Arizona Qualifiers for Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, and Haring Invitationals
July 11, 2020
Online at Chess.com
The Arizona qualifiers for the Denker, Barber, Rockefeller, and Haring Invitationals will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2020 on Chess.com and will be directed by the Southern Arizona Chess Association (SACA). The Invitationals are prestigious events held annually in conjunction with the U.S. Open, in which the 51 champions of each state affiliate (and D.C.) compete to determine who will be crowned the champion of champions. This year, the events will be held online on Chess.com. The Denker and Haring will be held July 25-26, 2020, and the Barber and Rockefeller will be held August 1-2, 2020.
Eligibility Information: (players may not play up)
Arizona residents in grades K-5 are eligible to play in the Rockefeller qualifier.
Arizona residents in grades 6-8 are eligible to play in the Barber qualifier.
Arizona residents in grades 9-12 are eligible to play in the Denker qualifier.
Arizona female residents in grades 9-12 are eligible to play in the Haring qualifier.
Grade level based on grade as of 2019- 2020 school year. SACA reserves the right to request documentation to confirm grade level.
Tournament schedule:
Denker, Haring, Barber
Rockefeller
Tournament Format:
- Denker, Barber, Haring: 4 rounds of G/15;+5. Rounds will be paired consecutively after every game is completed from the previous round. There are no breaks between rounds.
- Rockefeller: 5 rounds of G/10;+5. Rounds will be paired consecutively after every game is completed from the previous round. There are no breaks between rounds.
- Pairings based on a player's Chess.com rapid rating (not US Chess rating).
- Tournament paired based on Swiss tournament pairing rules.
- Players compete in their respective qualifier.
- Pairings are done automatically by the Chess.com system and cannot be changed.
- Tournament will be US Chess Online quick rated (does not affect US Chess OTB ratings). Tournament submitted for rating 3-5 days after the tournament to allow for games to be screened for fair play.
- Tournament is expected to last about 2 hours 15 minutes.
Playoff format: If there is no clear winner, playoffs to be held 1 hour after the last round ends.
- If two players tie, play two games (one each color) at time control of G/15;+2.
- If results are still tied after two games, then flip coin for color. Play one more game at G/15;+2. Black has draw odds.
- If three players tie, then swiss pairing, all play all, at time control of G/15;+2. If there is still tie among 3 players, repeat same process; if still a tie with 2 players, then flip coin for color. Play one more game at G/15;+2. Black has draw odds.
- If there are more than three players that tie, swiss pairing amongst those tied, all play all at time control of G/10;+2. If still tied, then repeat as above.
Registration Details:
- Open to Arizona residents in grades Kindergarten through 12th grade. Please see grade level information to determine the correct qualifier.
- Entry fee is: $20
- Register for the tournament at: https://www.kingregistration.com/event/2020AZQualifiers
- Registration closes at 7 pm pacific on July 10, 2020.
- Players must have a Chess.com account (if you do not have one, you must create one to play in the qualifier. A free account is sufficient).
- Players must also have a current US Chess membership. You can join or renew here.
- You will be invited to the appropriate qualfiier club after registering.
- Byes cannot be requested.
How to Join a Tournament:
- Tournament link will be shared the day before the tournament.
- Tournament link opens 1 hour before the tournament starts.
- Players are advised to participate in the tournament from a computer. It is not recommended to play on a phone or mobile device.
- Players are advised to join the tournament 20-30 minutes early. If you join at the last minute it may be too late to resolve any technical issues that you have.
- Players may be able to join the tournament late, but will receive zero points for any missed rounds. Limited late entry is available but is not guaranteed.
- The tournament starts at 10 am pacific SHARP.
- Reentry is not available.
- SACA is not responsible for wifi connection or technical issues.
- Players are required to join the Zoom call for the duration of the tournament in order to be eligible to be named representative.
Practice Tournaments:
- Players that register for the tournament may also play in SACA's practice tournaments.
- Practice tournaments give players a chance to learn how to join tournaments, the format of the tournament, and to play some extra games.
- Practice tournaments are free to participate in.
- Format is 5 rounds, G/5;+3.
- Virtual medals are awarded to the top 3 finishers.
- Practice tournaments are not US Chess rated.
- Join the SACA club on Chess.com to participate: https://www.chess.com/club/southern-arizona-chess-eastside-chess-club
Prizes:
Winner of each qualifier (either clear winner or by playoff) will be named Arizona’s 2020 representative and will be eligible to compete in their respective invitational on July 25-26/August 1-2. If the winner of the event cannot participate in the invitationals, the second place winner will be offered the spot.
Fair Play:
- SACA will abide by Chess.com Fair Play rules & US Chess policies. US Chess rules & consequences apply.
- Computers and outside help are not allowed.
- Tournament games will be reviewed by Chess.com and SACA tournament staff.
- Players found in violation of Fair Play policies are not eligible to be named the Arizona Representative and will be removed from SACA's club. Chess.com & US Chess consequences may also apply.
- Parents, please have your player watch ChessKid's Fair Play video and help them understand that it's just not worth it!
