The official MD State Scholastic Championship Tournament!  

See who's playing (Updated in March)

Magnus Chess Academy in partnership with the Maryland Chess Association

Grades K-12
Hammond High School, 8800 Guilford Road, Columbia, MD 21046

9 sections for different ages and skill levels - please read descriptions closely to make sure you sign up for the correct section!  Championship sections are only open to students who live in or attend school in MD, under sections are open to participants from any state.

 
High School Championship (Saturday 4/26-Sunday 4/27)
The official Maryland State High School Championship! Rounds at 9:30am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm on Saturday, and rounds at 9:30am, and 12:30pm on Sunday, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:30pm.  The time control is game in 75 minutes with a 5 second delay. The winner (by tiebreak*, if necessary) qualifies for the Denker National Tournament of High School State Champions. Players must live in or attend school in MD, be in grades 9-12 and rated at least 1150 to participate.

High School Under 1200 (Sunday 4/27)
For players who are in grades 9-12 rated under 1200 or who are unrated. Rounds at 9:30am, 10:40am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, and 2:10pm, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:15pm.  The time control is game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay.  Open to players from anywhere.

Middle School Championship (Saturday 4/26-Sunday 4/27)
The official Maryland State Middle School Championship! Rounds at 9:30am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm on Saturday, and rounds at 9:30am, and 12:30pm on Sunday, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:30pm.  The time control is game in 75 minutes with a 5 second delay. The winner (by tiebreak*, if necessary) qualifies for the Barber National Tournament of Middle School State Champions. Players must live in or attend school in MD, must be in grades 6-8 and must rated at least 950 to participate.

Middle School Under 1000 (Sunday 4/27)
For players who are in grades 6-8 rated under 1000 or who are unrated. Rounds at 9:30am, 10:40am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, and 2:10pm, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:15pm.  The time control is game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay.  Open to players from anywhere.

Elementary School Championship (Saturday 4/26-Sunday 4/27)
The official Maryland State Elementary School Championship!  Rounds at 9:30am, 12:30pm, and 3:30pm on Saturday, and rounds at 9:30am, and 12:30pm on Sunday, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:30pm.  The time control is game in 75 minutes with a 5 second delay.  The winner (by tiebreak*, if necessary) qualifies for the Rockefeller National Tournament of Elementary School State Champions.  Players live in or attend school in MD, must be in grades 4 or 5 and must be rated at least 750 to participate.

Elementary School Under 800 (Saturday 4/26)
For players who are in grades 4 or 5 rated under 800 or who are unrated. Rounds at 9:30am, 10:40am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, and 2:10pm, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:15pm. The time control is game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay. Open to players from anywhere.

Primary School Championship (Saturday 4/26)
The official Maryland State Primary School Championship!  Players must live in or attend school in MD, must be in grades 2-3 and must be rated at least 550 to participate.  Rounds at 9:30am, 10:40am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, and 2:10pm, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:15pm.  The time control is game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay.

Primary School Under 600 (Saturday 4/26)
For players who are in grades 2-3 rated under 600 or who are unrated.  Rounds at 9:30am, 10:40am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, and 2:10pm, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:15pm.  The time control is game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay. Open to players from anywhere.

K-1 Championship (Saturday 4/26)
The official Maryland State K-1 Championship! Players must live in or attend school in MD.  Rounds at 9:30am, 10:40am, 11:45am, 1:00pm, and 2:10pm, with an awards ceremony starting at approximately 3:15pm.  The time control is game in 25 minutes with a 5 second delay.

Schedule

Section	Round 1	Round 2	Round 3	Round 4	Round 5	Awards	Time Control
K-1 Champ	9:30am Sat	10:40am Sat	11:45am Sat	1:00pm Sat	2:10pm Sat	3:15pm Sat	G/25, d5
PS Champ	9:30am Sat	10:40am Sat	11:45am Sat	1:00pm Sat	2:10pm Sat	3:15pm Sat	G/25, d5
PS U-600	9:30am Sat	10:40am Sat	11:45am Sat	1:00pm Sat	2:10pm Sat	3:15pm Sat	G/25, d5
ES Champ	9:30am Sat	12:30pm Sat	3:30pm Sat	9:30am Sun	12:30pm Sun	3:30pm Sun	G/75, d5
ES U-800	9:30am Sat	10:40am Sat	11:45am Sat	1:00pm Sat	2:10pm Sat	3:15pm Sat	G/25, d5
MS Champ	9:30am Sat	12:30pm Sat	3:30pm Sat	9:30am Sun	12:30pm Sun	3:30pm Sun	G/75, d5
MS U-1000	9:30am Sun	10:40am Sun	11:45am Sun	1:00pm Sun	2:10pm Sun	3:15pm Sun	G/25, d5
HS Champ	9:30am Sat	12:30pm Sat	3:30pm Sat	9:30am Sun	12:30pm Sun	3:30pm Sun	G/75, d5
HS U-1200	9:30am Sun	10:40am Sun	11:45am Sun	1:00pm Sun	2:10pm Sun	3:15pm Sun	G/25, d5

Other Information

* All sections are non-elimination, and all players participate in all rounds
* This tournament is US Chess rated!  If you have a US Chess ID# and membership, please include it.  If you don't have one, we will purchase it for you ($17 value!).  If you're not sure what your ID# is you can look it up here
* Trophies to the top players and teams in each section


Online registration is $65 before noon on Monday, 4/1.  From then until Monday 4/15 at noon online registration is $75.  From noon on 4/15 until 8:30am on the day of the tournament, registration is $85. Any registrations after 8:30am will not play the first round, and will receive a first round bye.  Chess sets are provided, but bring a clock if you have one.
If 2+ players tie for 1st in the Elementary, Middle, or High School Championship section, then the MD Representative to the Rockefeller, Barber, and Denker Tournament of Champions will be determined by tiebreak*.

* Tiebreak order: Modified Median, Solkoff, Cumulative, & Cumulative of Opposition.  If those four are tied a coin toss will be used as a fifth and final tie break.