Hello NW WA youth chess players and parents! Have we got news for you! Five Big Items.
1. STATE WILL HAPPEN! ONLINE!
This is the culmination of the chess season, usually at the Tacoma Convention Center, with over 1400 players, who had to qualify to get there. This year you don't have to qualify, any child can attend! Even high schoolers and adults, in the "I Love Chess 2" sections. It's on Saturday, May 4, two weeks after Chess Jam. See https://wsecc.org/ .
2. CHESS JAM ONLINE, RATED, PRIZES, LIVE-STREAMED
It's big, and getting bigger. I'm impressed with the prizes that the various online chess websites have donated. By special permission, it will be WSRS rated. And it'll be live-streamed. Register in advance, and come play: http://northwestchess.info/jam20online.html.
3. DEEP DIVE STARTS APRIL 1
Every two months, we Deep Dive. It's called "Daily Chess", and it used to be called "Correspondence Chess." If you like to actually think about your moves, this is for you! Get in on the first Deep Dive - sign up by March 31, because the slow clocks start on April 1. https://www.chess.com/tournament/kraken-deep-dive-i
4. NEW KRAKEN EVENT ON THURSDAYS
The Kraken is rockin'. Monday Crazyhouse, Wednesday Splash and Saturday Battles are great. But when can you play a real game with a normal time control, that's not Blitz chess? At the Thursday evening Kraken Duels, that's when. 7pm. One game only, 25 minutes per side, with a 5 second increment. We'll have two divisions, and then you're at the mercy of the Chess.com Arena pairings.
5. KRAKEN TOURNEYS MAY HAVE SECTIONS
We've gotten to the size where we have A) lots of players, and B) players of very different strengths, ranging from kindergarteners who have just learned the moves, to experienced high school league players, even NWL All-Stars. So, Kraken tourneys may now have sections.
Look to join the appropriate section when you join a Kraken tournament.
If you're a high school player or an experienced middle schooler, join the (MS, High School) or Upper section. Elementary players can join too, if they want tough competition.
If you're an elementary school student, or a middle school beginner, then join the (Elementary) or Lower section. If the Lower section doesn't get four players, it will not begin, in which case you can then join the Upper section in progress. (Tip: Click on the In Progress tab to find a tourney that has already started.)
Hello NW WA youth chess players and parents! Have we got news for you! Five Big Items.
1. STATE WILL HAPPEN! ONLINE!
This is the culmination of the chess season, usually at the Tacoma Convention Center, with over 1400 players, who had to qualify to get there. This year you don't have to qualify, any child can attend! Even high schoolers and adults, in the "I Love Chess 2" sections. It's on Saturday, May 4, two weeks after Chess Jam. See https://wsecc.org/ .
2. CHESS JAM ONLINE, RATED, PRIZES, LIVE-STREAMED
It's big, and getting bigger. I'm impressed with the prizes that the various online chess websites have donated. By special permission, it will be WSRS rated. And it'll be live-streamed. Register in advance, and come play: http://northwestchess.info/jam20online.html.
3. DEEP DIVE STARTS APRIL 1
Every two months, we Deep Dive. It's called "Daily Chess", and it used to be called "Correspondence Chess." If you like to actually think about your moves, this is for you! Get in on the first Deep Dive - sign up by March 31, because the slow clocks start on April 1. https://www.chess.com/tournament/kraken-deep-dive-i
4. NEW KRAKEN EVENT ON THURSDAYS
The Kraken is rockin'. Monday Crazyhouse, Wednesday Splash and Saturday Battles are great. But when can you play a real game with a normal time control, that's not Blitz chess? At the Thursday evening Kraken Duels, that's when. 7pm. One game only, 25 minutes per side, with a 5 second increment. We'll have two divisions, and then you're at the mercy of the Chess.com Arena pairings.
5. KRAKEN TOURNEYS MAY HAVE SECTIONS
We've gotten to the size where we have A) lots of players, and B) players of very different strengths, ranging from kindergarteners who have just learned the moves, to experienced high school league players, even NWL All-Stars. So, Kraken tourneys may now have sections.
Look to join the appropriate section when you join a Kraken tournament.
If you're a high school player or an experienced middle schooler, join the (MS, High School) or Upper section. Elementary players can join too, if they want tough competition.
If you're an elementary school student, or a middle school beginner, then join the (Elementary) or Lower section. If the Lower section doesn't get four players, it will not begin, in which case you can then join the Upper section in progress. (Tip: Click on the In Progress tab to find a tourney that has already started.)