MADISON – The school year’s opening tournament and a girls-only gathering soon will launch this season’s chess excitement in Madison.

The 2021 Summer Knights Scholastic Chess Tournament will be the first over-the-board contest for the 2021-2022 school year.

Rainbow Elementary School will host the tournament on Aug. 28. A mandatory players meeting will open the day at 9 a.m.

“Summer Knights is a great, first tournament for beginners to play in, because there’s a non-rated section for all ages K-12,” Ranae Bartlett said. Bartlett is Executive Director of Madison City Chess League or MCCL, which has organized this event.

“Public, private and home school students are welcome to participate. For our experienced players who have been playing online all last year, it’s a great opportunity to return to over-the-board tournaments,” Bartlett said.

CB&S Bank is sponsoring the tournament.

“Although we’re offering both a Rated section (for those with a rating from U.S. Chess Federation or USCF) and a Non-Rated section for beginning players, we will not issue a tournament report to the USCF,” Bartlett said. “So, this is an opportunity for everyone to relax, not worry about ratings, but play in their first chess tournament early in the school year.”

USCF membership is required for the Rated sections only.

Round times (approximate) are 9:15 and 10:30 a.m. and 12:30, 1:45 and 3 p.m. “Non-rated sections are likely to start sooner after the first round,” Bartlett said. Game time for Rated sections will be G/30/d5, while Non-Rated sections will be G/20, Pairing: 5SS.

In Rated sections, awards will go to K-12 (Open); K-12 Under 1000; and K-12 Under 500. The top three winners will receive trophies. Contestants in places four through six and Top Female will earn medals.

In Non-Rated sections, awards will go to K-12; K-6; and K-3. First-place player will receive a trophy. Medals will be based on enrollment and for Top Female.

Deadline for online registration is Aug. 25. To register online, visit madisonchess.com.

For registrations by Aug. 24, registration fee is $20 for MCCL members and $25 for players who aren’t members. (The lower price for MCCL members will appear when the registrant adds the tournament to the cart.)

“If you haven’t joined MCCL or renewed membership, do that in a separate order first. Then register for Summer Knights in a separate order,” Bartlett said.

In other chess activity just before Summer Knights, MCCL will host Girls Chess Night at Willowbrook Church – Madison campus on Aug. 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The girls can enjoy a lesson, chess playing time and snacks.

Girls Chess Night is free, but all participants must register for an attendance count. To register, visit madisonchess.com, click “Events,” then “Upcoming Events” and scroll to click “Girls Chess Night – 8/26.” Next, scroll to click “Details,” and then “Please Login/Register.”