This is going to be a massive and amazing chess festival experience and event! 

Like nothing ever seen before in chess!

There are various parts to this chess festival, so please read the FAQ.

FAQ:

What is this registration page for specifically? 

This registration page is for the scholastic portion of the events - a 300 kid, K-12 event with multiple sections. 

How do I know which section my child should play in?

The free "Challengers" section is open to any player of any rating in grades K-12. There is no entry fee for this group. Please do not take a spot away unless you plan to attend, as we do expect the event to sell out and that would keep another child from playing and enjoying in the festivities. 

If your child is hoping to qualify for the 2023 Nashville City Championship in January, then they have to register for their Championship Group based on their grade (K-1 Championship, K-3 Championship, etc.) There is a $25 entry fee for this group by October 1st. 

Whether a student plays in the Championship or the Challengers, they get lunch provided and all the other treats of the festival - we just have to charge an entry fee for the Championship to assure we can fund the 2023 City Championship event in January. 

Both the Challengers event and the Championship event are at the same location. Kids in the Challengers will not compete with kids in the Championship, they are two separate sections. 

What are the students provided?

All students in the event will receive a prize pack at the beginning of round 1 that includes:

• A ticket to redeem for their lunch at the Hattie B's food truck (not spicy chicken fingers and mac n cheese) 
• A ticket to redeem for the snow cone at the Kona Ice truck  
• Many more surprises and special treats!

All students will play all 6-rounds of the chess tournament as well and every student will receive a one-a-kind Chess in the Park medal. Trophies for the Top-10 in the Championship Sections (plus school teams) and Top-25 trophies in the Challengers event (plus school teams). 

You do not get eliminated, so please inform tournament staff if you plan to depart the event early, so that a kid is not left without an opponent. 

Do parents have to stay? Can we just drop our kids off?

All K-12 participants need someone to monitor and be responsible for them. Older high schoolers and middle schoolers may be dropped off if they conduct themselves responsibly, but younger students need to have a chaperone. 

We highly encourage car pools, parents taking shifts. 

We will have armed, Metro Park Police staff on site the entire day to keep our event safe. 

We do need volunteers to help out with tons of stuff! So if you plan to be there with your chess kid and can lend a hand - please do! Bring lawn chairs!

What is the day's schedule like?

The event begins at 10:00 AM - plan to be there at 10:00 AM! 

The Craft Fair is also in the park that day and I have been told the park will be jam packed! That means parking is going to be very difficult. Please plan to car pool or take Lyft/Uber. 

Our opening ceremony will begin at 10:30 AM and Round 1 will start @ 10:45 AM. Each player only gets 15-minutes on their clock, so if they are late, they will not have much time left. 

The rest of the day:

ROUND 1 - 10:45 AM
ROUND 2 - 11:30 AM

LUNCH BREAK - 12:00 - 1:00 PM

ROUND 3 - 1:00 PM
ROUND 4 - 1:45 PM
ROUND 5 - 2:30 PM
ROUND 6 - 3:15 PM

AWARD CEREMONY - 4:00 PM

FRIENDS AND FAMILY AFTER PARTY (COCKTAILS AND SNACKS) + BLITZ TOURNAMENT BEGINS 4:30 PM AND SHOULD END ABOUT 7:00 PM. 

Is there a separate place to register for the Friend and Family event? Cost? 

Yes, that page link will up very soon. The cost is $100 and that comes with an open cocktail bar, catered snacks and treats and one entry to the blitz tournament (whether its for you or your child). 

What other activities are planned for the event?

Other activities include:

• Play the Master! Throughout the day various, local chess masters will take on all comers, kids and parents and chess fan alike!
• Silent Auction Event
• Face Painting 
• Chess Art and other visual chess displays 
• Lawn Size Chess
• Fun just hanging out with all of our chess community!

Can we sign up at the door that morning?

NO! Too much to plan and will most likely sell out well before the event. 

What if the weather is bad?

Stop thinking like that!

We do have the Pavilion structure, with electricity, lights, etc. - there are actual bathrooms there as well. We will have a few, big tents with flaps on the sides - so if it is some casual, light rain and clouds, the event will go on! Obviously, if monsoons show up, we may try to hold the event in an emergency, indoor location.

    

Place	Centennial Park – Pavilion (near Park Plaza and 31st Ave – North of Parthenon Building) Actual Address: 2500 West End Ave, Nashville, TN 37203 – This address will take you to the other end of the park though.
Schedule	Doors open at 10:00am. Opening Ceremony at 10:30am. Round 1 10:45am Round 2 11:30am Round 3 1:00pm Round 4 1:45pm Round 5 2:30pm Round 6 3:15pm Awards Ceremony 4:00pm STAY AFTER: Friends and Family Blitz and Fundraising Cocktail Party Event 4:30pm-7:00pm
Format	6 Round Swiss Pairing System. Time Control: Game in 15 minutes each with a 2-second delay. All players complete six rounds, win, lose, or draw. Please alert a tournament director if your player will be missing a round. Players who are late may receive a half-point bye in round one.
Sections	High School K-12 - Grades 12 and below Middle School K-8 - Grades 8 and below Elementary K-5 - Grades 5 and below Primary K-3- Grades 3 and below K-1- Grades 1 and below K-12 Unrated- First time players and beginners US Chess Membership is required for all sections except Unrated. Unrated does not qualify for City Championship. Visit www.uschess.org for information about US Chess membership.
Entry	Registration and payment available on the calendar at www.nashvillechess.org through October 6, 2022. Payment must be received with all registrations except early Unrated Section players. No late or on-site registration will be available for this event. $25- if received by October 1, 2022 (or $35 after early date). Free- K-12 Unrated if received by October 1, 2022 (or $15 after early date). Mail or drop off form below with payment (cash or check payable to NCC) to- The Nashville Chess Center 2911 Belmont Blvd. Nashville, TN 37212
Awards	Trophies: Top 10 individuals in each section, Top 3 teams. Medals: 11th-20th place individuals. The Top 2 players from High School, Middle School, Elementary, Primary and K-1 qualify to play in the 2023 Nashville City Championship. The Top 2 female players from each section qualify to play in the 2023 All-Girls Nashville City Championship. To qualify, players must live within a 50-mile radius of The Nashville Chess Center. The 2023 Nashville Scholastic City Championship will take place January 7-8 2023 at the NCC. The 2023 Nashville All-Girls City Championship will take place January 21, 2023 at the NCC.