🗓️ March 9-10, 2024
Anderson Student Center, University of St. Thomas 🏫
2115 Summit Ave, St. Paul, MN 55105 (map)
🍏 The biggest event of the Minnesota chess year! 🎊
New to tournament chess? Read the FAQ! 🔰
🚗 Parking is available for free in the Anderson Parking Facility, located at the corner of Cretin & Grand. 🗺️ See map at bottom of page that highlights route from parking to playing.
⬇️ See below for Dining Locations & Hours 🍔🍟🍕
🔵 K-12 🟠 K-8 🟣 K-5 🟢 K-3
🎬️ Tournament Director:
🏆️ 🏆️
🔵 Minnesota High School (K-12) Championship
🟠 Minnesota Middle School (K-8) Championship
Saturday and Sunday 🗓️
7 Round Swiss System
Time Control ⌛️
Game/60 delay/5
Round Times 🕐️
Saturday 9:30am • 12:30pm • 3pm • 5:30pm
Sunday 9:30am • 12pm • 2:30pm
🔵🟠 Entry Fee 🎟️
$50 by 2/16 ☀️ $55 by 3/1 🌤️ $60 by 3/8 🌥️ $65 onsite ⏰
🏆️
🟣 Minnesota Elementary (K-5) Championship
Saturday and Sunday 🗓️
6 Round Swiss System
Time Control ⌛️
Game/60 delay/5
Round Times 🕐️
Saturday 9:30am • 12:30pm • 3pm
Sunday 9:30am • 12pm • 2:30pm
🟣 Entry Fee 🎟️
$45 by 2/16 ☀️ $50 by 3/1 🌤️ $55 by 3/8 🌥️ $60 onsite ⏰
🏆️
🟢 Minnesota Primary (K-3) Championship
Saturday only 🗓️
5 Round Swiss System
Time Control ⌛️
Game/30 delay/5
Round Times 🕐️
Saturday 10am • 11:15am • 1pm • 2:15pm • 3:30pm
Notes 🗒️
Schedule is approximate; pairings as soon as possible when previous round is completed; lunch break after round 2.
🟢 Entry Fee 🎟️
$40 by 2/16 ☀️ $45 by 3/1 🌤️ $50 by 3/8 🌥️ $55 onsite ⏰
Byes: max two ½ pt byes, any rounds, declared before round 3
🖊️ Register online by Fri 3/8 7pm 🕖️
💵 Cash/check only onsite! 💵
🖊️ Register onsite Sat 3/9 8:30-9:15am 🕗️ all sections 🔵🟠🟣🟢
📬️ Mail-in entries, received by Thu 3/7:
Minnesota State Chess Association
PO Box 124
Wayzata MN 55391
🎫 US Chess membership is required. MSCA membership is not required for the State Scholastic, but is encouraged! Membership fees are a low cost way to support Minnesota chess! 🙏
🏆️ Awards & Playoff Invitations 🎁
The titles of team and individual Minnesota State Scholastic Champions will be awarded at this event. In the case of a tie, co-champions will be declared. ✌️✌🏾🍎
🟣 The K-5 State Champion will be the Minnesota representative for the National Rockefeller Tournament (with a playoff in case of a tie). ✈️
See below for info on Denker, Barber, and Haring qualifiers. ⬇️
🔵🟠🟣🟢 The Awards Ceremony for each section will begin approximately 10 minutes after the last game has finished. ⏰
🏆️ Team Trophies
🏆️
🔵 K-12 • 1st - 6th 🏆️
🟠 K-8 • 1st - 3rd 🏆️
🟣 K-5 • 1st 🏆️
🟢 K-3 • 1st 🏆️
🏆️ Individual Trophies
Teams
👥 Two or more players are required to make a team.
👥 The team score will be the sum of the top four individual scores among team members.
🔵 K-12 • Top 15 Overall 🏆️
🔵 Top 5 U1300 • Top 5 U1000 🏆️
🔵 Top 5 U700 • Top 5 Unrated 🏆️
🟠 K-8 • Top 15 Overall 🏆️
🟠 Top 5 U1000 • Top 5 U700 🏆️
🍊 Top 5 Unrated 🏆️
👤 A player may participate in the tournament without being on a team.
🟣 K-5 • Top 15 🏆️
🟢 K-3 • Top 10 🏆️
MSCA Scholastic Closed Playoff
🗓️ April 13-14
K12 & K8 Qualifying Tournaments ✈️
MSCA Girls K-12 State Championship 🏆️
🗓️ April 20
💵 ✈️
$400 travel stipends are available for participants in the National Denker, Barber, Haring, and Rockefeller Tournaments, made possible by entry fees for the State Scholastic Tournament.
More Scholastic Details...
Sunday USCF Rated Blitz! ⚡️ Starting right after the awards ceremony, 6 double-rounds, $5 entry. Adults and students are both welcome. USCF membership must be current.
Coaches’ Meeting 💬 The coaches’ meeting will be Sunday after the start of the first round of the day.
Tiebreakers 🎲 Modified Median, Solkoff, Cumulative, Opponents Cumulative
🚀 Accelerated pairings may be used. If accelerated pairings are used, they will use variation 28R2 from the US Chess rulebook.
📧 Send email to semmons2848@gmail.com with any questions.
🍕 FOOD 🍟
🍔 Meals 🍴 Food options are available on campus. Please note that St. Thomas does not allow bulk food service onsite from outside sources/vendors. That is, bringing in your own food is OK ✅ but we are not allowed to have a team captain or coach bring in a pot of chili to serve to the group. ❌
The View Dining Hall 📌
Saturday only
9am - 1pm Brunch
4pm - 7pm Dinner
The Loft (3rd floor Coffee Shop) 📌
Sat/Sun: 8am - 12pm
Summit Marketplace 📌
Sat/Sun: 8am - 9pm
Scooters 📌
Saturday only
3pm - 10pm
T’s Retail Location 📌
Sunday only
10am - 2pm
Even More Details...
🟫♟️⏰ Players should bring chess boards, pieces, and clock.
🏞️ Special accommodations can be made available to players as needed. Please let us know how we can help improve your chess experience!
🧮 Please see the MSCA Unrated Policy to learn how rating may be determined from USCF live/online or FIDE ratings.
🚨 Published unrated players who possess FIDE ratings MUST disclose their FIDE rating. See the MSCA Unrated Policy.
⏱️ Forfeit time: A player who has not shown up to their game 30 minutes after the tournament directors start the round will receive a forfeit loss and be removed from the event, unless they inform the TD they wish to continue playing. (Players who are late on their second offense may be removed.)
🛡️ The MSCA recognizes the importance of a safe and hospitable environment at our chess events. To promote this type of environment, the MSCA has developed a Policy on Safe Play & Conduct. The MSCA also follows US Chess guidelines for training TDs with materials developed by the US Center for SafeSport. To support a safe and hospitable environment, the MSCA reminds all chess participants and attendees that they are responsible for their actions, and that parents/guardians of minors are responsible at all times for the welfare and safety of their children/dependents.
