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John Balch Memorial
VERMONT STATE SCHOLASTIC
CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS
SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008
Please announce this tournament in your school and community through handouts,
newsletters, notices, and calendar updates.
The 21st Annual Vermont Scholastic
Chess Championships will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2008 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 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. 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.
The tournament will be completed as early as 1:00 pm for the youngest division and about 4:30 pm for high school. Parents and other spectators are allowed to watch games in the high school division. 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 on time.
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 Four Winds Nature program at Richmond Elementary.
New: This year, as a promotion, the tournament will be rated by the U.S. Chess Federation (USCF), although a membership will not be required. Continental Chess will donate at least 50 one year USCF memberships as prizes for the players, based on the signup sheets and the tournament results. They also will contribute prizes of free entry in the Vermont Spring Open May 17-18 and Northern New England Elementary May 18 (students can play in both by taking byes), or Vermont Resort Open July 12-13, to the top two unrated players in each section of the scholastics.
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 7
2. $15 for email registration received on or before April 11 with payment at
tournament
3. $15 for mail registration between April 7 and 11 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. Date of
birth:
5. Home
Address:
6. USCF Member? (Yes or No) If yes, include member
number:
7. 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
2008 Vermont Denker Qualifier
The Denker is a national competition of State High School Champions. It corresponds with the U.S. Chess Open and is being held in Dallas Texas from August 2 to 5. Students will become eligible for the Vermont Denker Qualifier based on their performance in the High School section of the Vermont Scholastic Chess Championship. The qualifier will determine who represents Vermont in the national Denker tournament. It will be held Sunday, April, 13 at a site to be announced. Further information and selection rules will be posted at http://vtchess.info.
2008 Vermont 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 2008 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 at http://vtchess.info.
DIRECTIONS to the 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.
