UNIQUE IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA—COMPETITION BY AGE NOT GRADE LEVEL
THIRD ANNUAL!

I HAVE REACHED THE MAGIC NUMBER OF 275 AND REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED! HOWEVER, I WILL BE TAKING PLAYERS IN THE 10, 11, 12, 13 & 4-9 OPEN ON SUNDAY MORNING AFTER THE FIRST ROUND STARTS. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THE PLAYER WILL MISS THE FIRST ROUND & THERE IS A LATE FEE

WHEN: Sunday, February 14, 2010
(a one day event)

1770 South Amphlett Blvd.
San Mateo, CA 94402

SPECIAL HOTEL RATE: $89 for up to four in a room. $109 for a suite. Available Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Call 1-800-228-9290 for reservations and tell them you are with CALNORTH AGE CHESS. You can register for hotel Online. You must reserve your room by February 5, 2010 to assure that you obtain a room. After that date the rooms we have reserved will go on sale to the general populace and if sold out the aforementioned price cannot be guaranteed. Anyone staying at the hotel on Saturday night or Sunday night will receive a $25 rebate on the entry fee for one child. Simply show the room card to the tournament registration desk and an individual will take down your child's name and address and the rebate will be sent after the event. If you do not receive it within a couple of weeks, please contact Alan Kirshner, info@CalNorthYouthChess.org

SPECIAL PARKING RATE: $8 (in and out all day); parking is free for hotel guests; free parking on the streets (S. Grant St.) behind the hotel--about one block walk.

AGE GROUPS: 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, (Age is determined by the date of the tournament. For example, if you turn 9 on February 14 you must compete as a 9 year old.) There is also an Open group where anyone 4 through 9 years old who wants longer time controls and/or desires competition against higher rated players than those in their own age group can join. Please be sure to check the box on the entry form if you want to compete in this special section.

REGISTRATION: You must register online whether you are paying by check or credit card. All registrations that require the mailing of a check must be sent by Wednesday, February 10. Credit Card registrations must be done online by Friday night, February 12. Late registrations will be accepted on Sunday morning, but players will not be allowed to play the first round and will receive a zero point bye. A 1/2 point bye (missing a round for some reason) will be permitted for any round but the last one. If you must take a bye (miss another round) that bye will be recorded as a loss. The loss does not count in the USCF ratings, only for the awards. All 1/2 point byes must be requested by noon on Saturday, February 13.

ENTRY FEES: $35 standard entry, $25 if born in February and the entry is FREE if born on February 14; TEAM ENTRY is $25 when submitted with at least six applications at one time on the official team entry form from the link below. Discounted Team Entries must be submitted by February 8th. As noted above, all other entries must be postmarked by Wednesday, February 10th or on the internet by Friday, February 12. Late entries are subject to an addition $20 fee. It may be possible to register for the tournament at the hotel on Saturday night by 7:30 PM (check with Alan at 510-468-6307). Late registrations will be accepted on Sunday morning, but players will not be allowed to play the first round and will receive a zero point bye. A 1/2 point bye (missing a round for some reason) will be permitted for any round but the last one. This request must take place before noontime on Saturday, February 13. If you must take more than one bye (miss more than 1 round), the 2nd bye will be recorded as zero points. Byes, whether they are 1/2 point or zero points, do not count in the USCF ratings, only for calculating who wins awards.

A $25 rebate on the entry fee will be provided for any family staying in the hotel. This rebate is also available for any discounted entry except the free entry for anyone born on February 14. Simply show your room card at the late registration desk or to Dr. Kirshner. Your name will be taken and the rebate sent to you. Along with the free hotel parking for guests, this will reduce your costs significantly . The reason for the discount is that the only way to get the facilities for the tournament at a reasonable rate was to guarantee that 30 people would stay at the hotel. If they do not, we have to pay for the rooms not taken.

ENTRIES: After January 14 you can check all current entries at http://CalNorthYouthChess.org/AgeLevel2010/ENTRIES.html

ROUNDS: AGES 4-5, 6, 7, 8, 9 (game in 30) will be at 9:30AM & 11AM & 12:30PM, LUNCH BREAK AT 1:30PM, afternoon rounds start at 2PM & 3:30 PM, awards to follow. AGES 10, 11, 12, 13, and Open, for any age 4 to 9 year olds, (game in 60) will be at 9:30AM, 12Noon, 2:15PM, 4:30PM awards to follow. If there is a tie for first place in any of the 10, 11, 12, 13 or Open 4-9 age groups we will have a blitz playoff (5 minute chess) for the first place trophy for that age. All those tying for first place will be declared CalNorth Age Level Champions.

We suggest you show to the site by 9 AM to locate where you will play.

AWARDS: Eight place trophies in each age level section plus trophies for all those who tie at eighth place. Two team trophies in individual age groups (except in 4-5 age level and in the Open 4-9 competition). Chess medals for all competitors that do not receive a trophy.

REQUIREMENTS FOR TEAM COMPETITION: Teams in this event are Club Teams--meaning that coaches may enter anyone in their Club on their age group team. Members of the Club Team do not have to attend the same school, but must be in the same age group. Club Team members names must be provided by their coach before the event starts on February 14 or appear on the individual player's entry form. No player will be placed on a Team after the tournament starts. Club Teams in the age groups can have as many members as they want, however, only the scores of the three players who get the most points will count for the Team award. A team must have a minimum of two players.

NOTES: All players must be members of the U.S. Chess Federation. The entry form will have a place to join the U.S. Chess Federation for non-members. The tournament will adhere to all U.S. Chess federation rules except as modified by CalChess Scholastics: http://www.calnorthyouthchess.org/CalChessStates/Regulations.html Since these rules apply to grade level and not age level tournaments we are modifying rule 2.20 to read: At the CalNorth Youth Age Level Championships analog clocks will have preference in all divisions of the individual 4 through 9 age sections; in all other sections, the current U.S. Chess Federation Clock Preference Rules will apply. Both players can agree to use a digital clock in the 4-9 age sections. All other U.S. Chess Federation regulations applying to clock use must be followed.

A player with a digital clock can opt to use the clock with a 5 second incremental delay. 5 minutes must then be deducted from the tournament time controls. For example, if the tournament time control is 60 minutes, the clock must be set at 55 minutes with a 5 second incremental delay for both players. Individuals who are using a time delay clock must not only know how to set the clock, but be able to explain how it works to their opponent.

Players in age groups 4 through 9 have the option to notate/record their games. We always recommend that if a player can notate his/her game they should. Disputes often cannot be resolved without a notation sheet. Players in the Open 4 through 9 age division and in the 10 through 13 age groups are required to notate their games.

INFORMATION: Alan M. Kirshner, Ph.D., (510) 659-0358, info@CalNorthYouthChess.org

REGISTRATION: Individual go to: https://calnorthyouth.powweb.com/AgeLevel2010/CCEntries.html

Team Entries go to: https://calnorthyouth.powweb.com/AgeLevel2010/TeamForm.html

PHOTOS FROM:

2008 Age Level Championships
2009 Age Level Championships