Site:  Church of the Ascension, 555 S. Main St, Johnstown, OH 43031.

Sections:  (eligibility based on October 2010 USCF rating supplement)

·   Non-rated: 3 sections, grades K-3, 4-6, 7-12.  First-timers welcome!  USCF membership not required.  Games not rated, chess clocks not required but may use if both players agree.  Players with 10 or more prior games rated by USCF not eligible unless entering as the only team member with a rating.  Players in lower grades may move up one section if necessary to stay with their team.

·   Rated: including unrated and provisionally rated players, 3 sections: U700, U1000, Open.  USCF or tournament membership required. Bring clocks.

Format:  Open: 4 rounds G/40.  All Other Sections: 5 rounds G/30.  (G/30 means each player gets 30 minutes to make all their moves, so a game could take up to 1 hour.)  No elimination, all players play all rounds regardless of results, but may request a bye in advance if must miss one round.  Swiss pairings or other methods at TD’s discretion.  All rated sections 5-sec delay, all non-rated sections no delay.  Sets provided.  Non-rated sections do not require chess clocks, all others please bring.

Teams: Players enter and compete for awards as individuals.  In addition, two or more players who attend the same school or are members of the same organization may enter as a team.  The best four team members’ individual scores make up the team score for awards.  If there are only two or three players on a team, they can still compete, but their scores aren’t adjusted compared to teams with four or more players.  Examples of organizations besides schools which can enter teams include chess clubs, home school groups, churches, 4-H clubs, FFA chapters, swim teams, cheerleader squads… any identifiable group.

Awards: Trophies to top players and teams in each section, participation medals to all others.

Entry Fee: $20 if postmarked by 10/28, $25 thereafter.  $5 less for federal lunch program students with principal’s verification.  No registrations at door.  Checks payable to Licking County 4-H Committee.  Refunds less $5 admin fee if withdraw by 5pm Thursday before tournament.

Deadline: No registrations at door.  Entries with payment must be received by 11/2.  Limited to 100 entries, late entries may be accepted if space permits.  Mail to Chess, c/o Neilley & Co. CPAs, 2720 Airport Dr., Columbus OH 43219-2219.  Entries posted at www.neilley.com/chess unless opt out on entry form, verify for accuracy, email or phone corrections ASAP. 

Schedule: 8:00am – 8:30am check in, no registrations at door.  No section or team changes after 8:30am, verify entries for accuracy at www.neilley.com/chess in advance.  Announcements 8:45am, first round 9am, subsequent rounds staggered as games finish in each section.  Awards after last round of each section, estimated times 2:30pm non-rated sections, 3pm rated sections.

Other: Food service available on site.  Old USCF Rule 15A observed (may write first then move) unless using electronic score sheet.

Click here for Registration Form/Flyer

More Info: www.neilley.com/chess, or Grant Neilley 614-314-1102, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Download additional flyers and entry forms from website.