MADISON – Players who plan to enter the 2022 MADISON – Players who plan to enter the 2022 Winter Knights Scholastic Chess Tournament must register online by Jan. 12. must register online by Jan. 12.

On-site registration will not be available. In addition, players must renew membership to Madison City Chess League or MCCL for 2022 in a separate order before registering for Winter Knights; players will receive $5 off the registration fee.

Winter Knights tournament will be held on Jan. 15 at Columbia Elementary School, 667 Balch Road. A players’ meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m.

“The benefits of the Winter Knights tournament are two-fold,” MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said.

“First, the rated section has a 45-minute time control, which mirrors the time control for the Junior High and Open sections of the upcoming State Scholastic Chess Championship. The state championship will be held in Madison in March,” Bartlett said. “The opportunity to play with the same time control as State will be a great advantage for our older students.”

“Second, this will be the last tournament of the 2020-2021 school year that offers a Non-Rated Section for students in grades K-5, which is a great way for beginners to experience tournament play. (Other) tournaments this spring will have Rated Sections requiring U.S. Chess membership,” Bartlett said.

Tournament sponsor is 180 Leadership Coaching.

Winter Knights offers both Rated and Non-Rated Sections. Rated players must register in their grade level section, which closely aligns to the upcoming City Chess Grade-Level Championship in March.

“We’re using a longer time control of 45 minutes for the Rated Section to help our students prepare for national tournaments that use either a 90-minute or 120-minute time control,” Bartlett said.

Round times for Rated Sections will be 9:15 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Time Control will be G/45;d5. Non-Rated Sections will have round times at 9:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:45 p.m. and 3 p.m. Time Control will be G/30;d5.

Before registering for the tournament, players in all rated sections must have USCF membership. For membership, visit uschess.org.

Tournament entry fee is $20 for MCCL members in all sections. If not a member, fee is $25. (All MCCL annual members must renew memberships in January annually.)

For awards, players in Rated sections will receive individual trophies for places 1-3. Players will receive individual medals for places 4-6, along with Top Female in each section.

For a Non-Rated Section, players in places 1-3, along with Top Female, will earn individual medals.

Winter Knights has six Rated sections, like MCCL City Chess Championship that will be a grade-level contest. Like the City Chess Championship, students must register in their grade level: K-2; 3-4; 5-6; 7-8; 9-10; and 11-12.

“Winter Knights also offers two Non-Rated sections for students who are new to competitive chess: K-3 and K-5,” Bartlett said. “You do not need a USCF membership to play in the Non-Rated section.”

Students in Non-Rated will play five rounds with 30-minute game times and five-second delay. At the tournament director’s discretion, Non-Rated sections may merge.

To register, visit madisonchess.com. Click the “Events” menu, and click “Upcoming Events.” Scroll and click “2022 Winter Knights Scholastic Chess Tournament – 1/15.” Scroll and click “Details.”