IESA Launching Major Middle School Chess Event in February

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Published: 16 November 2010 16 November 2010

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) is launching what organizers believe will become a fixture on the Illinois youth chess calendar: an annual individual/team championship in "Board Swiss" format for middle school students in grades 5-8.  The tournament, to be held February 18-19, 2011 in Bloomington, is the middle-school counterpart of the successful Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Team Chess Championship, attended annually by more than 1,000 students.

IESA has 773 member schools from throughout Illinois covering grades 5-8.  Its Board of Directors added chess to their roster of athletics and activities in the summer of 2009.  Since then, planning for the event has been the work of an Advisory Committee that includes Mike Zacate (USCF National Tournament director and instrumental in starting and continuing the Illinois High School Team Chess Tournament) and Garrett Scott (prominent in central Illinois scholastic chess for decades).  The committee is led by IESA'S Associate Executive Director, Nicole Schaefbauer, who is in charge of the tournament.

The tournament format will differ from most chess events by being a 'Board Swiss.'  Players will be assigned (based on their relative playing skill within their team) to one of five boards, with each board being in effect an individual tournament.  Team scores will be determined by adding together a team’s weighted board scores.

The deadline for registration is January 12th.  Entries must be submitted by IESA member schools, but the IESA membership fee is only $75.  For further information, see the event flyer here, or contact Nicole Schaefbauer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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IESA Launching Major Middle School Chess Event in February

 

The Illinois Elementary School Association (IESA) is launching what organizers hope will become a fixture on the Illinois youth chess calendar: an annual championship for middle school students in grades 5-8.  The tournament, to be held February 18-19, 2011 in Bloomington, is the middle-school counterpart of the successful Illinois High School Association (IHSA) Team Chess Championship, attended annually by more than 1,000 students.

 

IESA has 773 member schools from throughout Illinois covering grades 5-8.  Its Board of Directors added chess to their roster of athletics and activities in the summer of 2009.  Since then, planning for the event has been the work of an Advisory Committee that includes Mike Zacate (USCF National Tournament director and instrumental in starting and continuing the Illinois High School Team Chess Tournament) and Garrett Scott (prominent in central Illinois scholastic chess for decades).  The committee is led by IESA'S Associate Executive Director, Nicole Schaefbauer, who is in charge of the tournament.

 

The tournament format will differ from most chess events by being a 'Board Swiss.'  Players will be assigned (based on their relative playing skill within their team) to one of five boards, with each board being in effect an individual tournament.  Team scores will be determined by adding together a team’s weighted board scores.

 

The deadline for registration is January 12th.  Entries must be submitted by IESA member schools, but the IESA membership fee is only $75.  For a flyer containing details of the event and how to join IESA, click [here].  For further information, contact Nicole Schaefbauer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..