State Scholastic Roster!

So far, we have 14 kids going to STATE on March 17-18 in Oshkosh!
RSVP as soon as possible if you're interested - this is, of course, for experienced tournament players.  You still have time to play in a few tournaments before the big event.  Success is a function of two things - numbers AND skill level - it's critically important that everyone PRACTICE before this event - we have a decent chance at a trophy as a team if we are all prepared, and we all play our best.

McKinley takes K12 Nonrated at Wisco Lutheran

Congratulations to the McKinley Chess Club for a great showing at the IAC's tournament on Saturday at Wisconsin Lutheran High School.

This tournament offered USCF-rated divisions and a K-12 (all school-age) non-rated division.  We had 5 kids in the non-rated, and 4 kids who are USCF rated who participated in the K6 rated division.

The K-12 Non-rated team of Zach, Charlie, Marissa, Nolan and Manisha took 1st place for the team, and not only that, both Zach and Charlie both won all 5 of their games - Zach took 1st on tie-breakers and Charlie took 2nd place!

In the tough K-6 rated division, our four-person team of 4th graders Max, Kate, Ishaan and Henry took 2nd place, being edged out just barely by the 8-person team Horizon Elementary in Pewaukee.  It was a strong showing for these newly-rated players.  Max took home the 2nd place trophy for being the top finisher on tiebreakers with Kate and Ishaan.

              

     

4th and 7th grade = the hardest years

Since many tournaments are K-3 or K-6 or K12, we often times see that kids get discouraged in the 4th grade (their first year of K6 competition), or 7th grade (the year they can no longer play in K6 division and have to face high schoolers).  Also, the 7th grade is the year many kids, sadly, give up chess.
It's these years that we have to help kids understand they are LEARNING and REBUILDING years.  Humps they have to get over.  Challenges, to rebuild their skill level so they can compete with kids who may be older.  2nd Grade is often the best year to start for a kid, because they get two years in, before the dreaded 4th grade dropoff, haha.
The STATE tournament is K-5 and a few tournaments are K-4 or K-5, but this is rare.
Age is really irrelevant where chess is concerned, it's really about the increase in the skill level of the pool of kids I'm talking about.
Kids who are USCF rated often play in "all ages" tournaments against people 40-90 years old!  My 3rd grade son played against a 50 year old drunken Russian guy in a tournament once.  He smelled of Vodka and "trash talked" the whole game.   My son won.  He was taught to "play the board, not the player."  Good advice!

Chess Nationals in Nashville

In our 2nd year of the program, there may be some kids who want to try NATIONALS!   It's an amazing tournament every year.

This year, the K-6 Scholastic Nationals will be held on May 11-13, in Nashville, TN at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel (the usual spot).  It's an incredible place if you've never been there.  Like a city under glass.

Here is information on the tournament: http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2018/elem/

The divisions for us would be one of the following: (bold most likely)

• K-6 Championship 
• K-6 Under 1400 
• K-6 Under 1000 
• K-6 Unrated 
• K-5 Championship 
• K-5 Under 1200 
• K-5 Under 900 
• K-3 Championship 
• K-3 Under 1000 
• K-3 Under 700 
• K-3 Unrated 
• K-1 Championship 
• K-1 Under 500 & Unrated

The rated (championship) divisions are TOUGH, and are usually won by kids who are super-serious about chess (and probably taught daily by masters or above).  However, a good sized team can do well.  The Unrated divisions are for kids who are not yet USCF rated.

Let me know if there is any interest here.  There are buses that usually head down from Milwaukee, or parents can drive or fly.  It's a really fun trip!

Tosa Catholic canceled - Wisco Lutheran HS instead!

The Tosa Catholic tournament has been cancelled!  Those who are interested in a tournament should go to the Wisconsin Lutheran High School tournament - it's very close by!
330 N Glenview (on the North side of the hospital area, on 84th/Glenview). 
Either email Mr Seghers, or go to http://www.ia-chess.com/registration/tournamentinfo.html?id=52 to register - thanks.

NOTE: If you are USCF registered, you should register for either K-3, or K-6 rated.  If you are NOT yet registered, you can register K-12 unrated.  I'd like to see if we can get a team together.  Depending on who registers, we can switch at the door if we'd like.

Chess for 2018!

Chess Class begins again tomorrow, Jan 3, after school in the Library, as before.  See you there!!

Important dates coming up:

Feb 10 - our own tournament at McKinley!  I will have an online signup form for volunteers - I'm looking for one person to oversee the logistics - I will help!  Please reply if you would like to be the person to coordinate volunteers for food, setup, cleanup.  I hope most serious players can make it to our own tournament.  Let's represent McKinley!

Mar 17-18 - K5 State Championship - UW Oshkosh!  Please begin to RSVP to me on this one.  I would like to get 10-15 kids if we can - we all play on the same team- this is a rare and amazing opportunity!  Several hundred kids attend this tournament from all over the state.  I can get reduced room rates at the Country Inn and Suites.  Some people head up Friday night, or you can drive up in the morning on Saturday.  6 Games over Saturday and Sunday.  Home by 4-5pm Sunday.

Apr 21 - State Grade Level tournament - UW Milwaukee Student Union - play against only kids in your grade!  A big annual event!

Other tournaments coming are below.  Our last class will probably be at the end of March, or early April, prior to Grade Level. Tournaments to consider: 

• Tosa Catholic - 1/13! - our crosstown rivals! - sign up www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org - watch for separate email on this one.
• Evangel - 1/27 - sign up www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org
• Golda Meir - 2/24 - sign up www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org
• Kalahari Resort - 3/3 - sign up www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org
• St. Monica - 4/14 - sign up www.wisconsinscholasticchess.org