HRCA Holiday Hustle

December 14, 2024

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Hampton Roads Chess Association

2024 Holiday Hustle

December 14, 2024

Old Donation School
4633 Honeygrove Road
Virginia Beach, VA 23455

 

Youth and adults, join us for a tournament suitable for all ages and abilities in Virginia Beach! 
US Chess membership is required for Open and U1000.  These sections are open to all ages. 

The Rookie section is Scholastic (PK-12) only -- no US Chess membership required.  

This is an HRCA Scholastic Cup Event!
HRCA membership is not required for the tournament, but IS required to participate in the Scholastic Cup awards.  
New Memberships must be purchased within one week of event for points to qualify.   
For more information visit https://hrchessclub.org/scholastic-cup/

EVENT EXTRAS:

Chess store will be open for holiday shopping!  Cash, card, and tap to pay available. 

Concessions will be available.   Snacks and water available all day.  Lunch will be available through pre-orders prior to the event (stay tuned for link!).   Cash, card, and tap to pay available. 

Door Prizes - Every registered player in attendance will be entered.  Must be onsite to win. 

SCHEDULE:

  • 8:30-9:30 - Check-in and on-site registration
    • (Note:  Onsite registration is NOT guaranteed - register in advance to ensure a spot!)

  • 9:30 AM - New Player Orientation

  • 10:00 AM -- Round 1 begins for all sections

  • Subsequent rounds will be "ASAP", meaning they will begin as soon as the previous round is complete.  Awards immediately     following the completion of the final round.  We cannot give an exact finish time -- likely around 5 PM.  

 

  •  Lunch:  There will be NO set lunch break.  Concessions will be available on site. Lunch pre-orders will be delivered at a specific time for pick-up.  Enjoy snacks and lunch between your rounds.

 

 

PARTICIPANTS:  Open and Amateur (U1000) are available for all ages, youth and adults.  Novice (U500) and all Rookie sections are K-12 scholastic sections only -- no adults.  US Chess membership required for Open, Amateur and Novice.  No US Chess membership required for Rookie sections.  HRCA membership is only required if you want your points counted for the HRCA Scholastic Cup. 

 

FORMAT:   A Swiss System (like a bracket system -- not an elimination event!) tournament of four or five rounds based on entries.  Time control is G/40; d5, meaning each side has 40 minutes to complete all their moves, and the clock will not start counting down for the first 5 seconds of each move. Select a bye during registration ONLY if you know you will be missing a round due to a conflict with another event.  One half-point bye allowed if requested prior to the start of Round 3.

Section choices are:

  • K-3 Rookie:  Grades Pre-K through 3rd with little to no tournament experience.  No rated players allowed.  US Chess membership not required.
  • K-5 Rookie:  Younger children may "play up" for a greater challenge, but this section is designed for youth in 4th or 5th grade with little to no tournament experience.  No rated players allowed.  US Chess membership not required.

  • K-12 Rookie:  Younger children may "play up" for a greater challenge, but this section is designed for youth in grades 6th-12th with little to no tournament experience.  No rated players allowed.  US Chess membership not required.

  • Novice (U500):  Youth in grades K-12 (no adults) who are US Chess members with a Regular over-the-board (OTB) rating Under 500.  The December supplement will be used.  Unrated players are allowed in the Novice section and are eligible for place prizes or Top Unrated prizes only.

  • Amateur (U1000):  Any players, youth or adult, who are US Chess members with a Regular over-the-board (OTB) rating Under 1000.  The December supplement will be used.  Unrated players are allowed in the Amateur section and are eligible for place prizes or Top Unrated prizes only.  

  • Open:  Any players, youth or adult, who are US Chess members -- unrated or of any rating -- but designed for ADVANCED players rated over 1000.  Playing up is allowed.  Unrated players are allowed in the Open section and are eligible for place prizes or Top Unrated prizes only.  

AWARDS: 

  • Individual: 
    • TROPHIES to the Top 5 finishers in each section.  Trophy to Top U1200 in Open.  Trophy to Top U700 in Amateur.  Trophy to Top U300 in Novice.  Trophy to Top Unrated in Novice section.

    • Free one-year US Chess membership to any Rookie with a perfect score.  

    • One-month free Chess.com Diamond membership and Chessable Pro to Top Unrated in Open and Amateur sections if you have never had a paid account. 

    • $15 on-site same-day credit for holiday chess store for Top Upset in Open and Amateur for Round 1 or 2.

 

  • Team:  A team is comprised of two or more players from the same school, with the top four scores counting toward the team score.  Team awards for this tournament include: 
  • Top 3 Elementary Rookie teams (K-3/K-5 Rookie combined + any 6th grader in K-12 Rookie attending a K-6 only school);

  • Top 3 Middle School Rookie teams (K-12 Rookies attending schools with 6th-8th grades);

  • Top 3 Elementary Rated teams (Novice, Amateur, and Open combined);

  • Top 3 Middle School Rated teams (Novice, Amateur, and Open combined). 

  • There are currently no High School awards planned due to lack of high schools participating in scholastic tournaments.  If your high school plans to bring a team, your players must register no later than December 4th to add high school team trophies.


ENTRY FEE:  $35 Early Entry Fee through 11:59 PM on Saturday, December 7th.  $40 Standard Entry Fee through 11:59 PM Wednesday, December 11th; $45 Late Entry Fee thereafter.   PLEASE REGISTER IN ADVANCE, as we may not be able to accommodate walk-up registrations.   Scholarship participants approved for discounts and Title I schools who need registration assistance MUST contact Tina in advance to register.     Please note that entry fees are required to participate and are NOT tax-deductible.

REFUNDS:   If you need to withdraw, please contact the Event Organizer.   There are absolutely NO refunds after tournament begins.

Refunds will be given as a tournament credit ONLY.    Refunds create a lot of administrative work and loss of important operational revenue to HRCA.   Our default refund is to now give participants a CREDIT towards a future HRCA tournament.  The credited amount will be the entry fee amount paid, and is valid for 1 year. 

**Please check the ENTRY LIST before registering to make sure you do not register multiple times.   Duplicate entries are subject to an administrative refund fee of $10.      

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!  Volunteers help ensure our events run smoothly.  Please sign up for a spot to help us at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C4AA8AB28A3FDC25-53284540-hrca#/. 

Set up, Clean Up, chess store workers, hall monitors, concessions, scorekeepers, CERTIFIED Tournament Directors (TDs), and assistant TDs (not certified) are needed.    

Tournament Organizer:  For more information/questions, contact Tina at cschweiss2@hrchessclub.org or 757-472-5909.  Email is the fastest way to reach us.    

Safe Play and Code of Conduct:   It is our goal to provide a fun, safe, and supportive environment.  Community partnerships are vital to HRCA, and we want to ensure we remain good stewards to our partners and their facilities. There is a lot of downtime during tournaments -- parents are responsible for supervising their children when they are not playing a scheduled match.    

Please note only designated areas of the facility are open to players and guests.   No one is allowed in undesignated areas (including classrooms) at any time.   

 

By registering and attending in this event (as participant or guest), you acknowledge and agree to abide by the US Chess Federation's Safe Play Policy, and HRCA's Code of Conduct and General Liability Waiver and Release.  For more information on Safe Play or HRCA's Code of Conduct and General Liability Waiver and Release, please click the BLUE links above.   Violations of these policies may result in warnings, or ultimately, disqualification or dismissal from the event without refund.   

 

Photo Policy: Please be advised that photos and/or videos may be taken at HRCA events for use in HRCA's marketing, grant reporting, educational, news, or other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other forms of media, including on our website and social channels. HRCA will not identify images using the full names of those photographed without express written permission.   By attending an HRCA event, you consent to have your image recorded for distribution and agree to release, defend, hold harmless, and indemnify HRCA from any and all claims, including compensation, involving using your picture or likeness. If you wish to opt-out, you can make your wishes known to the photographer, and/or the event organizers, and/or contact HRCA at hrca@hrchessclub.org.