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USCF Event: 2024 National Middle School (K-8) Championship (Atlanta, GA) – May 10-12, 2024
2024 National Middle School (K-8) Championship
May 10-12, 2024 · Atlanta, Georgia (Bughouse & Blitz May 9)
 | Hyatt Regency Atlanta · 265 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta GA 30303 888-421-1442 (Mention US Chess) · US Chess Rate $169 · Click here to book at room at the Hyatt! Support US Chess and Ensure Future Events by staying at the host hotel! |
Check here frequently for updates!
PAIRINGS AND STANDINGS POSTED ONLINE!
For the 2024 National Middle School, board-order pairings and standings will not be printed. Rather, they will be posted online. Last-name alphabetical order pairings will still be posted onsite.
To see the pairings and standings, click “Results & Pairings” in the upper left hand corner, then select the tournament and section you’re interested in. (There will be no data here before 11am local time, Friday, May 10.)
There will be QR codes that link to the pairings and standings posted all around the playing site. Copies of the QR codes are also available at Chess Control.
Subscribe to our national scholastic events mailing list!
US Chess now provides a way for coaches, faculty advisors, and other interested parties to receive our pre-tournament emails for national events. Just use this form to subscribe!
You can select the event(s) you wish to receive emails about. If you wish to unsubscribe from these lists at any point, you do so by just clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of the email.
Awards are provided by Trophies Plus, sponsor of the All-American Team. Trophies Plus will ship awards for you at the conclusion of the event. Just click on their icon for details!
We’ve put together a guide for those who are “New To Nationals!”
Click here for a primer on what to expect before you arrive!
TOWN HALL INFORMATION
US Chess offered an informative Town Hall for parents, coaches and players on Thursday, April 13. The moderators were be Pete Karagianis, Assistant Director of Events, and NTD Franc Guadalupe, chief TD of the 2023 National Middle School.
The Town Hall replay may be watched at this link.
The Tournament Review Group (defined in Section 12.5 of the Scholastic Regulations) reviews every entry to this tournament, and makes decisions about whether to assign a rating based on alternate rating data found for a player. Players on the above linked report have been assigned ratings that are different from their US Chess regular rating in the April 2023 rating supplement. Any player who has been resectioned as a result of an assigned rating has been notified by email from US Chess. The most current version of the report is published here for transparency. Contact the Director of Events with any questions.
TEAM ROOM RESERVATION INFORMATION
Team room information will be posted in this space when ready.Instructional Video on Using the Room Reservation SystemTeam Room Information Contact: Pete Karagianis at pete.karagianis@uschess.org
US Chess COVID Policy
UPDATED 11/25/2022
As of the above date, US Chess is not requiring masks, COVID-19 vaccinations, or negative COVID-19 tests for any attendees at the 2023 National Middle School.
Attendees are encouraged to take available precautions, including (but not limited to) bringing masks and hand sanitizer. However, the decision has been reached to return to pre-COVID conditions at the event.
US Chess will still sanitize all boards after each game. Attendees who wish to wear masks should bring their own.
US Chess reserves the right to alter this policy as needed, dependent upon the most recent regulatory or guidance updates from federal, state, and local health authorities. Please continue to check this space for any changes.
Information for Accommodation Requests: Consistent with the Guidelines for Accessible Chess Events, requests for reasonable accommodations during the event should be made 2-3 weeks in advance of the event. Requests for accommodations made on site will be handled to the best of our ability. Please contact nationalevents@uschess.org with accommodation requests.
Parents, coaches and players: check out our Tournament Safety Tips!
This is ESPECIALLY for younger players! PLEASE follow these guidelines for safe behavior.
Hotel Room Cancellation Policy
May 12 All day
INDIVIDUAL RESERVATIONS (9 rooms or fewer per night)
In order to confirm a room assignment for attendees, you will be required to provide a first night’s deposit that will be charged immediately. The deposit is refundable up to 20 days prior to the convention date. Checks and major credit cards are acceptable to establish prepayment. Credit cards will be charged immediately. The Hotel will deduct any collected nonrefundable prepayment fees from the amount that may be owed as performance or cancellation damages.
GROUP RESERVATIONS (minimum 10 rooms per night)
Any coaches that reserve 10 or more rooms per night will be required to provide a credit card guarantee for all rooms and will be charged a non-refundable first night’s deposit 20 days or less prior to the tournament date. Checks and major credit cards are acceptable to establish prepayment. Credit cards will be charged immediately. The Hotel will deduct any collected nonrefundable prepayment fees from the amount that may be owed as performance or cancellation damages.
Important Links & Information:
May rating supplement will be used in compliance with the Scholastic Regulations.
Current US Chess Scholastic Regulations are linked here
Electronic Device Policy for National Scholastic Events.
Please bring clocks. Sets and score sheets provided. Players are responsible for bringing and setting their own clocks, and explaining their operation when asked.
Unrated players may play in the Championship Section or Unrated Section only!!!
Up to two 1/2 point byes available any round if requested before round 1.
A half-point bye in round 1 must be requested at the time of registration, or on-site before 11 AM Friday.
A half-point bye request for rounds 2-7 not requested in advance must be requested two hours before the scheduled start of round 2.
Players registering after 11 AM Friday will not be paired for round 1, will receive a half-point bye, and will begin play with round 2.
Players requesting a section change late (after 11 AM Friday) will not be paired for round 1, will receive a half-point bye, and will begin play with round 2.
A Team must have at least two players, although no maximum of players. The top four scores in any section will count for the team score. All players on a team must come from the same school.
First place individual and team in K-8 Championship section, including ties, will be recognized as National Champions.
US Chess membership current through May 2024 is required.
7 round Swiss in 7 sections: K-8 Championship, K-8 Under 1700, K-8 Under 1400, K-8 Under 1100, K-8 Under 900, K-8 Under 700, K-8 Unrated.
Time Control: Game/90 d10 (each player has 90 minutes to complete the game with a 10 second grace period each move)
Entry Fee: $80 if registered or postmarked by April 22, $100 if registered or postmarked by April 29, $130 by May 6, $180 thereafter or on site. Do not mail anything after April 29.
$30.00 extra for all phone registrations.
$30 change fee for roster or section changes after Apr. 10 or on site changes.
A withdrawal requested by email no later than Apr. 20, or in person at Chess Control no later than 11 a.m. local time April 21, will be refunded 100% of the entry fee.
Schedule:
Opening ceremony Fri. 12:45 pm.
Rounds start at: Fri. 1 pm-6 pm, Sat. 9 am-1:30 pm-6 pm, Sun. 9 am-1:30 pm.
Awards Ceremony: Sunday 6:00 pm (approximately)
Award list is final as of 12/25/2023.
All individual awards, including Blitz and Bughouse, will be custom medals. All team awards will be trophies.
| Awards: | Individual | Team |
|---|---|---|
| K-8 Championship | Top 15 [plus ties for 15th place] | Top 10 |
| K-8 Under 1700 | Top 10 [plus ties for 10th place] | Top 5 |
| K-8 Under 1400 | Top 15 [plus ties for 15th place] | Top 10 |
| K-8 Under 1100 | Top 15 [plus ties for 15th place] | Top 10 |
| K-8 Under 900 | Top 20 [plus ties for 20th place] | Top 10 |
| K-8 Under 700 | Top 30 [plus ties for 30th place] | Top 20 |
| K-8 Unrated | Top 10 [plus ties for 10th place] | Top 5 |
| Top five teams in each section receive 5 plaques per place (4 players and the coach). | ||
| NOTE: Unrated teams receive a trophy only – no individual plaques. This is per the Scholastic Regulations. | ||
Class awards to the top three in the following classes: | ||
| K-8 Championship | 1700-1799; 1600-1699; 1500-1599; 1400-1499; 1300-1399; 1200-1299; Under 1200; Unrated. | |
National Middle School Blitz Championship:
Time control: G/5, d0
Thursday 5 p.m., entry fee $40 by 4/29, $60 after or on site.
Online registration closes at 2 p.m.
Onsite registration closes at 4 p.m.
Awards to Top 15 Individuals, Top 5 Teams and Top 3 in each Class
1700-1799; 1600-1699; 1500-1599; 1400-1499; 1300-1399; 1200-1299; Under 1200; Unrated.
Blitz Rules
National Middle School Bughouse Championship:
Thursday 11 a.m., $30 per 2-player team on site only. Registration 9-10 a.m. One section K-8.
Awards (2 each) to top 5 teams.
Bughouse Rules
Friends and Family Tournament (G/30;d5):
4SS, G/30. Saturday 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m., $30 onsite registration only. Anyone registering after 10 a.m. will take a half point bye in round 1. Rated and Unrated sections. Trophies for each category of combined player/student results.
Current US Chess Scholastic Regulations are linked here
Tournament Information Contact: nationalevents@uschess.org
Tournament Entry
Register Online using the link in the top left navigation menu – Online registration is STRONGLY preferred.
Here is a link to our mail-in entry form, in PDF version and Word version
Parents, coaches and players: check out our Tournament Safety Tips!
Per the Scholastic Regulations, US Chess will provide scoresheets for players.
The use of these scoresheets is mandatory for all players. No other method of keeping score may be used, unless prior approval is granted by US Chess.
We are providing a scoresheet for grades 2-12, and a scoresheet for grades K-1 (these players may use either scoresheet). Click the links to see the scoresheets, print them out, and get familiar with them!