15th Western PA Scholastic Chess Championship
Saturday June 14, 2008

Who will be the Champions in our 15th Annual Western PA Championship? Join the fun and excitement at our beautiful CMU playing site and try out your best moves. As always, we have many different sections so you only play others at your own level and have more chances for a prize. Approximately 50 trophies will be awarded, along with numerous ribbons. Take the challenge and sign up today!

Location: Carnegie Mellon University, Rangos Ballroom, 2nd Floor, University Center Building.
Directions: The University Center Building is located near Forbes Avenue between Morewood and Beeler. It is next to the parking garage at Forbes Ave and Beeler St. If the garage is open, you may park there. Otherwise, you may park free at the Morewood Gardens lot, located just across Forbes Ave. (Ignore the sign that lists restrictions on who may park there; we have permission.) If you wish to see a map, follow this link: Campus Map Directions for out of towners are available here: CMU directions

9 Sections:
(Kids are automatically placed in the correct section. Unrated players and beginners are sorted by grade. More experienced players are placed based on official June 2008 ratings. Anyone may "play up" by request.) Follow this link to lookup ratings: USCF ratings and membership info.

Grades K & 1 Beginner: Open to those Rated Under 550 or Unrated in Grades K & 1
Grades 2 & 3 Beginner: Open to those Rated Under 550 or Unrated in Grades 2 & 3
Grades 4 & 5 Beginner: Open to those Rated Under 550 or Unrated in Grades 4 & 5
Grades K - 5 Intermediate: Open to Kids Rated 550 to 849 in Grades K - 5
Grades K - 5 Championship: Open to Kids Rated 850 and over in Grades K - 5
Grades 6 - 12 Beginner: Open to Kids Rated Under 550 or Unrated in Grades 6 - 12
Grades 6 - 12 Intermediate: Open to Kids Rated 550 to 849 in Grades 6 - 12
Grades 6 - 12 Advanced: Open to those Rated from 850 to 1149 in Grades 6 - 12
Grades 6 - 12 Championship: Open to those Rated 1150 and over in Grades 6 - 12

Note: Sections may combined, split, or otherwise adjusted prior to the tournament, based on attendance.

Schedule: Everyone should bring a chess set, board and pencil and be at the playing site by 9:30am. Rounds begin approximately 10am, 11:15am, 12:45pm, and 2:00pm. One hour is alloted for each game, with the results of unfinished games by judged by the directors. For parents whose children are old enough to drop off, most games will probably done by 2:45, but can go on till 3:00pm. Award ceremony will be from approximately 3:00 to 3:45pm.

Playing Format: No eliminations. Everyone plays 4 games. Pairings are made using a method called the Swiss System, which matches players together who have the same number of points each round. Your opponents get tougher if you keep winning, and easier each time you lose. For this tournament, use of chess clocks and recording of your moves is only required in the 6-12 Championship, 6-12 Advanced & K-5 Championship. If you do not own a clock, you are not required to purchase one. However, if you are playing in one of the 3 sections listed above and either player has a clock, you are required to use it. Using a clock protects you from stalling by your opponent. Recording your moves will not be required in other sections but failure to do so can limit certain claims to tournament directors. Since keeping notation allows you to review your games, it is recommended that all players learn to use it.

Team Competition: When four or more students from one school play in the tournament, they will automatically be considered a team. They do not need to all sign up at once or register in any special way to be counted as a team. If less than 4 students from one school enter, they play only for individual prizes. There is no maximum to the number of students who can play on your team. However, each team's score will be computed by summing the results of the 4 highest scoring players on the team. Having a large team increases your odds of winning and cannot hurt you. Team members can play in different sections. Teams from all grade levels will be competing against one another. You will not be paired against other members of your team. The top 3 teams will each receive a trophy for their school and a ribbon for each member of their team. The members of the 4th place team will also receive ribbons.

Individual Prizes: In each section, trophies to the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th & 5th place winners. Ribbons to the 6th place finishers, top girl and top unrated player. Ties for trophies will be broken using the following tiebreaking systems in the order given: Solkoff, Modified Median, and the Cumulative Points method. These methods all attempt, in different ways, to determine who played the toughest field of opponents. The idea is that in the event of a tie, the person who played tougher opposition should come out ahead of the person who played easier opponents. All players tied for ribbons will receive one.

A minimum of 50 trophies will be awarded, along with countless ribbons. It is highly likely that Extra trophies will be added based on additional early entries. Get more trophies for your section by entering early.

Cost: Entry fee is $16 if postmarked by 5/31/08. Later entries pay $5 more and are accepted until 7pm on 6/13/08. US Chess Federation (USCF) membership is required of all entrants. Membership options are listed in the registration form section below. Memberships allow your games to be rated and include a chess magazine. As a special promotion, Pittsburgh Public School (PPS) students receive basic USCF membership free (if expired or non-member), thanks to the generousity of The Buhl Foundation, The Grable Foundation, and The Heinz Endowments. This great offer applies to City of Pittsburgh Public school students only and saves you at least $17. Take advantage of it.

Questions: Call Chessmaster Jerry Meyers at (412) 422-1770.
Financial aid is available for low income families. Click here for application form.

Registration Info: Please mail entry form before May 31, 2008. Entries mailed after May 31 will be charged a $5 late fee and must be received by June 13. No refunds after 5/31. Bad check fee is $20. There will be no on-site registration.

We have great classes for kids at the Pittsburgh Chess Club. Sundays: Advanced Beginners (under 650 or Unrated) from 2:30 -3:30pm; Intermediate (650-850) from 1-2pm. The next set of Sunday classes will start 6/15. Monday nights: Advanced class (kids & Adults 850-1400) from 7pm-8:30. Monday classes start 6/16. 6 weeks, $35 Sundays, $40 Monday nights. $5 Discount for Pittsburgh Chess Club members. Learn a lot, have fun, meet new friends. Call Jerry Meyers at (412) 422-1770 for registration form and details.