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John Balch Memorial
VERMONT STATE SCHOLASTIC
CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
SATURDAY, APRIL 7, 2007
Please announce this tournament in your school and community through handouts, newsletters, notices, and calendar updates. The 20th Annual Vermont Scholastic Chess Championships will be held on Saturday, April 7, 2007 at the Camels Hump Middle School, located in Richmond, VT, exit 11 off Interstate-89. Directions are included below. A copy of this flyer can be found at Vermont Chess Information Website: http://vtchess.info
All Vermont students from kindergarten through high school are welcome and eligible to compete for the State Championships in the following divisions: each grade from k to 6; middle school (grades 7 and 8); and high school (grades 9 through 12). Team plaques will be awarded in the middle school and high school divisions based on the top four scores from each school. Rules for determining champions and order of finish will be posted at the tournament and on http://vtchess.info
Registration begins at 8:30 am and closes at 9:30 am. Pre-registered players must check-in during this time. Arrival after 9:30 may necessitate a first round bye. Games will start at 10:00 am or as soon as the pairings are completed. Each student will play at least four games, unless they receive a bye. The tournament director must be informed of any early withdrawal.
We expect the tournament will be completed as early as 1:00 pm for the youngest division and approximately 4:30 pm for high school. Parents and other spectators are allowed to watch only games in the high school division, although the room monitor may request individuals or all spectators to leave the room. Seating will be available in the cafeteria for players, families, and friends. Special arrangements must be made with the director if your child will be without adult supervision for any portion of the tournament.
Please bring your own chess set(s). We will play using standard United States Chess Federation (U.S.C.F.) rules for scholastic tournaments, including touch move. Players in grades 7-12 are required to write down their moves. Games are 30 minutes per player. Clocks are recommended for upper grades and will be necessary for top players. Also, clocks may be used in younger grades to complete a game in the necessary time control.
Reasonably priced, quality breakfast food, lunch and snacks will be available. Chess equipment, books, and souvenirs will be available for sale by the Rochester Chess Center. Tournament entry fees and food sold will benefit the Camels Hump Middle School’s Bravo Program, an after school enrichment program.
This tournament is named in honor of John Balch, great promoter of scholastic chess in Vermont, who passed away in 2004. He was a teacher of hundreds of Vermont youth.
ENTRY FEES AND REGISTRATION OPTIONS:
1. $10 for mail registration with check that is
postmarked on or before April 2
2. $15 for email registration received on or before April 6 with payment at
tournament
3. $15 for mail registration between April 2 and 6 with check included or
payment at the tournament
4. $20 the day of the tournament
MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO: Vermont Scholastic Chess
Mail to: Everett Marshall, 145 Economou Rd., Huntington VT 05462; or email vt_chess@gmavt.net
REGISTRATION INFORMATION NEEDED:
Please provide the following information for each player: 1. Player’s Name; 2. Grade; 3. School Name; 4. Email (optional, will be used only to inform of future scholastic chess tournaments).
Questions about the tournament may be directed to:
Everett Marshall, Tournament director: vt_chess@gmavt.net (802) 434-4872; or
Diane Guertin: dguertin@middlebury.edu (802) 462-2548
2007 Vermont Denker Qualifier
Participants will become eligible for the Vermont Denker Qualifier based on their performance in the High School section of the Vermont Scholastic Chess Championship. A tournament to determine who will represent Vermont in the Denker Tournament of High School Champions will be held on Saturday, April 14, 2007 at the Camels Hump Middle School in Richmond, VT. Further information and selection rules will be posted in the near future at http://vtchess.info. This year the Denker tournament is being held in NJ from July 28 to August 2. It is a six day tournament that corresponds with the U.S. Chess Open.
2007 Polgar Selection
The Polgar Tournament is a national competition for girls under the age of 19, including grade and middle school age students. It is being held at the same time and place as the Denker Tournament. The 2007 Vermont representative will be selected based on performance in the state and other scholastic tournaments, U.S.C.F. rating, and possibly a playdown. Further information and selection rules will be posted in the near future at http://vtchess.info.
DIRECTIONS to the 2007 Vermont Scholastic Chess Championship: Camels Hump Middle School in Richmond is approximately 25 miles west of Montpelier and 11 miles east of Burlington. Take Interstate 89 exit 11 (US-2 Richmond/Bolton); drive east towards the village of Richmond on Route 2 for 1.6 miles; turn left (north) at the traffic light in the center of town onto Jericho Road; and continue 1/2 mile up the hill and turn left onto School Street to Camels Hump Middle School, just before the Interstate overpass.
