WHEN
February 8, 2025
WHERE
McCormick Place – 2301 S Indiana Ave, Chicago, IL 60616 – PLEASE NOTE: We have a new location inside the West Building, with entrance access off Indiana Ave.
McCormick Place is the largest and most flexible use convention center in North America. Located on Chicago’s lakefront, just minutes from downtown and facing one of the most iconic skylines in the world, the McCormick Place campus provides world-class facilities for the tournament.
FORMAT
Championship sections: 4-Round, Swiss System, Game/40, d5
Reserve & Novice sections: 5-Round, Swiss System, Game/25, d5
SCHEDULE
Championship sections: Rounds: 10:00, 12:30, 2:30 & 4:30
Reserve & Novice sections: Rounds: 10:00, 12:00, 2:00, 3:30 & 5:00
Awards: 6:30
SECTIONS / AWARDS
Primary (K-4)
- Championship: open to all – Trophies top 5 players, top 2 schools
- Reserve: open to players rated Under 600 – Trophies top 8 players, top 3 schools
- Novice: open to players rated Under 300 – Trophies top 8 players, top 3 schools
Elementary (K-6)
- Championship: open to all – Trophies top 5 players, top 2 schools
- Reserve: open to players rated Under 800 – Trophies top 8 players, top 3 schools
- Novice: open to players rated Under 400 – Trophies top 8 players, top 3 schools
Junior High (K-8)
- Championship: open to all – Trophies top 5 players, top 2 schools
- Reserve: open to players rated Under 1000 – Trophies top 8 players, top 3 schools
- Novice: open to players rated Under 500 – Trophies top 8 players, top 3 schools
High School (K-12)
- Championship: open to all – Trophies top 5 players, top 2 schools
- Reserve: open to players rated Under 1100 – Trophies top 5 players, top 2 schools
Top 4 players added for team scores, team members must attend the same school, club teams are not allowed
Any player who scores 4 or more points and doesn’t win a trophy will receive a medal!
RATINGS USED
For pairing purposes we will be using the January rating supplement.
ACCELERATED PAIRINGS
Accelerated Pairings may be used in a section with over 100 players.
BYES
A single half-point Bye is available any round, to include the final round. If the Bye is requested for Round 1, it must be requested as part of the advance entry or online by 11 pm on the day before the tournament starts. If the Bye is requested for a later round, it must be requested before the published start time for Round 1. 0-point byes shall be available for all rounds. The Chief TD shall have the ability to grant a 1/2-point bye for any round on unusual circumstances, except the last round.