MADISON – Young children who like the game of chess will have their special day when Madison City Chess League or MCCL opens their annual Madison City Kindergarten Chess Tournament.

The contest on Jan. 22 at Rainbow Elementary School, 50 Nance Road will be limited to the first 20 youngsters who register. Space limitations at the school are causing this cutoff. Any kindergarten or pre-kindergarten student is welcome to attend.

Games will have 20 minutes per side. Players will compete in five rounds, if time permits.

The contest will open with a players’ meeting at 8:45 a.m. in the Rainbow Library Media Center. The tournament’s hours will be 9 a.m. to noon.

Rated and non-rated kindergarten students are not required to have USCF memberships. “This tournament will be a non-rated tournament and great practice for the Kindergarten section of the Madison City Chess Championship,” MCCL Executive Director Ranae Bartlett said.

Entry fee is $20 for MCCL members. Players who aren’t MCCL members will pay $25. Savings for MCCL members will appear after adding the tournament to your cart.

Finishers in the top five places will receive trophies. All other competitors will receive a medal. An awards ceremony will be held approximately at noon.

Online registration deadline will be Jan. 14 or until the roster is filled with 20 students. On-site registration will not be available.

For more information, visit https://madisonchess.com/events/764/madison-kindergarten-tournament-122.