B.C. Chess Challenge Qualifier 卑诗省 区域预选赛 - Regional #3

2015-2016  B.C. Chess Challenge Qualifiers 卑詩省区域性国际象棋挑战赛-预选赛

What is Canadian Chess Challenge?

The Canadian Chess Challenge, organized by Chess’n Math Association, is a national chess tournament for players from grades 1 to 12. Each of the 10 provinces selects 12 representatives, one per grade, to participate in an intensive 9-round event over two days. Players not only compete to be the national champion, but also participate as team members to play for their provinces’ honor. The first championship was held in 1989, and this year will be the 28^th tournament. It will be held in Regina, Saskatchewan during the Victoria long weekend (May 22-23, 2016). Team B.C. have put in strong performance over the years, we have come in second place 5 times and third 17 times. Please visit Chess’n Math Association’s website for more information about the organization: http://chess-math.org/ 

2015 Team B.C. in Canadian Chess Challenge, May 17-18 Quebec City

Who will be selected as Team B.C. members? 

To determine who will represent B.C. in this historical event, we are organizing 2 levels of qualifying tournaments: regional and provincial. Players must score 2.5 points or higher in one of the qualifier events in order to qualify for 2016 B.C. Provincial Chess Challenge on Feb 21, 2016. Players can enter as many qualifiers as possible but they can only claim one trophy or medal if they are the winners of the section. The section champion (Grade 1 to 12) of the provincial event will be invited to join Team B.C. to compete in the Canadian Chess Challenge 2016.

Provincial Organizers 

Vancouver Chess School (VCS) will be organizing the Regional qualifiers and the Provincial Chess Challenge. Victoria Junior Chess Society will be hosting the Victoria Regional. 

Team B.C. members 

Selected Team B.C. members will receive partial travel subsidies to Canadian Chess Challenge and a 1-day Team B.C. training sessions in April Active *Apr 16 to prepare for their competition. Team BC members have the option of paying a discounted $20 entry fee to compete for the cash prize or simply join the April Active for free for the experience as they will have opportunities to play against adult players and have their games analyzed afterwards. (Please note that no cash prize will be granted for participants with free entrance). All Team B.C. members are also invited to do further practices by playing in our Monthly Active (*Mar 12 & May 14 only) at a discounted entry fee of $20 instead of $30. *Date changed

Sponsors 

Any donation and sponsorship are welcome. This year, the goal of our donation funds is to financially support Team B.C. members and coaches to attend the Canadian Chess Challenge in Regina.

Location:  Vancouver Chess School  

Columbia College  438 Terminal Avenue, Vancouver

*For any enquiry, please contact VCS. DO NOT call Columbia College

*Door opens at 10:00 am only. Tournament hall is located on the 3rd floor, room 320-330

*Street parking and underground parking ($2 per hour). Parkade elevator is locked. Please enter College from front entrance.

*Note no "U-turn" is allowed on Terminal Avenue.

Date:  Sundays, Nov 29, 2015, Jan 17 & Feb 14, 2016. 

2016 B.C. Chess Challenge (Final / Provincial) will be on Sunday, Feb 21, 2016 

Please sign up early as early bird discount ends 2 weeks prior to the tournament date.

Individual Registration    

The Chess Challenge Qualifiers are open to any student in grades K to 12.  

Preschoolers are welcome and will be grouped with Kindergarten participants. 

No onsite registration under any circumstances. 

School Team Registration 

We require at least 2 school teams in elementary and high school levels to compete. A team must have at least 4 or more players from the same school. Their school & rating information will be verified. The points from the 4 best performing team members will contribute to the school’s total score. Players’ performances are tabulated towards both individual and school prizes. Top 3 winning teams for the Elementary school (Grade K-7) & High school (Grade 8-12) categories will receive a trophy. 

2 -step registration: 

Step 1:  Parents to register players as individual players online. We require at least 2 school teams in elementary and high school levels to compete. You will compete as individual only if we do not have enough teams. 

Step 2:  Please assign a School Team leader (you can be a teacher or a parent) to email us info@vanchess.ca a list of your team members 3 days before cut-off time. All team members must be from the same school. No last minute change please. 

Please note: 

This historical tournament is originally designed to be a competition to determine provincial chess champions by their grade. School team competition is an additional prize to encourage team efforts. Please note that all players will be paired according to their individual performances. Their school association will not be considered in the pairing process to ensure fairness for individual results.  

Bye Request 轮空要求 :  

If you cannot attend all 5 rounds, maximum of 2 zero point byes is allowed. Request must be made at least ½ hour before the round starts.  

如果你不能参加所有5个回合，你必须在赛前半小时请求不超过2次零分轮空。 

Others: 

• Playing up a section is not allowed  跳组是不允许的。

• Please note that some groups may be combined if sections are small   注意如果每组人数太少，有些组别可能合并。

• Chess notation is recommended. Please bring your own scorebook and pencils   建议作象棋记录。请自备象棋记录本和笔。

• Chess sets and clocks are provided  提供象棋和棋钟。

   

  Check in Time  报到时间:  No Check in is required. We will post the pairing outside the tournament rooms. Please check the pairing sheet for your board number and your colour. Report to your section (organized by Grades) when doors open. Round 1 will start at 10:30am. Please be punctual.  We will start the clock at assigned round time. 

Individual Tie Breaker  个人决胜局:

1. Direct Encounter (Head to Head)

2. Cumulative score 

3. Opposition cumulative score

*Round robin sections: 1. Head to head 2. SonneBorne-Berger

Tie Breaker for the School Teams  学校队的决胜局: 

Where two or more school teams are tied, the team with the highest number of won games will be declared the winner. If scores are still tied, the team with the highest number of first place finishers will be declared the winner. If neither team has a first place finisher, then the highest number of second place finishers, and so on. 

Special Note: 

Parents must take full responsibility for the well-being of their children. All parents and players must stay inside a designated room (skittles room) before and after each round. No parents or children are allowed outside the skittles room. We would suggest you to bring your own chess set or other board games or playing cards, etc., to keep the children entertained. We will not be responsible and cannot be held liable to the safety of your children. Please make sensible arrangement according to your children's maturity level. Please note that there is no Wi-Fi service at the tournament hall. 

Questions & Answers  问题解答: 

1. Who can join? What is the minimum age? My son has learned chess only a few months.

All students Grades K-12 who have basic knowledge of chess are welcome to join. Aged 5 or younger are welcome and will be grouped into Grade K category. It is a great learning opportunity for beginners to experience professionally run tournaments. We have chess workshop which can help to prepare children at all levels for these tournaments. Please check our "National/Provincial Championships Training Program" on our event page. 

2. I don't have a chess rating. Where can I find my rating? What is CMA?

We will pair you up as an unrated player. Unrated player will receive a new ID that can be used for future tournaments. All players will receive their ratings within a week after the tournament is completed. We use CMA for all the qualifiers and provincial events. To find out more about CMA or to check your CMA ratings: http://chess-math.org/ratings. All rated players please make sure your school name and school grade are uptodate. 

3. What if I am late? Can I request for a bye?

The clock will start counting down when the game begins at assigned round time. If you are late, you will lose on time. If you are more than 30 minutes past the game starting time, the TD may deem the game forfeit and you will receive 0 point for that round (this rule applies to all rounds). For bye request, please read above under "Bye request".

4. Are the parents allowed inside the tournament hall?

No parents are allowed inside the tournament hall during the game except 5-min picture time before each round starts. 

5. Can I bring food or eat inside the tournament hall?

No food and other beverages are allowed inside the tournament hall. You can bring your own water bottle but we are not responsible for your belongings. Please keep all areas clean should you wish to eat anywhere else inside the premises.

6. What is your cancellation policy? Any refund if my child withdraws during the tournament?

If you created a VCS account, you can cancel the registration online at least 24 hours prior to the tournament date and the system will automatically credit the fees to your balance. For those who log in as "guests", please email us to request a refund within the timeline. NO REFUND will be granted to any withdrawal during the tournament.

7. Do I need to fill in my email and phone number at the time of registration?

Please include your current email address and 2 different phone numbers at the time of registration. All players will receive their certificate through email only. We may also need to contact your regarding rating, school name, team or for emergency reason.

8. When will the tournament finish? When is the award ceremony? Can I claim my trophy before the award ceremony?

As soon as all the games are finish in all sections. We estimate the last round will be finished at around 4:00pm. We will not know the final results until all the players finish playing. Therefore we cannot give out the trophies before the award ceremony. You have an option to leave right after last round but we encourage all players to stay for the award ceremony. Your presence to support the players is greatly appreciated. 

9. How do I know if I am qualified for the B.C. Chess Challenge? My brother is qualified but I didn't. Will I be qualifed automatically as a sibling? Where can I find the results and event photos?

If you scored 2.5 points, you are qualified, same rule applies to everyone. We will post the results and photos on our website after the tournament is completed. You will find it under event page where you registered your child.

Note: The highest rated CFC/FIDE/CMA players in their respective grades, as of Jan 1, 2016 are qualified for the Provincial without competing in the regional. A list of qualified players will be announced on Jan 2 and will be posted on the Provincial tournament website (Feb 21).

10. When can I register for the Provincial (or Final), 2016 B.C. Chess Challenge, Feb 21?

You can register at any time. Early bird registration ends on Feb 7 and the last day to register is Feb 20 by 8:00pm.