MADISON – The youngest group of chess competitors in Madison City Chess League or MCCL will vie for bragging rights in their grade-specific contest, the annual MCCL Kindergarten Chess Tournament.

For this meet that MCCL sponsors each year, the kindergartners will convene at Rainbow Elementary School on Feb. 3.

“If you have a kindergarten chess player, this is a great, low-pressure practice tournament for them,” MCCL Executive Director Todd Guthrie said. “It is a non-rated tournament, so a U.S. Chess membership is not required.”

The MCCL Kindergarten Chess Tournament is open to any kindergarten or pre-kindergarten student. Registration is capped at the first 20 players who register online.

A players’ meeting at 8:45 a.m. in Rainbow’s Library Media Center will open the tournament. Games will have 15 minutes per side. Players will compete in five rounds, if time permits.

Tournament play will open at 9 a.m. Guthrie expects the event to conclude approximately at noon.

“This non-rated tournament will be great practice for the Kindergarten Section of the Madison City Chess Championship” that is scheduled for March 1-2, Guthrie said.

For the kindergarten tournament’s awards, players who rank in first through fifth place will receive a trophy. “All other competitors will receive a medal. The awards ceremony will occur at approximately noon,” Guthrie said.

Deadline to register online is Jan. 31. Tournament officials may extend this date if a maximum of 20 players has not signed up. Onsite registration will not be available at this tournament.

Entry fee for the kindergarten tournament is $20 for MCCL members (savings for MCCL members will appear after the tournament is added to your cart during online registration). The fee is $25 for players who are not MCCL members.

In upcoming competitions, the ChessKid National Festival will be held in downtown Charlotte, N.C. on Feb. 16-19. The national tournament extends a fun and exciting way to engage youth in grades K-8 in the game of chess. The event features a blitz, bughouse, puzzles and more activities.

The festival includes a long time-control tournament that stretches over three days and many side events. For tournament details, visit chesskid.com/events/national-chess-festival.

“Please let MCCL know if you plan to attend; email mccl.director@gmail.com. So far, we have heard of only one MCCL member who is planning to make the trip,” Guthrie said.

For MCCL information, email mccl.director@gmail.com, or visit madisonchess.com.