PROPOSAL FOR MCC SUMMER 2001 SCHOLASTIC CHESS PROGRAM
Submitted by Alan Hodge
Objectives:
Overall Structure:
Nine-week program comprising three six-round Swiss tournaments, plus side games for lower sections. This program would offer 18 games for players in the top section, and 27 for players in the lower sections. The suggested dates (taking into account that school is predicted be out around June 20) are as follows:
· Tournament 1: June 26, July 3, July 10
· Tournament 2: July 17, July 24, July 31
· Tournament 3: August 7, August 14, August 21
Sections:
Optimistically there will be three sections, but no fewer than two, each including at least 12 players. Three sections would require a total of 36 entrants; given last year’s total of 27 (average per week at about 20), I believe that 36 is not an unrealistic goal.
Suggested sections are 800-1099, 600-799, and under 600, but both the number of sections and break points will depend on the number of participants and the distribution of ratings. The principle is to divide the participants based on ratings into three groups more or less equal in number. Players would be permitted but not encouraged to play up; unrateds would play in lowest section unless they specifically ask to play in another.
USCF ratings (most recent supplement) would be used to place a player initially. After that, for players playing more than one tournament, the Swis-Sys-calculated “post” rating from the prior tournament will be used for the subsequent tournament. Thus a player could play in different sections of different tournaments, depending on his or her results.
Time Control:
The time control will be G/30 so that all ratings earned will be regular ratings. However, it is recognized that many scholastic players, especially those rated under 900, play much faster than this. Capitalizing on this fact will allow us to play three rounds per night for the lower sections in no more than an estimated hour and a half wall clock time.
Schedule of Rounds:
Each of the three proposed tournaments would have rounds scheduled as follows:
· First week: Top section plays rounds 1 and 2, lower sections play rounds 1, 2 and 3
· Second week: Top section plays rounds 3 and 4, lower sections play rounds 4, 5 and 6
· Third week: Top section plays rounds 5 and 6, lower sections play side games.
Pairings:
Pairings will be normal Swiss-style pairings for rounds 1 through 6 of each tournament. The side games in the lower sections will be paired as follows:
· For the first round, all players present will be ranked according to Swis-Sys-calculated “post” ratings from rounds 1-6. Player 1 will be paired against player 2, 3 against 4, etc. If there is an odd number of players, normal rules will apply for pairing someone out. A player could not be paired out more than once on any side games night.
· For the second and third rounds, pairings will be described as above within score groups, ensuring that no two players are paired against each other more than once.
The objective to be achieved by pairing side games in this manner is to maximize parity between any two players paired against one another. Under this system it is extremely likely that players will play each other more than once over the course of the nine games (once during the six Swiss rounds and once during the side games), but no two players will player each other more than twice.
Prizes:
I suggest not offering any trophies or cash prizes. Instead, players would be eligible to choose from among a selection of prizes, including (for example) T-shirts, chess books and chess equipment ranging in value from $10(?) to $75(?). Players would accumulate points towards prizes through both game results (normal scoring values) plus attendance (1 point for attending on a given evening regardless of how many games were played). A “perfect score” in the top section would thus be 27, and in the lower sections 36. A minimum of nine points might qualify for the lowest category of prize, with other thresholds perhaps at 14, 19 and 24. Details of the prize structure will be worked out upon agreement upon the concept. (I am not intent that the summer 2001 entry fees cover all the prize expenses, since a “profit” of about $600 was made on last year’s program. Some of that $600 could subsidize this year’s prizes.)
Byes:
MCC’s norm al bye policy would apply, recognizing that with multiple games being played on each night, a player might request an early-game bye to accommodate a late arrival at the club, or take a late-game bye if he or she needs to leave before the last game is played.
Forfeits:
Forfeits will need to be dealt with sensibly. With multiple games being played on each night, a forfeit would affect only one of two or three games. Under these circumstances, the normal MCC policy probably should not be applied.
Entry Fees:
I propose a flexible schedule:
$20 for the entire summer (three tournaments)
$10 for any tournament individually
$5 to come and play for one night (especially to attract players on side games nights whose absence might have prevented them from playing either or both other tournament nights)
Other Requirements:
USCF membership, USCF tournament rules, etc. as usual.
Decision Timeframe:
An early decision would enable us to publicize this program through flyers at the April 1 State Team Championships. Later scholastics events are April 22 Boylston Chess Club Scholastic Tournament and Mass Open Scholastic, May 27/28, in addition to communicating via email and websites.
I am will to do the following:
· Organize and TD the program
· Prepare flyer and entry form
· Distribute a notice by email to prospective players/parents (would like to leverage MCC’s and MACA’s mailing lists if possible)
· Prepare registration information material
· Make flyers (assistance requested with distribution to tournament, club and school program sites, expenses to be paid by MCC)
· Submit rating reports to USCF
· Submit wall charts and standings to MCC for posting (if desired)
· Prepare a report for MCC at the conclusion of the program
· Define prize categories, prizes, and process to obtain/award prizes