MADISON – Todd Guthrie encourages Madison City Chess League or MCCL members to consider entering the 2024 Alabama State Scholastic Chess Championship. “We want to bring more state championships back to Madison,” Guthrie said, as MCCL Executive Director.

The State Scholastic Chess Championship is scheduled on March 23-24 at Pike Road Elementary School, east of Montgomery at 500 Avenue of Learning in Pike Road. This tournament “will be the same format as the 2023 championship with the addition of one section,” Guthrie said.

The top 10 players in each section will receive individual awards. Based on the top four players’ scores from each school, team awards will go to the top three schools in each section.

In the two-day tournaments, the High School Championship for grades 9-12 will have 1,100+ rating. For the Middle School Championship, grades 6-8, the rating will be 900+. For the Elementary Championship, grades K-5, the rating will be 600+.

For the one-day tournament, the following guidelines apply:

* High School Under 1,300 – Grades 9-12, Under 1,300 and unrated.

* Middle School Under 1,100 – Grades 6-8, Under 1,100 and unrated.

* Elementary Under 700 – Grades 4-5, Under 700 and unrated.

* Primary Championship – Open to all K-3 players.

* Primary Under 400 – K-3, Under 400 and unrated.

Primary Championship and Under Sections (only on March 23) will have 5 rounds Swiss, Game/30, d5. Round times on March 23 will be 9:30 a.m., 10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:15 p.m.

For high, middle and elementary school categories, round times on March 23 will be 9 a.m., 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. On March 24, round times will be 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. These tournaments will use 5 Rounds Swiss, Game/90, d5.

A player meeting will be held 15 minutes before the first round.

Players must be Alabama residents and in the correct grade range to play, respectively, in high school, middle school or elementary championships. Their current or recent rating must be at or above the cut-off rating.

To register, visit alabamachess.jumbula.com.

Advance registration is required and will be open through March 20. Late and on-site registration will not be available. A player who can’t register online should email todd.guthrie@alabamachess.org.

Entry fee is $40 for high school, middle school or elementary championship, as a two-day event, through March 8; on March 9, the fee increases to $60. Entry fee is $30 for primary championship and under sections, as a one-day event, through Mar. 8; on March 9, the fee increases to $50.

US Chess Federation will rate this tournament. Memberships in US Chess and Alabama Chess Federation are required. To obtain or renew membership, visit new.uschess.org/form/membership or alabamachess.org/sign-up.

Pike Road is approximately 200 miles from Madison. For lodging during the tournament, the closest hotels are in Montgomery’s Eastchase area, about a 20-minute drive from Pike Road.

Guthrie is serving as Tournament Director and Scholastic Vice President of Alabama Chess Federation Inc. For more information about the state championship, email todd.guthrie@alabamachess.org or visit alabamachess.org. For MCCL information, email mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com.