The Sixth Annual

OSCF Co-Ed State Team State Championship

Sunday, March 16, 2025
Oregon Convention Center

Register by March 14!
Click here for registration planning sheet — all fields required!
See who is registered and verify that your information is correct!

We will crown state champions for the best coed teams in K-5, K-8, K-12, and Mixed. We will also have generous prizes for the best teams in various "reserve" categories, giving every team a chance to compete for awards. Bring your entire club and sort them into teams of five to compete for all the honors!

Change from previous years: In order to accommodate teams travelling across state for a 1-day event, all 5 games will be 25 minutes / 5 second bonus. This allows the tournament to start later and end at a reasonable time.

PURPOSE

1. The purpose of the OSCF Co-Ed State Team State Championship is to encourage and celebrate not just the development of strong chess players, but strong chess programs within Oregon schools.

ELIGIBILITY

1. Each team typically consists of five players. 

2. To maintain the integrity of the Co-Ed nature of the event, teams may have a maximum of three male players competing in any given round.

3. Teams may designate up to two alternates during registration. Only designated alternates may act as substitutes. Substitutes may play during any round at the coach's discretion, but must compete in board order according to USCF rating, except by approval of the Tournament Director. 

4. A student on one team may be an alternate for another team. However, shifting teams mid-tournament may affect both students’ chances of earning individual board awards.

5. For School Teams, all players must either (1) attend the same school or (2) attend the same school and schools which are zoned “feeders” for that school. For instance, a K-8 public school team may consist of players both from a Middle School and the Elementary Schools which are its feeders. Private School Teams may be made up of students who attend the private school in any grade, but may not draw on students who attend a different school (private or public).

6. School Teams compete in three Divisions: Grades K-5 (Elementary School Team Championship), K-8 (Middle School Team Championship), and K-12 (High School Team Championship). Divisions may be further subdivided into Sections (Open and Reserve) based on rating.

7. Schools are encouraged to enter multiple teams (for instance, two K-5 teams, or one K-8 team and one K-12 team). 

8. A fourth “Mixed Team” Division exists for teams that have students from different schools. Individuals who would like to participate in the tournament but do not have a team may register as Individuals. Pending capacity, the Tournament Director will place them on a Mixed Team.

9. School Teams may play up to a higher division. For instance, a team consisting of students in grades K-5 may choose to compete in the K-8 or K-12 division. However, they would then only be eligible for K-8 or K-12 awards.

10. Homeschool players may form a “Homeschool Team” and compete in K-5, K-8, or K-12 if all players on the team reside within the same school boundary. If players on a homeschool team reside in different school boundaries, then they will compete as a Mixed Team.

11. Only schools physically located in the State of Oregon are eligible to compete. “Online” schools may be exempt from this requirement if all team members reside in the State of Oregon, in which case they will be subject to the same rules as homeschool students.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE

1. Friday, March 14, 2025 at 11:59pm or when sold out.

2. Click here to register.

RULES AND FORMAT

1. The tournament will be a team swiss event. Teams will play 5 rounds. Time control for all rounds will be G/25;+5. The exact time control and number of rounds will be adjusted based on number of entries, the strength of the playing field, and site availability.

2. If one player provides a clock and wants to use it, then both players must use the clock. Games started without a clock may have clocks added with no more than 10 minutes remaining on each clock.

3. Each board will count for one (1) point. The winning player on each board scores the point for their team. In the case of a draw on the board each team will score a half point (1/2). The team scoring three (3) or more points will be awarded a match point and the team scoring two (2) or less points will lose the match point. If both teams score two and half points (2½), the match point will be split with both teams scoring one half (1/2) match point.

4. Notation is required in all divisions. Exceptions may be made for children in Grades K-2 at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

5. Average team USCF rating will be used for the purpose of pairing and prize eligibility. 

6. NWSRS ratings may also be used for pairing and prize eligibility. Following US Chess National Tournament Regulations, NWSRS will be adjusted to USCF as follows: Player’s NWSRS Rating is below 1400, subtract 200 points; Player’s NWSRS Rating is between 1400 to 1499, subtract 100 points; Player’s NWSRS Rating is 1500 or above, subtract 50 points. Adjusted ratings will be used to determine section placement, pairings, and prize eligibility. Adjust rating will also be shown on Wall Charts and Pairing Sheets during the tournament, but not on the final rating report.

7. Unrated players will be assigned a rating of 100 multiplied by their grade level. 

8. One team will play “white” on Boards 1, 3, and 5.

9. One player per team shall be designated Captain and is spokesperson for the team. The Captain is responsible for completing the score sheet properly and turning it in at the conclusion of the match. If the Captain leaves the table, it is the responsibility of the last player to finish a game to complete and turn in the scoresheet.

10. Each team must compete in order or rating, with the highest rated member playing Board 1, the second-highest on Board 2, and so forth. Requests for changes in board order (for instance, in the case of a strong, unrated player) must be sent to the Tournament Director in advance. Failure to compete in correct Board order may result in forfeit or disqualification.

11. Byes: Teams are expected to play each round, and will receive a zero-point forfeit loss if they miss a round. For the individual section, two half-point byes may be requested before the start of round one.

ENTRY FEES

1. The entry fee is $30 per player.

2. The Tournament Host shall set aside no less than five scholarships for teams facing financial burdens and shall actively seek candidates who will accept these scholarships.

AWARDS

1. The top two teams in each division will be given awards. In the event that divisions are split into separate sections by rating, additional awards may also be given. 

2. The top K-5, K-8, and K-12 team shall be recognized as the OSCF Co-Ed Team State Champion for their respective grade division. The top Mixed team shall be recognized as the OSCF Mixed Team State Champion.

3. Ties between teams will be broken according to the results of a head to head match (if one occurred). If the top two teams in the highest section of a division are tied, and if their head to head match is a draw, then the two teams will be declared Co-Champions of their division. If there was no head to head match (or in the event of a tie between three or more teams), then the tie-break methods used in the US Amateur Team Championship will be used.

SCHEDULE (updated 45 min later start time to accommodate travelling teams. 2.20.2025)

Check-in: 9:30am-10:00am (Teams not at their boards by 10:10am may forfeit Round 1)

Round 1: 10:15am (G/25;+5)
Round 2: 11:30am (G/25;+5)
Round 3: 1:00pm (G/25;+5)
Round 4: 2:15pm (G/25;+5)
Round 5: 3:30pm (G/25;+5)

Awards: 4:45pm

EQUIPMENT: Chess sets, clocks, notation sheets, and pencils all provided.

FOOD & DRINK: Food and beverage will be available for purchase at the Oregon Convention Center.