First-Ever ESCC Rated Tournament Announced

The Eastern Shore Community College, in conjunction with its chess club student group, the Melfa Monarchs, will hold a tournament on March 22 from 8:30 AM-6 PM. It will be a rated tournament under the auspices of the U.S. Chess Federation, thus giving locals the chance to earn a rating from the organization. This is the first such tournament ever held on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, with the aim of it becoming an annual event. It will take place in the Great Hall of the Workforce Development Building.

The competition will consist of three rounds in the “quad” format, meaning that players will be grouped into fours, with each competitor playing each of the other three. “Odd people out” will be accommodated. The prizes are: $50 for 1^st place in each quad and $25 for 2^nd place.

The entrance fee is $5 for ESVA residents and $20 for non-residents who pre-register. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged, as there will be an additional $5 fee for on-site registration. ESCC Students, faculty, and staff may take part for free. All participants, including those paying no fee, should pre-register by emailing ESCC Chess Club coach Mark Nuckols at nuckols@hotmail.com or the club’s faculty sponsor, Christina Duffman, at cduffman@es.vccs.edu. Payments are to be made only in cash and only at the event registration, which will run from 8:30-9:20 AM that Saturday.

As this is a rated tournament, players will be required to notate their games. Games will be played on clocks with a G75d5 time control (75 minutes for each player with a 5-second delay). Some boards, clocks and notation sheets will be available, but players are encouraged to bring their own.

All players must be members of the USCF. One-year memberships can be purchased at new.uschess.org for $54 for adults, $48 for ages 65+, $33 for under age 24 at expiration, and $24 for under age 19. Participating ESCC students can have their dues covered by the sponsoring foundation with advanced notice. 

The Melfa Monarchs wish to thank the Community College administration and the Buildings and Grounds personnel for making the event possible. Additional gratitude goes to Eastern Shore Scholastic Chess, a private, non-profit initiative supporting chess programs in local schools, and its parent organization, the Landsberger Foundation, Inc.