Chessplayers from 6th-12th grades are invited to attend the....
2024 NW League PreSeason Tournaments
- Monday, November 4 -- NWL Alpha Tourney
Meridian High School - enter from west, follow signs
- Monday, November 18 -- NWL Beta Tourney
Squalicum High School
Beta Tourney: Individual entries register here
Note: NWL high school players from Blaine, Meridian, Sehome, Bellingham HS, Ferndale, Lynden, Squalicum -- do not use this form. Your club advisor will enter you in advance. All others, use the links above, sign up before 9pm the day before.
Scholastic chessplayers from 6th-12th grades of all abilities are invited to attend the Alpha and Beta Tourneys, being held on two Monday evenings this Fall.
New for 2024: Elementary school players rated over 700 may play in the PreSeason meets, and the NW League JV section.
At each NWL pre-season tourney, players are placed in sections of approximately equal playing ability based on the latest NWSRS ratings. If you are unrated, you will be placed in a low rated playing section. Sections will have about eight players. Chess notation is required for all players and chess clocks will be used (Game 25/5). If you're not familiar with recording chess moves, or using a chess clock, don't worry. Instruction will be available on site.
USCF and WHSCA tournament rules are in effect, i.e. if you touch a piece, you must move it. Bring a pen or pencil, since chess notation is a requirement. In time pressure (when either player has less than five minutes remaining on their clock) chess notation becomes optional for both players. Score sheets are provided, but bring a chess clock if you have one!
It's a no elimination element event, each player will play in all three rounds. We aim for the last game at each tourney to be completed by 9:15 p.m., but most players will be finished well before then. All tournament games will be NWSRS rated.
Entry fee:
Free to Northwest League high school students. Otherwise, $3 donation requested.
Prizes:
Keychains or Medals, and Northwest Chess magazine, to perfect scores each evening.
Northwest Chess Magazine to those scoring 2.5.
HOW TO ENTER:
1. Before 9pm the day before, fill out the online form.
2. Check in between 5:35pm and 5:50pm.
First Round to start ASAP after 6:00pm.
Directors:
Randy Walther and Randy Kaech 36O-255-Ol84.
Directions to Meridian rooms: Enter the Meridian HS west parking lot from Laurel Road. The part of the school that has a RED star on it is where we'll play. The green highlighted section of the parking lot is closest to the desired entrance (basically all the way in the back of the lot, closest to the soccer and football fields). You can then follow the orange line to our northern doors which will take you right to the math classrooms where we will be playing. See map below.