May the 4th Be With You Chess Championship
May 3, 2025
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✅ A K-12 Chess Tournament open ONLY to private, parochial, and homeschool students.
🚫 Public school students are not eligible for this event.
Location: St. Thomas More Parish School
5927 Wigton Dr, Houston, TX 77096
Tournament Information:
♟ Eligibility: Open to all K-12 parochial, private schools, and homeschool students.
♟ Entry Fee: $30 through April 27; $40 thereafter. Registration closes on May 2 at midnight.
♟US Chess Membership Required: A US Chess membership is necessary to participate. A discounted membership can be purchased through the provided link.
♟ Format: 5-round Swiss System, Game/25 with a 5-second delay, and US Chess rated.
♟Sections: The tournament will be limited to 30 players per section, with sections divided by grade and US Chess rating.
♟ Team Awards: School awards will be based on the combined scores of the top 4 players from each team.
♟ Costume Contest: Star Wars-themed attire is encouraged, with individual and team prizes awarded for the best costumes.
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Schedule:
♟ First round begins as close to 9:00 AM as possible. Participants are advised to arrive early.
♟ Lunch will be provided around 11:30 AM, following the completion of round 2.
♟ The final round starts around 3:00 PM, with the award ceremony concluding by approximately 5:00 PM.
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Registration and Membership:
♟ Online Registration: For expedited processing and magazine options use this link.
♟ Discounted US Chess Membership: Purchase for $13 at this link. This might take one to a few days, so join ASAP.
♟ After receiving your US Chess membership number via email, forward it to John Hendrick at john@foundationchess.org.
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Additional Information:
♟ Participants can play up to 5 rounds (non-elimination format). Competitors are expected to be familiar with the rules.
♟ Chess boards and pieces are provided by the event organizers. Players should bring their own chess clocks and notation sheets, if available.
♟ Parental Access: Parents or guardians are not permitted in the playing area once rounds have started but may escort their children to the playing area and take photos before rounds begin.
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Helpful Links:
Tournament Rules and Expectations
US Chess New Member Registration
♟ Contact: John Hendrick at john@foundationchess.org or 832-893-0138
♟ Subscribe to Our Newsletter
May the Strategy Be With You – Get Ready for a Day of Chess Battles and Galactic Fun!
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