Summer Knights to open competition circuit for chess

MADISON – After spending the summer without competitions, chess aficionados will be glad to have the chance to square off again at the 2024 Summer Knights Chess Tournament.

Summer Knights is the first tournament of the 2024-2025 school year. Rainbow Elementary School, 50 Nance Road will host the event on Aug. 24.

CB&S Bank is the tournament sponsor.

“This tournament is an opportunity for everyone to relax, not worry about ratings, and play in their first tournament of the school year,” Todd Guthrie said. Guthrie serves as Executive Director of Madison City Chess League or MCCL.

“Although we’re offering both Rated sections (for those already rated and those ready to compete with rated players) and Non-Rated sections (for beginning players), we will not issue a tournament report to US Chess,” Guthrie said.

On Aug. 24, a mandatory meeting for players will open the tournament at 9 a.m. Round times will be 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. The same schedule applies for all sections. Time control will be G/30, d5.

Deadline for online registration is Aug. 21 at 8 p.m. To register, visit madisonchess.com. On the right of the window, click “2024 Summer Knights Chess Tournament” on the “All Events” tab. On the next window, click the “Details” button for the tournament.

Rated sections will include K-12 Open, K-12 Under 1,000 and K-12 Under 500. Players in first through fifth place will receive trophies. Players in sixth through tenth place, along with Top Female, will receive medals.

Non-Rated sections will include Non-rated K-12, Non-rated K-6 and Non-rated K-3. The first-place contestant will receive a trophy. “Medals are based on registration and for Top Female,” Guthrie said.

The Summer Knights Tournament does not require US Chess membership.

The registration fee is $20 for MCCL members and $30 for players who are not MCCL members who register by 8 p.m. on Aug. 21. (The lower price for MCCL members will appear when the player adds the tournament to the cart.)

“If you have not joined MCCL or renewed your MCCL membership for 2024 and you want the discount, join or renew in a separate order first, and then register for Summer Knights after,” Guthrie said.

The tournament will accept 180 chess players maximum. “We had 190-plus last year, and that was too many,” Guthrie said.

For more information, visit madisonchess.com.