• February 18: 29^th ANNUAL NEW MEXICO GRADES K-12 CHAMPIONSHIP
  Open to players in grades K-12. St. Michaels High School, Santa Fe.
  Starting Time 9:00 am
• March 8: 26^th ANNUAL NEW MEXICO GRADES K-9 CHAMPIONSHIP
  Open to players in grades K-9. Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos.
  Starting Time 9:00 am
• March 15: 26^th ANNUAL NEW MEXICO GRADES K-6 CHAMPIONSHIP
  Open to players in grades K-6. Manzano High School, Albuquerque.
  Starting Time 9:30 am (half hour later so out-of-town kids don't have to get up so early)

TOURNAMENT SECTIONS

Each tournament is divided into multiple sections of different skill levels. Contestants play only opponents in their own section. The Championship section is the most competitive, while the Reserve, Novice, Cadet, and Booster Sections are easier in that order.

All sections below Championship have ratings restrictions (listed on the on-line entry form for each tournament). Unrated players may play in any section, subject to age restrictions. A player is unrated if she/he has never played in a United States Chess Federation (USCF) rated tournament. Some sections also have age (grade) restrictions.

HOW TO ENTER THE TOURNAMENTS

To enter one or more tournaments, complete the on-line entry form. The entry confirmation page and the payment must be mailed to Martin Cooper (chief TD) at 521 Ridgecrest, Los Alamos 87544, postmarked no later than the deadline indicated. All entry fees and USCF membership dues must be enclosed. School Purchase Orders (POs) OK.

Due to the large turnouts at these events we require every player to register in advance. Absolutely no entries are allowed after 8:00 pm the Tuesday before the tournament. No phone or fax entries.

The web form will suggest the proper section for each player based on the entry information. Players may choose any section that is not grayed out rather than entering the recommended section. Help on selecting a section can be obtained from any of the tournament organizers listed at the end of this web page.

Please Note Deadlines: Entries will be processed strictly according to the postmark. Payment must be received by the deadline to complete on-line registration; otherwise the student will be ineligible.

The entry fee is $15 per player if postmarked by 2 weeks before the tournament; and $21 if postmarked by 1 week before the tournament Hand delivery accepted until 8 pm three days after the corresponding postmark deadline. No FED EX or registered mail accepted.

Requesting a Half Point Bye: Any player with an activity conflict may request, with his/her entry, a half point bye in any single round of any tournament if requested with entry or by 8:30 AM (K-6 9:00 AM) on the day of the tournament.

WITHDRAWING FROM A TOURNAMENT

A player who wishes to withdraw with a full refund must contact 1) Martin Cooper (505-672-9696) by 8 P.M. the Thursday before the tournamenti; or 2) call Jeff Dunning (505-670-3057); or 3) report the withdrawal to the check-in table by 8:30 AM (K-6 9:00 AM) the day of the tournament.

TEAM SCORE

A school can enter as many players into the tournament as it wishes. There is no limit. A school's team score in any section is calculated by adding the scores of the school's top four scoring players.

To score points for their school, players must be full time students at the school. Home-schooled teams must send a team roster to Martin Cooper. Combined school teams (i.e. common campus and chess club meetings) must notify Martin Cooper of their intent to play as a single team. Submit the roster or intent by the regular registration deadline. A school must have at least two players in a section to qualify for a team trophy, except as noted in the next paragraph.

So that inexperienced players are not forced into the Championship Section to complete a team, there is a special provision that allows a school to borrow up to two handicapped scores from the Reserve in the Championship section. (The tournament scorekeepers automatically carry out this procedure.)

INDIVIDUAL AND TEAM AWARDS

Any player who finishes among the top ten in his/her section will receive a trophy. The top three teams in each section will also receive trophies. Many honorable mention trophies will be awarded in each section.

Each player will be paired according to the USCF's Swiss pairing rules. A player is never eliminated due to a loss. Although players from the same school will not usually play one another, USCF rules may occasionally require such pairings.

Players with a USCF rating far above their skill level may request the chief director, Martin Cooper, to place them in a section lower than the section's USCF rating cutoff. Must be arranged at time of entry.

USCF MEMBERSHIP AND ID

All players must be current members of the USCF. (Exception: anyone playing only in a K-3 section in the Elementary (K-6) tournament is not required to join.) Dues may be submitted with the advanced entry. Membership categories are:

Scholastic Member: $15 per year for players age 12 and under. Includes 5 copies of Chess Life and a Scholastic yearbook. (Economy) $12 and no publications.

Youth Member: $17 per year for players 15 and under. Includes a subscription to the monthly Chess Life.

Young Adult: $24 per year for players 24 and under. Includes a subscription to the monthly Chess Life.

The player's USCF 8-digit ID number and membership expiration date is necessary for on-line registration. (Anyone who has played in a USCF rated event has a USCF ID number.) You can find both items on a USCF mailing label. If a player does not have a recent label, the information can be obtained from the USCF in NY at 914-562-8350 or from their web site, www.uschess.org. USCF ratings are also available through the NMSCO web page, www.nmsco.org/NMSCO.html.

Players who have never participated in a USCF rated event and never paid USCF dues should indicate the ID number as NONE. These players must include full dues unless playing only in a K-3 section in the Elementary (K-6) tournament. A player who has recently played in a USCF rated event but does not yet know his/her ID number, should indicate the ID number as PENDING. All players that are not acknowledged by USCF by Jan. 15th as having current membership for the tournaments in which they play must include proof of payment with the entry or at the tournament site to be allowed to play.

No New Mexico player will be denied entry into the state championships for lack of funds. For financial aid, contact Martin Cooper before mailing payment.

AT THE TOURNAMENT

Players must report to the tournament by 8:50 AM (K-6 9:20 AM). Verifying the posted section is recommended but not required. Sections can also be checked on-line in the NMSCO Pre-Registration Listing. All tournaments end between 5 PM and 7 PM. (The K-12 Championship Section ends about 9 PM.) Players not present at 8:50 (K-6 9:20 AM) are not guaranteed a pairing for the first round or admittance to the tournament.

Each player should bring a pen or pencil and, if possible, a set and clock. The organizers do not provide sets or clocks at these events. Sets and clocks may be for sale. Some food will be available at all tournaments.

Chess notation in some form is required of all players in grades 3 or higher. A chess clock must be used if available. It is recommended that players become comfortable with using a clock before the tournament.

TRAVEL DIRECTIONS

GRADES K-12 CHAMPIONSHIP (February 17, 2007). St. Michaels HS, Santa Fe. From US-84-285 turn left onto Siringo Road. St. Michaels is .4 miles. From I-25 take St. Francis Drive exit (exit 282). Keep right at fork in ramp. Continue on St. Francis Drive for .9 miles. Turn right onto Siringo Road. St. Michaels is .4 miles.

GRADES K-9 CHAMPIONSHIP (March 10, 2007). Los Alamos High School, Los Alamos. From US-84/285 in Pojoaque take NM 502 West towards Los Alamos. Follow signs to Los Alamos for 18 mi. Keep left at fork at entry to town, staying on Trinity Dr. for 1.7 mi. Turn right on Diamond Dr. Continue on Diamond for 0.5 mi. The school will be on the right.

GRADES K-6 CHAMPIONSHIP (March 17, 2007). Manzano High School, 12200 Lomas Blvd, Albuquerque. Take I-40 east and exit at Juan Tabo. Go north about a mile to Lomas. Turn right. The school is on the right.

********* NOTICE OF ELECTION **********

Candidates are sought for the Scholastic Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is responsible for organizing the 2006 Scholastic Chess Championships.

One committee member is to be elected by the parents and coaches at each of the state championships. The term of office is one year. For information, contact committee members Dennis Lopez, Bill Johnson, or Michael Fallon. Nominations will be accepted from the floor, but please volunteer! The General Meeting of the NMSCO will be held at the Grades K-12 Championship.

TOURNAMENT INFORMATION OR HELP