The Ninth Annual Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation State Championship is drawing near. In just over two months, 300+ scholastic players from throughout the state will gather at Seaside’s Civic and Convention Center for a night and a day of fun and competitive chess. Last year’s event was the biggest yet — will we break another record?? Friday night, April 11 (it’s a day off for Portland schools, at least) is Blitz (4pm) and Bughouse (6pm). Saturday April 12 is a day of full-scale competition in multiple sections divided by age and rating into highly competitive groups. Who will walk away with the taffy-filled golden trophies and the championship?

More details, along with a link to online registration, will be posted within the next 10 days or so, so keep watching this space!  We will have a very early “early” registration date this year (about 10 days before the event), with price increases as you get closer to the day of the event, so be sure to register as soon as you’re able.  When you do, please consider volunteering before or during the event, as this all-volunteer event couldn’t happen without the assistance of all of you!

Qualification requirements are detailed here.  In essence, you have to be an Oregon Scholastic Player age 5-19, with an established rating (which means at least 15 NWSRS rated games or 25 USCF rated games), and have played in two OSCF qualifier tournaments during the course of the year.  (See the ones listed in green on the NWSRS calendar; there are many opportunities throughout the valley over the next two months.)  Nearly 200 of you have already qualified; a list will be published along with other details in the next several days.

Also … start thinking about t-shirt and program designs ($100 prize for the t-shirt; free registration for the second place program design), which will be due in about one month.  More details are on their way — we hope to see you in Seaside!