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

Nicolet Tournament Results

Great tournament at Nicolet!  140+ kids attended this WSCF event.
In K-3, we had three players (one short of a full team), and did very well.  Marissa led the way with 3 wins out of her 5 games - almost winning her last game for a trophy.  Nolan added 2.5 more wins, and Manisha, in her first tournament ever, won 2 games!  Great job kids!
In K-6, we had a full team.  Leading the way with 3 wins out of 5 was Zach and Ishaan (in his 2nd tournament).  Everyone else had 2.0, including Kate, Henry, Derius and Jack.
If we are to look at ourselves and be honest, this wasn't our BEST performance in terms of wins and losses - this will happen sometimes.  It's good that we don't always win trophies!   We ran into a real "buzz saw" with the Club Team (multiple schools) from Mequon.  They had 2 kids with perfect 5.0 scores in K-6 and 2 kids with perfect 5.0 scores in K-3!  That's incredible.  For the state tournament, they will have to divide up into separate school teams, but they are definitely a team we need to watch, and they need to inspire us to learn more and be better players!
The main thing is, we had fun, and had a chance to learn from some of our mistakes.  I was able to sit with several kids throughout the day and help correct some of the things I saw.  I'm proud of all our kids' efforts - especially new tournament players Manisha and Ishaan!  Thanks also to parents for helping keeping things organized.

McKinley's Own Chess Tournament! Feb 10th

Mark the date of Saturday, February 10th!

On this day, McKinley Elementary will be hosting our first CHESS TOURNAMENT!  Other schools will be invited around Wisconsin.  We should expect over 100 kids.  It should be a blast!

I will be sending an email out to parents - we will need volunteers, primarily for registration and concessions.

Upcoming tournaments in December

We have class on Wed Nov 29, then tournaments on Sat Dec 2 and Sat Dec 9.  I will not be able to make the tournament on Sat Dec 2 at Lake Denoon, but I will be at the tournament at Nicolet High School on Dec 9.

If you'd like to play at Lake Denoon Dec 2:

1. Consider if you would like to play in the NON-RATED K-6 or the USCF-Rated (either K-3 or K-6) division.  USCF as I explained in the last email is an annual membership and establishes a US rating for your child.  Non-rated K-6 is recommended for kids who have not yet won 4 out of 6, or 3.5 out of 5, in a tournament.  If you have won almost all, or all of your games, in a tournament, you should consider joining the USCF and playing in a rated division.
2. Email me and let me know your child would like to play - and let me know what division.  Pay at the door of the tournament.

If you'd like to play at Nicolet High School on Dec 9: 

1. This is a WSCF-rated tournament only, so there is no USCF opportunity here.
2. Email me and let me know your child would like to play.  I will register them.  Pay at the door of the tournament.

Thank you - please let me know if you have any questions.  - Mark Seghers