2025 Houston Chess Festival

SCHOLASTIC

4SS - G30 d5

Individual Trophy Prizes!

Saturday, July 12, 2025 - First Round at 10:00 a.m.

OPEN TO ALL INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS FROM Pre-K to12th Grades (for school year ended May 2025)

Sections:        K-3       K-5      K-8       K-12

US Chess Official July 2025 Rating Supplement will be used for Pairings.

 - If you want to play in the regular Houston Chess Festival 2 or 3-Day Schedule, with students and adults alike, and money prizes, please go to 2025 Houston Chess Festival

- K in sections includes Pre-K.

- This is a US Chess-rated tournament; each player will need to have a current US Chess membership. It may be purchased from US Chess, at US Chess Memberships or at the tournament.

- Please bring your chess set and clock - These are not provided.  FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THERE WILL BE A CHESS STORE ON LOCATION, SELLING CHESS RELATED ITEMS, INCLUDING THESE.

LOCATION  

DoubleTree by Hilton (near IAH Airport), 15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Houston, TX  77032.  Separate room for scholastic  tournament players.

SPECIAL HOTEL CHESS RATE (For those who may need it):   $92 & tax

NOTE:  RESERVE BY Juse 20, 2025 TO GET GROUP RATE. To Reserve Online, you can click here: DoubleTree by Hilton Reservations for 2025 Houston Chess Festival.  To Reserve your Hotel Room by Phone, please call 855-610-8733 and mention 2025 Houston Chess Festival (Group code - CDTHSC).

FORMAT

4SS, G/30, d5 - US Chess Rated (4 rounds will be played using Swiss-Sys computer pairings; each opponent has 30 minutes to complete his/her game; digital chess clocks, if available, should be set to Game in 30 minutes with a 5-second delay for each move). 

ROUND (STARTING) TIMES 

On-site Registration on Saturday, March 15 between 8:30 - 9:30am. Rounds at 10am & 11:30am & 1:15pm & 2:30pm. Awards ceremony following completion of last round. 

PRIZES 

Trophies to the top 8 Individuals in each section; Commemorative Medals for all players.

ELECTRONIC NOTATION DEVICES 

The only three electronic chess notation devices which are approved for and allowed in a US Chess-rated tournament are the Monroi, Plycount and the Chess NoteR. You may use any of these devices, but the device must remain on top of the table at all times (you may not hold it under the table in your lap or under the tablecloth). The tournament director has the right to request to see your notation device at any time before, during or after your game.

TIEBREAKS 

US Chess-recommended computer tiebreaks (M,S,C,O) will decide trophy placements for winners in each section, if necessary.

BYES (1/2-POINT) 

You may take a 1/2-point bye for any Round. There is a limit of one bye per player for the 4 rounds of the Scholastic Tournament, and you must commit to take any bye prior to the start of Round 1.

ENTRY FEE 

$25 (Late entry and on-site entry $35)

Questions:  Peter Craney, cypresschess@outlook.com