MADISON – With the upcoming Queen’s Quest Chess Tournament, enthusiasts can enter the year’s first contest for team and individual play.

Queen’s Quest on Nov. 19 will start with a mandatory players’ meeting at 9:15 a.m. at MidTown Elementary School, 140 Coefer Blvd.

Lockheed Martin Corporation is the sponsor for Queen’s Quest in Madison. (lockheedmartin.com)

“We’re preparing for another record-setting tournament,” Ranae Bartlett said. Bartlett is Executive Director of Madison City Chess League.

“A U.S. Chess membership will be required for all sections to play and must be obtained before registering for this tournament,” Bartlett said. To obtain USCF membership online, visit new.uschess.org/become-member.

Queen’s Quest has Rated sections only: K-3 U300; K-3 Championship; K-5 Championship; K-8 Junior High; and K-12 Open. Players should register in the lowest grade level in which you are eligible to compete. The top four scores from any school will comprise the team score in each section.

Round times will be 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Time control will be Game 30/d5. The tournament uses 5 round Swiss and is USCF rated.

Players must notate their moves as they play. A player’s official, published rating as of Nov. 1 will be used to assign sections.

“Queen’s Quest is an individual event, with secondary team prizes. A team includes the four highest scorers. Teams may represent a school only. Pairings will be ‘team blind,’” Bartlett said.

In individual awards, trophies will go to the top 10 players in K-3 U300, K-3 Championship, K-5 Championship and K-8 Junior High. In addition, the top five players in K-12 Open will receive a trophy. Medals will go to individuals who scored a tie for a trophy place but lost on the tie‐break.

In team awards, trophy qualifiers will be the top five teams in K-3 U300, K-3 Championship and K-5 Championship sections. The top two teams in K-8 Junior High and in K-12 Open sections will receive trophies.

Players can buy lunch from Mei Wei.

“The entry fee will be $25 for all competitors because this is a team and individual tournament,” Bartlett said. Deadline for online signup is Nov. 17. Players cannot register at the tournament. Players cannot receive a refund after pairing.

For the past few years, Lockheed Martin has sponsored the Queen’s Quest Chess Tournament in Madison. This contest “offers kids the opportunity to play five chess games on a Saturday against an opponent of a similar grade level where players manage their time to complete their moves in an hour with each competitor having 30 minutes,” Bartlett said.

In addition, Lockheed Martin provided 3D-printed chess sets for a silent auction that benefited Madison City Chess League’s programs.

For more information, call 256-970-4762, email 35758mccl.director@gmail.com or visit madisonchess.com.