Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Saturday, October 4th, 2025
Doors open at 7:30 am. Check in by 8:25 am. Round 1 is at 9:00 am.
Text @uec-open to 81010 to sign up for tournament updates.
Registration due Thursday evening before the tournament.
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Format & Time Control
Format & Time Control
Five Rounds of Game 25/5d (or four rounds of Game 30/5d depending on entries) of individually swiss-paired players.
Schools may enter as many entries as they like, or as few as one.
Sections: At least two sections are anticipated. The number & type of sections will be determined based on entries.
IHSA Rules still apply such as touch move, sportsmanship and general conduct of the tournament.
We are rolling the tournament. If we can start a round early, we will do so.
Pairing players of the same school against each other will be avoided, or entirely barred, based on entries.
This is not a team tournament. It is not an IHSA qualifying event.
At Fenton HS
At Fenton HS
Park in the main parking lot, just south of the main entrance.
Enter through the main entrance.
Veer left to the cafeteria towards the library.
Entries & Fees
Entries & Fees
All schools pay an entry fee of $15.00 per player entered, with a maximum of $150 entry fee per school.
Checks payable to Fenton High School. Payable prior to the day of the event or within 30 days after the event.
Host school will provide you an invoice and receipt upon request.
Coaches must provide a Potential Players List (which is different than a Roster) by the Thursday before the event. You may drop and rearrange players the morning of the tournament without penalty. Bring as few as one player, or all of your players. This is for everyone.
At a school without a team, but have a club? Do you have a team that is brand new? You will be expected to attend our 8am lesson on IHSA chess so we know that you know the fundamental rules of IHSA chess.
While the number of entries is not limited, please check in with the host coach if you intend to bring more than 20 players.
Wishing to defray the cost of your team's entry? Email the tournament about working behind the scenes the day of the tournament.
No registrations allowed the day of the event.
Tournament Schedule
Tournament Schedule
7:30 am Doors open to team skittles rooms.
Once you are settled in your team area, coaches go to CHECK IN
During check in you may rearrange your strength order and drop players.
You may not add players to your strength order.
You might be asked to pay after the start of Round 1, depending how busy things are when you check in.
8:25 am DEADLINE to arrive and check in with the Tournament Director.
8:30 am Coaches & Captains Meeting (and any chaperones too).
8:45 am Anticipated time for pairings to be posted and doors opened to competitors.
8:55 am Players are seated with boards set up. Coaches are present in the competition room.
All clocks face towards central aisle.
Player of black pieces decides which side to sit on.
Player of black pieces is responsible for board, pieces and clock.
9:00 am Welcoming and Essential Reminders
Restrooms, Cell Phones, Decorum and Sportsmanship.
Notation, Touch Move, Clocks and Requesting a Steward.
Introduction of the Stewards and Tournament Director.
9:05 am Start of Round 1 (will start earlier if possible)
Paying the day of? Payment will be accepted after the start of Round 1 at the Tournament Managers table.
If offered, last call for "Day of" Group Pizza ordered.
10:30 am Start of Round 2 (will start earlier if possible)
Anticipated arrival of preordered coaches lunch.
Anticipated arrival of preordered team pizzas.
12:00 pm Start of Round 3 (will start earlier if possible)
Anticipated arrival of "Day of" Group pizza order, if offered.
Coaches: Collect Invoice (if paying later) or Receipt (if paid that day) from Tournament Managers Table.
1:30 pm Start of Round 4 (will start earlier if possible)
As players finish, please clean team room. Pizza boxes and large bits of garbage should go into the large hallway trash cans.
Concessions, if available will likely close before last round.
3:00 pm Start of Round 5 (will start earlier if possible)
As players finish, please clean team room. Pizza boxes and large bits of garbage should go into the large hallway trash cans.
Done? Once all your team's games are done, coaches will collect their school's 5pt, 4pt and 3pt ribbons.
No need to wait for the rest of the tournament to finish before you pack up.
Depart after cleaning up your team room. And check that you have your phones and chargers.
No formal awards ceremony. You are NOT expected to wait for other teams to finish.
Ribbons for players earning 5.0 points, 4.0 points and 3.0 points will be awarded at the completion of their last game.
Coaches collect these ribbons from the awards table and leave a tally sheet behind to verify award(s) pick up.
Host may have additional awards for this event (ribbons, bag of candy, chess equipment, event sticker, extra pizza, etc).
Results will be posted to the ICCA website, however this IS NOT a Qualifying Tournament for the IHSA Chess State Series.
Additional Information
Additional Information
Bring a chess set and chess clock for each player. Don't have one yet? Email the host about renting a set for the day.
The Tournament Manager will decide, based on entries, how many sections to have. This could be done by conference affiliation, grade in school, and/or level of experience.
This event is for everyone: established teams, newer programs, and schools that have a chess club but no team, as well as solo high school chess players (with chaperone).
Entering the tournament on your own? You must have a parent or adult affiliated with your school on campus during the tournament.
Tournament Director: Josh Flores
Tournament Manager: Stephanie Downen - Fenton High School
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