All-girls tournament! K-12 girls throughout the U.S.A. are welcome.

The Individual Winner & Team Winner of the Championship Section will be the 2012 Mid-Atlantic Girls Chess Champion!

The highest-placing Maryland resident in the Championship section will be the 2012 Maryland Girls Chess Champion and will receive a stipend of up to $500 for a national all-girls tournament in 2013!

36 Individual Trophies & 14 Team Trophies

Roland Park Elementary School & Middle School
(NEW SITE: across the street from the previous site)
5207 Roland Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21210

SECTIONS (Round 1 for all sections at 9:30 AM. Subsequent rounds as soon as possible.)
The sections below are listed primarily in descending order of rating strength and secondarily in descending order of grade range. Most players register for the lowest section for which they qualify, so as to enhance their ability to win a trophy.

Championship
grades K-12, rated 1100+
trophies to the top 8 individuals & the top 3 teams
3-SS, G/45 inc/30 (3-round Swiss System, 45-minute Game per player & 30-second increment per move)
Chess Magnet School JGP points available

Advanced
grades K-12, rated under 1100 or strong unrated players
trophies to the top 8 individuals & the top 3 teams
4-SS, G/60 d/5 (4-round Swiss System, 60-minute Game per player & 5-second delay per move)

Intermediate
grades K-12, rated under 700 or unrated

trophies to the top 10 individuals & the top 3 teams
5-SS, G/45 d/5 (5-round Swiss System, 45-minute Game per player & 5-second delay per move)

Elementary-School Novice
grades K-5, rated under 300 or unrated
trophies to the top 10 individuals & the top 5 teams
5-SS, G/30 d/5 (5-round Swiss System, 30-minute Game per player & 5-second delay per move)

Which USCF Rating Determines the Section(s) in which a Player May or Must Play?

MCA’s Scholastic Team Policy (exception: the team score is the combined score of the top 3 players)

MCA’s Scholastic Bye Policy

Tournament Registration Fee
$20 (Regular), if by Tuesday, 11/13 (online or received mail)
$30 (Last-Minute), if by 7 PM, Thursday, 11/15 (online)
$40 (At-the-Door), 8:30 - 9:00 AM, Saturday, 11/17 (only if space is available; half-point bye likely in Round 1)

USCF Membership
Players are required to have a current USCF membership at USCF-rated tournaments, and all MCA tournaments are USCF-rated. Players without a current USCF membership are ineligible to play and will not be paired. Players without a current USCF membership at the scheduled close of online registration on Thursday night are unlikely to be paired in Round 1. If not paired, players will receive a half-point bye in Round 1 and 0-point byes in subsequent rounds, until their purchase of a current USCF membership has been processed. Processing a membership on the day of a tournament can take several hours; therefore, players who wait until the day of a tournament to purchase a current USCF membership are likely reducing their ability to win a trophy. A USCF membership can be purchased online or by mail, along with registration for the tournament. If the player's USCF membership is current, bring a current USCF card or proof of membership to the tournament.
Scholastic (12 and under): $17 or $24
Youth (15 and under): $22 or $28
Young Adult (24 and under): $26 or $33

Lists of Players
Individuals (currently registered Attendees)—updated automatically
Individuals (alphabetically)—updated manually on 11/16
Individuals (by section)—updated manually on 11/16
Teams (by section)—updated manually on 11/16

Registration by Mail
Include: player's name, USCF ID #, USCF expiration date, section, grade, school, phone #, email address, & check (made payable to Maryland Chess Association).
Mail to: Maryland Chess Association, c/o Mike Regan, 1827 Thornton Ridge Road, Towson MD 21204-1841.

Hotel
From the Radisson Hotel at Cross Keys (www.Radisson.com/BaltimoreMD), it's a pleasant 25-minute walk on sidewalks through a wooded neighborhood to the tournament site.

Registration Changes at MCA Scholastic Tournaments

What Do Players Need to Bring?
1) Sets, boards, scoresheets, & pencils will be provided.
2) Players are NOT required to bring a clock; however, we encourage players to bring a clock, if they own one. A game may be started without a clock, if one is not available. But if a clock is available, then players are required to use it. Furthermore, if a Tournament Director places a clock on a game, then the players must use the clock. Clocks should be available for purchase at the tournament.
3) Players should bring a sharpened pencil with a good eraser to record (notate) their games on scoresheets (which will be provided). Except for K-3 players (whose writing skills might not yet be sufficiently developed) and for players in other grades who are unable to write, players are required to record their games. Recording is beneficial in several ways: A) it helps to resolve disputes, B) it discourages cheating, and C) it enables players to improve via post-game analysis.
4) Food will be available for purchase at the tournament.

Procedures, Rules, and Etiquette for Players and Spectators at an MCA Scholastic Tournament

Increment Time Control for the Championship Section

The following might be changed for any section, according to the number of players in the section: whether there are natural pairings (the norm at a Swiss-system tournament) or accelerated pairings in Rounds 1-2, and the number of trophies.

Even when More Than 1 Player in a Section Can Achieve a Perfect Score, There Will Be No Major Variations; However, There Might Be Minor Variations.

How MCA Determines the Winner of a Section when There’s a Tie for First Place

This tournament is made possible by the generous support of the Baltimore Kids Chess League.

How to Find a Player’s New USCF Rating after an MCA Scholastic Tournament

For further information, contact the Maryland Chess Association at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. —or, as a last resort, at 410-794-6312 (M).