchess.powweb.com/Tournaments/RegPage.html For academic team entry with discount (6 players minimum) go to: https://calnorthyouth.powweb.com/AgeLevel2014/TeamForm.html

Credit Card registrations must be done online by Friday night, February 7. All other individual entries must be postmarked by Thursday, February 6. Late entries are subject to an additional $25 fee. You must submit late online registration forms no later than 5 PM on Saturday, February 8. We will not process any application sent after 5 PM on Saturday, February 8. Late registrations will be accepted on Sunday morning. Besides the $25 late fee players will likely not be allowed to play the first round and will receive a zero point bye. A 1/2 point bye (missing a round for some reason) will be permitted for any round. If you must take more than one bye (miss another round), that bye will be recorded as a loss. (The loss does not count in the USCF ratings). All 1/2 point byes must be requested by noon on Saturday, February 8. After the tournament begins, half-point byes cannot be changed unless an error was made on our part.  All registrants will be posted after January 9 at: http://CalNorthYouthChess.org/AgeLevel2014/ENTRIES.html

Discounted team entries must be postmarked by February 1 tor submitted online by February 5.  If you do not receive a formal confirmation of your entry, please check the posted entries after January 9 a: http://CalNorthYouthChess.org/AgeLevel2014/ENTRIES.html No refunds after Saturday, February 1.  However, if staff is notified before the tournament starts of an emergency where you cannot attend, an 80% credit of what you paid will be provided for a future Success Chess School/Weibel Chess tournament.

Registration will likely be closed if we reach 600 entries. This will include on site entries.

Financial aid is available. Contact Carl Moy at CalNorthYouthChess@gmail.com

ROUNDS:

AGES 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (game in 30) will be at 9:30 AM & 11 AM & 12:30 PM, LUNCH BREAK AT 1:30PM, afternoon rounds start at 2 PM & 3:30 PM, awards to follow. AGES 10, 11, 12, 13, and the 9 and Under Open Section (game in 60 d/5) will be at 9:30 AM, 12:00 NOON, 2:15 PM, 4:30 PM awards to follow.

I suggest you show to the site by 9 AM to locate where you will play. Clocks will be started at 9:30 AM and the game will be forfeited in 30 minutes.  If both players arrive late then the time remaining will be split.  If the round starts late, forfeit time will occur 30 minutes after the round starts.

AWARDS:

Fifteen place trophies in each age level section plus trophies for all those who tie at fifteenth place. Three extra trophies will be awarded  after the 15 section place trophies for the top unrated players in each division. Individuals can only receive one trophy.  Three academic school team trophies in individual age groups (except in 4-5 age level and in the Open 4-9 competition). Special Age Level logo chess medals for all competitors that do not receive a trophy. The photos here are of the awards that we gave in 2013.  The winner of the Open 4-9 competition will get two awards--a first place trophy and the special crystal Kirshner Cup pictured to the right.

If there is a tie for first place in any of the 10, 11, 12, 13 or Open 4-9 age groups we will have a blitz playoff (5 minute chess) for the first place trophy for that age.  All those tying for first place will be declared CalNorth Age Level Champions and a new plate will be sent to be placed on the trophy they received.  

TEAM:

Academic School Teams in the age groups may have as many members as they want. However, only the scores of the three players who get the most points in the age group will count for the Team award.  A team must have a minimum of two players. 

NOTES:

All players must be members of the U.S. Chess Federation. CalChess membership is not required for this event.  The entry form will have a place to join the U.S. Chess Federation for non-members. The tournament will adhere to all U.S. Chess Federation rules except as modified by those printed here or by the CalChess Scholastics: http://www.calnorthyouthchess.org/CalChessStates/Regulations.html  Rule 2.20 that applies to CalChess State Scholastics will not apply.  The U.S. Federation's rule effective as of January 1, 2012 that states that "digital time delay clocks will take preference with five second time delay and no time removed from the tournament time controls" will be used.  Clocks will be available for most players and must be used.  Any child not knowing how to use a chess clock will be instructed on the simple procedure before his/her game begins.   A new player often forgets to use the clock.  If a TD sees a new player forgetting to use the clock, they will be instructed to remind them.  While this is not in the rule book, we believe it is fair to all first time clock users. After the first reminder, our TD's will not interfere with the clock rule with one exception--if the game will run over the allotted time then a TD can adjust the clock to reflect the end time of the round. The TD will also remind the players to use the clock.

Players in age groups 4 through 9 have the option to notate/record their games. We always recommend that if a player can notate his/her game, they should.  Disputes often cannot be resolved without a notation sheet.  Players in the Open 4 through 9 Age Division and in the 10 through 13 age groups are required to notate their games. The U.S. Chess Federation's Scholastic Committee recommends that in youth events, the requirement to write the move on the notation sheet after making the move not be used.  We will follow this guideline.  However, if using an electronic recording device, the move must be entered only after moving the piece.  The U.S. Chess Federation recognizes the right of players to use one of two digital devices (the MonRoi PCM and certain PDAs using eNotate software) to record their games instead of writing them on the score sheets provided.  These devices must be checked by our Chief T.D. before use to be sure they are locked and no other software is available in the program. We may broadcast certain games outside the tournament hall.  During play, if a player gets up from the table for any reason and is using a recording device it must be left on the table where they are playing. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be left with parents, coaches or at the TD table. A player can be provided one warning if a non-approved electronic devices is found in his/her possession. A second offense will cause the player to be removed from the competition.

If a section should be so large that mathematically a fair number of players would tie for first place, the chief tournament director and /or the organizer can decide to use accelerated pairings in the first two rounds. We will try to avoid accelerated pairings wherever possible.  This system should not be necessary in the 10 through 13 year old age groups as there is a blitz playoff for the first place trophy.  See U.S. Chess Federation Rules of Chess 28R (p130) on accelerated pairings. Simply, instead of the top half rated individuals playing the bottom half the top half rating group is split in half for pairing and so is the bottom half.  After round two the normal Swiss system pairings are used--winners play winners and losers play losers based upon score groups of everyone in the section.

FURTHER INFORMATION: 

FAQ's  -- What to do after you are registered

CalNorthYouthChess@gmail.com

Volunteers needed: http://www.CalNorthYouthChess.org/AgeLevel2014/Volunteers.html

DIRECTORS IN CHARGE:

Chief Tournament Director: John McCumiskey, National TD

Assistant Chief TD's: Alan M. Kirshner Ph.D.,Local TD, Robert Blatt, Local TD

TOURNAMENT ORGANIZER:

Carl Moy, CalNorthYouthChess@gmail.com

ONLINE REGISTRATION: https://successchess.powweb.com/Tournaments/RegPage.html

SPONSORS:

Success Chess School, Weibel Elementary School Chess,  NorCal House of Chess

PHOTOS FROM:

2008 Age Level Championships
2009 Age Level Championships
2010 Age Level Championships
2011 Age Level Championships 
2012 Age Level Championships
2013 Age Level Championships

Go to the http://www.CalNorthYouthChess.org for links to other photographs and tournament results.  From this index page you will also find a link to other tournaments.

HERE IS A GOOGLE SATELITE IMAGE OF THE SITE:

HALL #1 = 10, 11, 12, 13 and Special 4-9 Open (This is a change from last year.)

HALL #4 = 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9 year olds (This is a change from last year.)

PARENTS WILL ALSO BE ALLOWED ON THE STAGE IN HALL #1, THE LARGE KITCHEN IN HALL #4 AS WELL AS THE CANOPY TENT IN THE AREA BETWEEN HALL #1 AND THE TEAM ROOMS.