Registration is now posted! Please read over the eligibility guidelines below before emailing to ask if your team is eligible.‍ ‍Use this spreadsheet for registration planning. ($30 per player.)

Please Note: There is no individual section in this year’s tournament. #5 under Eligibility, related to extra games for alternates, and Rules and Formats #10, related to emergency team byes, were updated as of 4-22-2026.

Third Annual

OSCF Coed State Team Chess Championship

May 30, 2026

Holiday Inn - Portland Airport

Registration Opens April 27, 2026

Purpose

1. The purpose of the OSCF Co-Ed State Team Chess 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, grades K -12. 

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

   1. Coaches may want to use this registration planning spreadsheet. 

4. 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. 

5. Any unpaired players or alternates who check in within 5 minutes after the start of the round may be paired for extra games. A designated extra games check-in sheet will be available at the TD desk. Players who do not have their name on this list within 5 minutes of the start of the round will forfeit their opportunity to play an extra game.

6. 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).

7. 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.

8. A fourth “Mixed Team” Division exists for teams that have students from different schools.

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.

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. 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.

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

4. 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.

5. 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.

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

7. Clocks should be provided by tournament officials. 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 by tournament officials. 

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

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

10. In certain emergency situations, teams may request a half-point bye, to be awarded at the discretion of the tournament organizers. 

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 three teams in the K-5 and K-8 divisions will be given awards, and the top two teams in K-12.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. The top scoring individual for each board (1st board, 2nd board, etc.) in each division (K-5, K-8, K-12, Mixed) will also receive a “board award.” If divisions are split into separate sections, then additional board awards may be given. Ties between individual boards will be broken by head-to-head, cumulative, cumulative of opposition, and performance of opposition.

4. 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

Check-in: 9:00am-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