Coastal Bend Fall Scholastic & Open
Saturday, October 24, 2026
Aransas County Extension Office
892 Airport Rd., Rockport, TX 78382
Tournament Format
US Chess-rated tournament
5-Round Swiss
G/30;d5 – 30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay.
Five games, no elimination. Players are expected to play all rounds.
Schedule
Check-in: 9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Round 1: 10:00 AM
Rounds 2–5 begin as soon as possible following completion of the previous round.
Registration
Online registration through ChessNut https://chessnut.club/e/coastal-bend-fall-scholastic-open
Registration deadline: Friday, October 23 at 8:00 PM Central (or sooner if capacity is met).
Entry fee: $25
Aransas County 4-H Chess Project members: Complimentary entry; advance registration during weekly 4-H meeting still required.
Active US Chess membership required.
Sections
Primary — Grades K–3
Elementary — Grades 4–5
Middle School — Grades 6–8
High School — Grades 9–12
Open — Open to all eligible US Chess members
Sections may be combined for pairing purposes based on registration. Individual and team awards will remain based on each player’s originally registered scholastic division.
Awards
Trophies for 1st–3rd place in each original scholastic division
Trophies for 1st–3rd place in the Open section
1st-place team trophy in each scholastic division
Teams — Scholastic Sections Only
A team consists of a minimum of 2 players from the same school in the same original scholastic division. There is no limit to the number of players who may represent a school in a division; the top four individual scores count toward the team score.
Playing Up
Scholastic players may elect to compete in a higher grade division. A player who plays up will be considered a participant in that division for the entire tournament and will be eligible only for individual and team awards in the division in which they compete. Players may not compete in a lower grade division.
Tournament Notes
Sets will be provided. Players are encouraged to bring chess clocks.
One requested ½-point bye is permitted in Rounds 1–4. Round 5 byes receive 0 points.
Players who are not registered and checked in by 9:30 AM are not guaranteed a Round 1 pairing and may receive a Round 1 bye.
Games may begin without a clock when necessary. The Tournament Director may place a clock on an unclocked game after 50 minutes, with five minutes remaining for each player.
Players may not use electronic devices during active games except necessary medical equipment, chess clocks, and electronic notation devices permitted by US Chess and approved by the Chief Tournament Director.
Participants and spectators are expected to follow US Chess rules, published tournament policies, and the instructions of tournament staff. The Chief Tournament Director reserves the right to address conduct or circumstances that interfere with the fair and orderly operation of the tournament.
Tiebreaks
Players or teams finishing with the same score are considered tied for that place. Tiebreaks are used only to determine award placement among tied participants or teams.
Tiebreaks will be applied in the following order (MSCO):
- Modified Mean
- Solkoff
- Cumulative
- Cumulative of Opposition
Refunds & Cancellations
Entry fees are refundable upon request through the registration deadline of Friday, October 23 at 8:00 PM Central, less a $3 processing fee per registration.
No refunds will be issued after the registration deadline or for players who fail to attend the tournament.
If the tournament is canceled by the organizer, all paid entry fees will be refunded in full with no processing fee deducted.
Harassment & Conduct
Harassment, bullying, intimidation, threats, or other abusive behavior toward players, spectators, tournament staff, or volunteers will not be tolerated. Violations may result in penalties up to and including removal or expulsion from the tournament and, when applicable, reporting through US Chess Safe Play or to other appropriate authorities.
Spectators & Playing Area
Parents and spectators are welcome and may remain in the designated spectator area of the tournament room. Spectators should keep conversations and noise to a reasonable minimum and may not communicate with players during active games.
Spectator electronic devices must be silenced while games are in progress. Phone calls must be taken outside the playing area and far enough away that they cannot be heard by players. Audio, videos, games, or other media may not be played audibly in the tournament room.
This is a scholastic and family-oriented event, and some incidental background noise should be expected. Players are expected to remain focused on their games. The Chief Tournament Director will address excessive or disruptive noise when necessary.
Once a player completes their game and leaves the playing area, they may not re-enter the playing area until the next round. Players who have finished their games may not stand over, observe closely, or otherwise congregate around games still in progress.
Game analysis and post-game discussion must take place outside the playing area and at a volume that does not disturb games still in progress.
Players may not stop their clocks or request a ruling solely because of ordinary background noise.
Chief Tournament Director
Ian Samples, US Chess Local Tournament Director
