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January 19, 2026
Location: ISU Bone Student Center
Any addition to the tournament on Monday morning will get a first round bye
Coaches report changes by 8:30am – Changes not in by 8:30am will get 1st round bye
1st round begins at 9:00am – Subsequent Rounds ASAP
- Registration is open on the BNASC Tournament Registration page
- Registration closes at 7:00pm on Saturday, January 17, 2026
- No Club Teams
- Must be USCF members or JTP registered
Entry fee $30 - Please make checks payable to BNASC
Sections, Times and Rounds
Lower Primary, Upper Primary & Elementary G/30 Delay 5 5 rounds
Junior High (6-8) G/45 Delay 5 4 rounds
Trophies
- Lower Primary, Upper Primary and Elementary
- Top 5 Overall – Top 5 Teams – Class Trophies
- Junior High
- Top 5 Overall – Top 4 Teams – Class Trophies
Food will be available onsite
Questions: Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 309-825-9753
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Tiebreak Systems Overview
1. Modified Median System
- Definition: Used when players tie with an even score (exactly half of the maximum possible score).
- How it works:
- For players with even scores: Exclude both the highest- and lowest-scoring opponents’ scores.
- For players with non-even scores:
- If tied with a plus score: Disregard only the lowest-scoring opponent’s score.
- If tied with a minus score: Disregard only the highest-scoring opponent’s score.
2. Solkoff System
- Definition: Similar to the Median system, but no opponents’ scores are discarded. All opponents’ scores are included in the calculation.
3. Cumulative System
- Definition: Adds up the cumulative (running) score for each round.
- How it works:
- Example: If a player’s results are win, loss, win, draw, loss, the cumulative scores per round would be 1, 1, 2, 2.5, 2.5. The total is 9 (1+1+2+2.5+2.5).
- If another player’s sequence is 1, 2, 2.5, 2.5, 2.5, the total is 10.5 (1+2+2.5+2.5+2.5).
- The player who scores earlier generally has a higher tiebreak, as they likely faced tougher opposition later.
- Adjustments:
- Subtract 1 point for each unplayed win or full-point bye.
- Subtract 0.5 point for each unplayed draw or half-point bye.
4. Cumulative of Opposition
- Definition: Calculate the cumulative tiebreak points for each opponent (as above), then sum these values for all opponents.
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Metcalf Tournament Has Been Rescheduled for January 10th
Registration is now open!
7000 S University St, Normal, IL 61790 (Park behind the school off
Dry Grove/Main Street or across Main Street by Student Accounts)
Sections & Format
- Lower Primary (K–1), Upper Primary (2–3), Elementary (4–5)
- 5 rounds — G/30, Delay 5
- Max Entries: 160
- Junior High (6–8)
- 4 rounds — G/45, Delay 5
- Max Entries: 50
Registration & Fees
- Entry Fee: $25 — Checks payable to Metcalf Chess Club.
- Registration Deadline: 7:00 PM, Friday, December 12, 2025
- Check-in / Changes: Due by 8:30 AM on Saturday
- Changes after 8:30 AM will result in a first-round bye.
- ½ bye for all rounds except the last. Final round 0 point bye
- Round 1 begins at 9:00 AM, with all following rounds starting as soon as possible.
Eligibility
USCF memberships must be valid through December 13, 2025, except K–3 (JTP acceptable).
Awards
This will be a “recycle tournament” with the majority of the trophies being reused from previous Metcalf team accomplishments, with the description plates updated. Additionally, the awards underlined are trophies that our team took apart and recreated into unique or mega awards
Team Awards:
- Trophies for Top 5 Team, in each section
- Most Unrated Players: The school with the most unrated players in the tournament added together from all divisions.
- Most Points Total: The school with the most points, added together from all divisions.
- Individual Awards:
- Trophies for Top 5, in each section
- Grade-Level Medals: awarded to those who did not receive a top 5
- First place Kindergarten
- First place First Grade
- First place Second Grade
- First place Third Grade
- First place Fourth Grade
- First place Fifth Grade
- First place Sixth Grade
- First place Seventh Grade
- First place Eighth Grade
- Kind Competitor: Someone who fosters an environment of mutual respect and support, even while striving to win
- Fight to the end: for someone who continues on despite facing overwhelming odds Chess fashionista: coolest chess themed outfit and/or accessories
Outside food is allowed but please consider purchasing from concessions to support Metcalf Chess.
Bloom Bawarchi and Papa John’s Cheese Pizza will be available as well as snacks and drinks.
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United States Chess Federation (USCF) memberships are required for all rated BNASC tournaments. In previous years we allowed Junior Tournament Player (JTP) membership which allowed for K-3 players to play without a membership. These players were assigned non-member USCF player id’s. For the 2026-2027 season we will be requiring all players to have a paid, not expired, membership to play in Lower Primary, Upper Primary, Elementary and Junior High sections. Parents will be required to ensure the players membership status is current prior to attending the tournament. If your membership is expired, you will need to renew your membership no later than the Thursday before the tournament. This will give the tournament organizers time to validate all players membership status. Failure to have a valid membership before the day of the tournament could result in a first round bye until membership status is resolved. If you’ve played in any of our past tournaments, you have a USCF membership id. It is important to RENEW your existing membership to maintain your player rating and not create a new membership.
For some select tournaments, a ‘Beginner’ section will be available for K-3 non-members who would like to try a tournament without a paid membership. A USCF Id is not need for this section. This section will be unrated and will not count towards a player rating.
To find your player’s USCF ID
- Visit https://new.uschess.org/
- Select Ratings / Player Ratings Lookup
- Enter your players name
- Select your players name
- review the tournament history to ensure you have the correct player.
- Save off your USCF ID
What do I do if my player has multiple USCF ID’s?
- Reach out to Korey Kormick at US Chess. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
To Renew your membership
- Visit https://new.uschess.org/
- Select the JOIN / RENEW menu option
- If you already have an account, login
- If you have a USCF Id but don’t have an account yet
- Select Returning Members
- create your user login here
New players who have never played a local or USCF Rated chess tournament
- Visit https://new.uschess.org/
- Select the JOIN / RENEW menu option
- Select New First Time Members