MADISON – Players can register now for the 2021 City Chess Blitz Championship, the last tournament of the 2020-2021 school year.

The championship will start at 2 p.m. on April 24. For the contest’s virtual format, ChessKid.com will serve as the software platform.

“This year the City Chess Blitz Championship will move online on ChessKid and will be a Blitz tournament with five-minute games over six rounds,” Ranae Bartlett said. Bartlett is Executive Director of Madison City Chess League or MCCL.

“This (event) will be a rated tournament, so participants will need a current U.S. Chess Federation membership. Results will only impact your online blitz rating,” Bartlett said.

This tournament is open only to Madison residents or youth attending Madison City Schools. Grade-level champions for each grade from K-12 will receive cash prizes. The top three players in each grade will receive medals.

Systems Products and Solutions Inc. is returning as tournament sponsor.

The championship will include Sections K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. Grade levels are combined for pairing purposes only; prizes will be awarded by grade level. Concerning time control and rounds, games will have five minutes; players will engage in six rounds.

The top three players in each grade level (K-12) will receive medals. The first-place winners for each grade level will earn cash prizes. The cash award for first place in grades K-2 will be $50, while the cash award for first place in grades 3-12 will be $100.

Registration fee for MCCL members in all sections is $10. For players who aren’t MCCL members, the fee for all sections is $20.

To register, visit madisonchess.com. Click the “Events” menu, and then click “Upcoming Events.” Scroll to and click “2021 City Chess Blitz Championship.” Click “Online Tournament Registration Information”; after reading the details, click “Close.” At the page bottom, click “2021 City Chess Blitz Championship” to complete registration.

Advance registration is available through April 22. Register online at madisonchess.com.

MCCL has a standing rule for online tournaments that it hosts: Players can only keep one tab open on a browser during the tournament. Players who open more than one tab and toggle to other pages will be disqualified for a technical violation.

MCCL is a non-profit organization that promotes chess education for youth in grades K-12. League members learn life skills with the game of chess. For more information, call 256-970-4762, email mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com.