Planning for the 8th Annual OSCF State Tournament in Seaside (April 12-13) is in full swing!  While there is still plenty of time to qualify, start by checking to see if you are already qualified (or if you’re at least close).  Discount rates at local hotels can be found listed on this page.  Online Registration is available here.

Don’t forget about the T-shirt contest!!  Entries are due by noon March 15; winners get $100 plus everlasting fame on the year’s t-shirts, while runners-up get free registration and their design on the program cover.

Remember, it’s an inservice day for Portland Public School students and many others around the state, so plan to come early and enjoy the raucous rounds of Blitz (check in by 4pm) and Bughouse (check in by 6pm) that take place on Friday evening.  ($10 per person in advance, $15 at the door.)

Redland Elementary School in Oregon City is hosting the Wildcat Classic on Saturday, March 9.  This four-section event is an OSCF qualifier –the only one this Saturday available to K-5th grade players (and anyone else who isn’t attending the OHSCTA State tournament).  Early registration closes this evening (Tuesday), but you can still register late through Thursday night.  Register online for the Wildcat Classic here.

Over 200 players — more than 40 teams from throughout the state — have already registered for the OHSCTA State Championship, which takes place next weekend, March 8-9, at LaSalle College Prep high school in Milwaukie, OR.  For the first year, this event is open to Junior High School teams; the tournament provides an opportunity to compete against the best 6-8th grade teams in the state.  Even if you’re not affiliated with a particular school, 6-12th grade players can register for the open sections — both an open individual tournament, and an open team event.  Registration closes on Wednesday, March 6 (and there’s no on-site registration) — go here to register!

Don’t miss out on a fun filled day of playing chess at the Second Annual Forest Park tournament.  Early registration closes at midnight on Wednesday, February 27th. Late registration will still be available. The team competition is looking fierce so far, with teams from Woodstock, Access, Sylvan, Rieke, Fischer’s Landing, Jacob Wismer, Edy Ridge, Findley and Forest Park all vying for trophies.  To see Who’s Coming, click here!

Cash prizes starting at $100 will be awarded in the Elite section. In the Rooks, Knights, Bishops and Pawns sections, there will be individual awards for the top 5 players as well as first and second place for teams. Bring your chess boards, basketballs, soccer balls and join us for a fun filled day. Click here to register online and to get more details.

Registration for the 8th Annual OSCF State Tournament, to be held on April 12-13 in Seaside, is LIVE. The event will feature the same fantastic blitz and bughouse competition that you’ve come to expect on Friday evening, the HUGE trophies full of taffy, and plenty of excellent chess competition among players from throughout the state. So check here to see if you’ve already qualified, and once you are, please register ASAP to help our many volunteers get ready for your arrival.

Registration CLOSES Friday, April 5. Click here to register now. For details about the event, click here. Official Rules are here.

Three qualifiers next weekend provide opportunities for players throughout the NW corner of the state to add another scholastic tournament to their season’s accomplishments.  The mid-Willamette Valley offers the Third Annual Grizzly Classic in Salem.  East Multnomah County has the Chess for Fanconi Anemia fundraiser in Corbett.  And the Forest Park Tournament in NW Portland offers several sections of chess in close-in NW Portland.  The registration for these events closes at various times over the coming week, so check the individual web sites for more information.  To see Who’s Coming to the Forest Park Tournament, click here!

The first list of qualified players for the 2013 OSCF State Tournament in Seaside, to be held April 12-13, 2013, has been posted. Find the list of the hard-working 263 players, as well as players that are close to qualifying, at the links below. To learn more about how to qualify, go to this page.  If you don’t see your name on the following lists and think it should be, or think it’s on the wrong list, please contact us.

We’re hoping to go live with registration by the end of this coming weekend, so keep your eyes sharp and go for that early bird trophy!

The following lists are complete as of midnight, Feb. 20, and will be updated more or less weekly through the first week of April.

Players already qualified for State (263 players)

Players with two qualifiers this year, but who still need an established rating (15 rated games) (72 players)

Players with an established rating and one qualifier (but who need another qualifier) (170 players)

(An additional 243 students have played in one qualifier, but need a second qualifier as well as an established rating.  There are still plenty of opportunities to qualify, even for those that haven’t yet started the process, so get yourself to a qualifier tournament — see the links above!)

You know the shirts.  You’ve seen them new on the backs of players as soon as they’re ordered at Seaside, and you’ve seen them worn throughout the year.  Northwest Designs will be back at Seaside on April 11-12 with on-demand t-shirt and sweatshirt designs.  But we need to know what’s on the front.

So here’s your chance:  Submit the winning design for this year’s “Seaside T-Shirt” and win lasting fame, as well as $100.00 and a free OSCF State Championship Shirt.  The runner-up’s design will be used on the cover of the Championship program and they will receive a free basic registration to the State Championship!  Detailed contest rules and an application can be found at this link.  Submissions are due no later than noon on Friday, March 15, so get your design hat on, and send those designs in soon!  (By the way, if you’re looking for registration, it should be up by Feb. 24.)

Registration is now open for the 3rd Annual 2013 Grizzly Classic – In Salem! on Saturday, March 2. This OSCF Championship qualifier tournament includes three divisions: Cub (<600), Bruin (<1000), and Kodiak (1000+, USCF rated). Cubs and Bruins will be grouped into separate sections as necessary based on rating and grade. Trophies will be awarded to the top five players in each section. You can download a detailed bilingual flyer here — please come! — fun will be had by all!

Over 180 players are registered for the Presidents’ Weekend Tournament taking place on Saturday, Feb. 16th.  Your chance to register ends at midnight Friday, February 15, so if you were thinking about coming, here’s your opportunity!  The sections are almost set, plenty of trophies, medals, and other presidential awards are in hand, and the volunteers are getting prepared.  We hope to see you there.