Update!

May 25, 2009

Thank you everybody for another successful tournament. Hats off to not only to the coaches, but to the students as well for their enthusiasm and perseverence. It was a long day. Results are now posted. Photos are not available this year as the organizer was not so organized this year.

If any of the coaches or parents who were at the tournament have any pictures, please e-mail them and we will make sure they go up on our web page. Many thanks................

May 19, 2009

A few more days to go. Things are falling into place. Hopefully, everybody makes it to our school safely and on time. We have had some delays in the past due to teams arriving late. Please note that we have added rule change. We ask that no electronic devices be brought onto the playing area. In particular, the devices that keep track of moves made in a chess game. We ask that usual paper and pencil be used instead. Perhaps in the future, we will allow such devices. Until then, they are not allowed.

Another note of interest is that we actually have three secondary school teams entered this year.  It's always nice to see the older students at the tournament.

General Info

The intent of the tournament is to support the efforts of school-based chess teams and to provide these students with an opportunity to participate in a fun and friendly event in the spirit of sportmanship. Yes, chess is a sport!

The tournament this year, will be held on Saturday, May 23, 2009.

***We have made a few changes to the rules and expectations from previous years, so please read carefully.***

The tournament itself will start at 9:30 am with check-in / registration starting at 8:30. If your school's chess team is planning on entering the tournament, you will need to pre-register by the 10th of May at the latest! Like last year, we will NOT allow individual players (see exception below) - school teams only. Although individual players are not permitted at our tournament this year, we will still award individual trophies for the top three finishers in each category.

If all goes as planned, the tournament will be over by 4:00 pm.

Our staff room will be open for parents and coaches. We will have a computer with Internet access available, as well as, complimentary coffee and tea. We will have available for students a television with VCR and DVD in the waiting area (multi-purpose room). Students may bring their own game systems (Nintendo DS, PlayStation, etc.) if they wish.

Registration Fees:

All monies collected from the fees go toward the trophies, plaques, and door prizes.

This tournament is NOT a CFC (Chess Federation of Canada) sponsored or sanctioned event. Player ratings will not be affected. No stress, with stress on FUN!!

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In order to qualify as a school team, at least five players must be present. A school may bring up to seven players (two spares).

Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the top three schools in each of the following categories:

• K to 5
• 6 to 8
• 9 to 12

The categories are such because of Abbotsford's middle school setup. Please note that players from school teams are also eligible for individual awards.

For the K to 5 and 6 to 8 categories, players will be randomly matched up at first. Once the organizers determine the strength of all the players, match ups will be adjusted accordingly. For the 9 to 12 category, players will be matched according to a roster that the sponsor teacher or coach submits prior to the commencement of the tournament. Coaches and sponsor teachers, please note that the roster should be made up with the strongest and most experienced player in position number one and the least experienced player in position number five.

In the K to 5 and 6 to 8 categories, the teams' score will be based on the winning percentage of all the players, including spares. In these two categories, the spares will play like everybody else and play all five games.

In the 9 to 12 category, spares are used as substitutes, since pairs are matched up according to their roster (top player vs top player, second best player vs second best player, and so on -- 5 on 5). Spares, of course, can substitute any player on their team at any time. In case there are not enough individual players in the 9 to 12 category, or there is an uneven number of individual players, some spare players may be asked to play as individual players and not be on a school team. Other changes may be nescessary, depending on the number of players and teams that show up to the tournament. The 9 to 12 category has traditionally been one with very few players.

All efforts will be made to ensure that players from the same school do not play against each other in the first two categories (K to 5 and 6 to 8). In case of an uneven amount of players in any of these two categories, a player without an opponent will receive a bye. A bye in this tournament will mean an automatic win point. All efforts will be made to ensure that two teams from the same school do not play each other.

Team trophy winners will be determined by overall team percentages. This means all players will figure into the scoring. The total points of all players will be added up and then divided by the number of players on that team. Unlike other tournaments, we do not decide the winning teams by averaging the scores of the top five players on a particular team. Our school philosophy, when it comes to sports, has always been to promote participation and not just picking the best and discarding the rest. Our chess tournament will parallel the same philosophy. Because schools can field more than one team (minimum of 5, maximum of 7), chess coaches can arrange their teams strategically. Coaches are required to hand in a team roster of their players before the tournament begins.

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Individual Players Info

Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the top three players in each of the following categories:

• K to 1
• 2 and 3
• 4 and 5
• 6 to 8
• 9 to 12

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Rules and Player Expectations

All players will play five games in total. Games will be limited to 50 minutes each. Most games will be over within 30 minutes. However, if a game is not over by 30 minutes, a chess clock will be brought into play and each player will be given 10 minutes each (twenty minutes in total) to finish the game and determine a winner. This will only happen if the game looks like it will not be over within the 50 minute time slot.

All games are "touch move", meaning if a player touches a chess piece, they must move that piece (unless, of course, the piece cannot be moved). There will be a referee at each category. Chess coaches, we are going to be counting on you to volunteer your time again to referee the tournament.

Times for games:

9:30 to 10:20 Round One

10:30 to 11:20 Round Two

11:20 to 12:00 Lunch

12:00 to 12:50 Round Three

1:00 to 1:50 Round Four

2:00 to 2:50 Round Five

3:30 Prizes and Awards Given Out

Player Expectations

Players must be respectful and courteous at all times. If a student is not behaving appropriately, they will be asked to leave the premises. If a student on a team is not behaving appropriately, the entire team will be disqualified and asked to leave. This is a school sponsored event. Cheating and poor behaviour will not be tolerated at this tournament. All students and coaches will be given at least one warning before such drastic measures are taken. The whole idea behind holding this tournament is to promote the joy of playing chess and competing in a friendly environment -- good sportsmanship.

All players are expected to shake hands at the end of each game and encourage each other to play at their best at whatever level. Players are expected to stay at their tables during a game and not walk away, even when they are playing with a clock. Any display of arrogance will not be tolerated. It may be acceptable at professional and sanctioned tournaments to behave this way, but in this tournament, it will not be considered good form.

Once a player is finished playing a game, they are expected to go directly to the referee in charge with the opponent present and give the results. After that, both players will need to go to the eating/rest area. Lingering about with others in the playing area will not be allowed. Please do not display poor sportsmanship by giving high fives and shaking/pumping fists in the air. The time to celebrate comes at the end of the tournament.

NEW!!! Participants are not allowed to bring any type of electronic equipment into the playing area. No exceptions. These include, electronic devices that record moves made in a chess game. Please use good old fashioned pencil and parper. No Nintendo DS, iPod Touch, or any other MP3 players allowed.

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Food!

Every student is expected to bring their own lunch.

The Pit Stop, Chief Dan George Middle School's canteen, will be open during the tournament. The Pit Stop has deep fried foods, such as chicken strips, cheese sticks, and french fries, as well as hot dogs, bagels, and pizzas -- all at reasonable prices. Visit the Pit Stop web page for more info. If freshly made hot dogs, chicken strips, spring rolls, burgers, fries, and pizza doesn't cut it, the school is five to ten minutes away from McDonalds, Tim Horton's, Wendy's, KFC, Burger King, and Taco Time.

Our staffroom will be open for parents and coaches. We will have a computer with Internet access available, as well as, complimentary coffee and tea.

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Trophies and Prizes

Pics of this year's trophies.

click on image to see larger version..........

Trophies will be awarded to first to third place in each category. Along with the trophies, we will be giving away three brand new digital chess clocks, three deluxe chess sets, five portable chess sets, 100's of other door prizes, including stuffed animals and toys. Nobody will go away empty handed.

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Directions -- How do we get there?

Chief Dan George Middle School is part of the Abbotsford School District. The school is located on the corner of Gladwin Road and Old Riverside Road. Our exact address is 32877 Old Riverside Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 8K2. Our school phone number is 604.852.9616. Our FAX number is 604.850.7653. If you are heading out from Vancouver, Surrey, or Langley, just follow the freeway heading east until you get to the Clearbrook Road Exit. Head north from the freeway interchange and keep going until you get to Maclure Rd. Turn right on Maclure and head east until you get to Gladwin Road. Turn left on Gladwin and keep going until you see some huge power lines overhead. That's where our school is.

If these well thought out directions are confusing, please click on the map and you will be taken to mapquest.ca.

The maps on their web site can be zoomed in and zoomed back out!

If you are heading into Abbotsford from Hope or Chilliwack, take the Clearbrook exit and head north (same as above).

If you are heading into Abbotsford from north of the mighty Fraser River, head on over the Mission bridge and take a right on Harris Road. Keep heading west until you get to Gladwin Road. Turn left on Gladwin Rd. Keep heading south up the steep hill until you see the huge power lines. You're there!

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Registration Procedures

Contact Information:

Chief Dan George Middle School

32877 Old Riverside Road, Abbotsford, BC V2S 8K2

Phone -- 604.852.9616

FAX -- 604.850.7653

School Team Registration

School Teams must register before May 15, 2009. As well as the trophies for the top three teams in each category, there is a possibility that chess clocks will be awarded as prizes if enough schools register for the tournament.

In order for teams to register, we need the following information faxed to us on school letterhead.

• Name of sponsor teacher
• Return address, phone number, and fax number
• Number of teams that will participate
• Age and grades of students
• Statement confirming that payment has been remitted (cheque's in the mail!)
• Team Roster
  

Payment may be made on the day of the tournament. Please make cheques payable to Chief Dan George Middle School or CDG Middle School. Please do not make cheques out to Chief Dan George - he passed away some time ago.

Coaches, please note: minimum number of players per team is 5 with a maxumum of 7. All players will be counted in the team's total score. One point per win and half a point for a draw. The points of all players are added up and divided by the number of players on that team. If a coach brings more than one team, they have the right to "load up" one team if they wish.

Individual Player Registration

In order for individuals to pre-register, the following information along with payment must reach us by May 15, 2009.

• Name, address, and phone number
• Payment (cheque made out to: Chief Dan George Middle School -- do not send cash through the mail)
• Age, grade, and school you are registered with
• Ranking, if you have a CFC ranking

Please Note: Absolutely no walk-ins. Even those who have been to our previous tournaments - we will not accept people at the door.
You must be pre-registered.

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Schools that have registered for the tournament

• A. J. McLellan (Surrey)
  
• Chantrell Creek Elementary (Surrey)
  
• Archbishop Carney Regional Secondary (Port Coquitlam)
  
• Jessie Lee Elementary (Surrey)
  
• Albert McMahon Elementary (Mission)
  
• Ocean Cliff Elementary (Surrey)
  
• Saint Mary's (Chilliwack)
  
• Margaret Stenersen (Abbotsford)
  
• Fleetwood Park Secondary (Surrey)
  
• Erma Stephenson Elementary (Surrey)
  
• Anniedale Traditional (Surrey)
  
• Auguston Traditional (Abbotsford)
  
• Robert Bateman Secondary (Abbotsford)
  
• Assumption School (Port Coquitlam) 5 teams!!
  
• Matsqui Elementary (Abbotsford)
  
• MEI Elementary (Abbotsford)
  
• Chief Dan George Middle (Abbotsford)

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List of Winners

Individual Awards 1st through 3rd

*due to privacy concerns, we do not publish full names of students

Grades K - 1

Grades 2 -3

Grades 4 -5

Grades 6 - 8

Grades 9 - 12

School Team Awards 1st through 3rd

Grades K - 5

Grades 6 - 8

Grades 9 - 12

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Pics of the Winners (click on images to view in full size)