SCHEDULE:  The Wisconsin Scholastic Chess Championship is a six-section event open to any Wisconsin high school, middle school, junior high school or elementary school team or individual.  Players of all abilities are encouraged to participate.  Please note that USCF membership is not required for this event nor is it USCF rated.  USCF ratings will be used for pairing purposes if the player has one.

The Varsity Division I, Division II and Division III sections are five-player boarded team, team Swiss tournaments based on match points.  Schools may enter multiple teams in multiple Varsity divisions.  The divisions are based on team strength and not school size.  The varsity teams will be split into three approximately equal sized sections based on the team’s USCF rating (average of your five player’s USCF ratings).  Teams desiring to play in Division I for the state championship will be allowed to move up and the section sizes will be rebalanced.  Then teams desiring to play in Division II will be allowed to move up and the section sizes will once again be rebalanced.  If your teams wishes to be placed no lower than a certain division, please circle the division on the entry form.

The Junior Varsity section is an individual Swiss tournament open to students in grades K-12.  If a high school team has three or more players, they must be represented in a Varsity division before being eligible for the Junior Varsity.  School team (top four scores) and individual prizes are available.

The K-8 and K-5 sections are individual Swiss tournaments with participation limited to any student in grade K-8 or K-5 respectively.  School team (top four scores) and individual prizes are available.

The Varsity sections will play 5 rounds.  The Junior Varsity, K-8 and K-5 sections will play 6 rounds.

                         Varsity          Junior Varsity, K-8 and K-5      Award's Ceremony
        Saturday:  Round 1 -  9:30         Round 1 -  9:30
                      Round 2 -  1:15         Round 2 -  Noon
                      Round 3 -  5:00         Round 3 -  2:30
                                                   Round 4 -  5:00

          Sunday:  Round 4 -  9:00         Round 5 -  9:00       In varsity playing room
                      Round 5 - 12:30         Round 6 - 12:30       approximately 4:00 P.M.
Time control is Game in 90 minutes except for rounds 1-4 in the Junior Varsity, K-8 and K-5 sections which are Game in 60 minutes.  A 5 second delay should be set on digital clocks, do not subtract any time if using the delay.  Clocks will be available for checkout.  Please have your players bring a student ID, USCF membership card, driver's license or other form of ID to check out these clocks.

USCF TEAM RULES:  All varsity divisions will be seeded based on USCF ratings.  Please refer to section 31 of the USCF’s Official Rules of Chess for a full explanation of team rules.  In particular, players must play in rating order (Rule 31B).  Unrateds may play on any board (Rule 31B2).  Players within 50 rating points of each other may permanently switch positions prior to the tournament.  Teams will be seeded based on a team rating derived from the rating average of the five players.  Rule 31C1 will be used to calculate team ratings when unrateds are involved.  The March rating supplement will be used.  March ratings should be available at www.uschess.org/msa in early to mid-February.

ELIGIBILITY:  All Varsity teams must be composed of entirely 9th through 12th graders or 8th graders and below.  All players must be from the same school unless that school does not have students covering all the grades in any section.  If a high school does not have a 9th grade, then they may tap 9th graders from eligible feeder schools.  Students in grades K-8 may play as a team in a Varsity section if from the same school or in either the individual Junior Varsity, K-8 or K-5 sections.  Only Wisconsin students are eligible.

PLAYING SITE:  The playing site is the Reeve Memorial Student Union, UW-Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd., Oshkosh, WI.  The Varsity divisions will play in rooms 227B and C.  The Junior Varsity will play in Room 227A.  The K-8 and K-5 sections will play in room 202.  The skittles room will be room 221.  Please bring your own sets and boards for the skittles room.  Room 220 will be the Tournament Director’s room.  Day parking can be found in lot 15 across the street from Reeve Union.  As of the printing deadline for the flyers, the Reeve Union Marketplace management hasn’t gotten back to me with times they’ll be open.  I anticipate they will be open Saturday and Sunday for breakfast and lunch.  Check the website flyer and I’ll update when I know more.

PRIZES:  Trophies will be awarded to the top eight Division I teams, top six Division II teams and the top four Division III teams; first place team members and their coach and each board champion (including all ties!).  In each of the Junior Varsity, K-8 and K-5 sections, the top ten individuals and the top six teams will be awarded trophies.  The state championship traveling trophies will be presented to the Varsity Division I team champion, the K-8 team champion and the K-5 team champion.  Any non-trophy winning Varsity individual who scores at least 3 points or any non-trophy winning Junior Varsity, K-8 or K-5 individual who scores at least 3.5 points will be awarded a medal.  All entrants in the K-5 section will receive a participation certificate.

ENTRY FEE:  The early bird entry fee is $14 per player if received by the director before March 10.  Entries received March 10 - March 15 are $18.  If you’re not sure of your exact order of players, please send me a tentative list and then finalize it with an evening phone call or e-mail before the tournament or during an at-site registration session.  The at-site registration fee is $23 per player.  At site registration session I will be held 9 P.M. Friday, March 16 in the Terrace Room in Gruenhagen after a brief coach's meeting for those coaches arriving Friday night.  At site registration session II is from 7:30-8:30 A.M. Saturday, March 17 in room 220 of Reeve Union.  If possible, PLEASE register in advance by using the enclosed form and then check in with the Tournament Director upon arrival.  Phone inquiries can be made any evening before Friday, March 16 to Mike Nietman at (608) 467-8510 or via e-mail.  Players who pre-register but then cannot play will have their entry fee refunded only if the director is notified before the end of at-site registration.  Up-to-date entries will be viewable on the WCA website at www.wischess.org.  Sorry, I am not able to accept credit cards or PO’s, cash or check only.

EQUIPMENT: Please bring boards and sets for your Varsity players. The Wisconsin Chess Association will provide boards and sets for the JV, K-8 and K-5 sections.  Please bring clocks for all main and side events.  Please bring sets and boards for your players to use in the skittles room and bughouse events.  No skittles sets will be available for use.

ACCOMMODATIONS:  Dorm rooms are available at Gruenhagen Conference Center, about a four minute walk from Reeve Union.  Full service rooms are available for $35 single or double.  Full Service includes beds made, towel set, soap, and drinking cup.  Student service rooms are available for $25.50 single or double.  Student service includes bed linens only.  To reserve your rooms, please call Gruenhagen directly at (920) 424-1106.  Mention chess and specify the type of service you desire.  NOTE:  There is a 5 P.M. Friday, March 9 cutoff for lodging room reservations.  Making this deadline will better assure you of having your team stay together or even to get a room!  Special lodging floor:  If your team is comprised of only K-8 students, identify that with your reservation and your team will be housed on a floor containing only K-8 teams on a space available basis.  Gruenhagen asks that one person per team pay for the rooms and pick up the keys.  Please note that Gruenhagen charges $25 for lost keys.  Reserve rooms early.  Due to UW-O students housing in Gruenhagen, space may be limited.  A 24-hour cancellation policy exists.  You will be charged one night’s lodging for rooms booked but not taken upon check in.

PARKING:  For parking around Gruenhagen cars should use the High Avenue ramp on the corner of High and Osceola Streets.  Please use levels 1 and 2 only.  Level 3 is reserved for resident students.  Other possible parking locations include Lot 6, 10 (no vans) and 30.

TEAM ROOMS:  A limited number of team rooms are available in Reeve Union.  To book a room, contact Reeve Union’s Reservation Office directly at 920-424-2435.