Chess Events in Morgan County, GA

Where: Berkmar High School, 405 Pleasant Hill Rd, Lilburn, GA 30047

Details to be posted soon.  Please check back!

2026 Southeastern Regional Women's and Girls' Chess Championship

                                     $5000 Guaranteed Prize Fund

Venue: Atlanta Chinese Christian Church, 4434 Britt Rd, Tucker, GA 30084 (Cafeteria and chapel). Hotel: Doubletree by Hilton Atlanta Northeast/Northlake, 4156 Lavista Road, Atlanta, GA 30084

 Sections & Format:

                  (Registration -free- for titled players, ACCC members and children)

Scholastic / Family-Friends / Unrated Schedule 5SS – G25;d5: 

Open Women’s schedule 4SS - G60/d5:    Boards and Sets provided – bring clocks!

Top Board games will be broadcast by DGT Boards over the Internet!

Southeastern Regional Women’s and Girls’ Chess Championship Task Force, are the following partners:

Chess Nation, North Atlanta Chess Club, Atlanta Chinese Christian Church (Tucker)

Note: More information to follow, please mark your calendar.

WHAT:

5 Rounds, USCF-rated, G/25; d5 (Each round can last up to 1 hour).

Every round your child's "pairing" (The specific board they will play on, their opponent's name, and which color pieces they will use for the game) will be posted online at acrosstheboardchess.com or in print on-site. If you are new to tournaments and have questions, contact us in advance of the event. Contact: ekempjr74@yahoo.com

WHEN:

Saturday, May 9th, 2026. The tournament starts at 9:30 am. Here is a guideline for when each round will likely start: 10am, 11:15, 12:30, 1:45, 3pm. The award ceremony for those who won trophies will likely last until about 4:45.

WHERE:

Gresham Recreation Center ~ 3113 Gresham Rd S E, Atlanta, GA 30316

WHO:

Any Kindergarten through 12th grade student who has an active USCF membership may compete in this event. To acquire United States Chess Federation membership, go HERE, scroll down and select "join/renew" for the appropriate age group. If you have trouble with that process, we can do it for you: Click HERE

HOW:

Arrive at the playing site by 9:30 am on the day of the event and remain at the site, with your child, until they finish their 5th game. Players under 16 years of age should be accompanied by at least one parent/guardian. Players will not be monitored by tournament staff outside of the Playing Hall. Parents will not be allowed in the playing hall while games are in progress.

LUNCH WILL BE PROVIDED FOR PLAYERS

The event will be filmed, and by participating in the event you consent to the filmed/captured content being used as we see fit. We'll provide all of the boards and pieces. Please bring a chess clock if you have one.

PRIZES:

1st, 2nd & 3rd place trophy for each section (K-3; Upper Elementary (4th-5th); Middle School; High School). All players who tie for 3rd, with at least one point, will be awarded a 3rd place trophy.

Note: Sections will be merged if there are fewer than 4 players in any section by the start of the 1st round.

REGISTRATION:

To register, click HERE. 

Pay $30 online by May 8th at 8pm. Pay the $30 Registration Fee via cash app to $EssigKemp or via Zelle to ekempjr74@yahoo.com.

NO ONSITE REGISTRATION WILL BE PERMITTED. 

$12,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund

Dates:

June 26-28, 2026

Location:

Emory University – Emory Student Center 605 Asbury Circle, Atlanta, GA.

Free Parking at Emory is at the Peavine Parking Lot, 29 Eagle Row, Atlanta, GA. Use the covered parking deck – do not park in the outside deck or you will be charged. Allow ~15 minutes to walk from Peavine to the ESC.

Format:

5 rounds. **Time Control: **G/90, inc/10. 2-day schedule, round 1, G/60, inc/10.

Sections & Prizes:

$12,000 fully guaranteed prize fund in 7 sections.

Master (2200+): $1700 – $1000 – $500; top U2400: $600 – $300. 80 USCF Grand Prix Points. Expert (2000-2199): $1000 – $600 – $400. Class A (1800-1999): $800 – $500 – $300. Class B (1600-1799): $600 – $400 – $300. Class C (1400-1599): $500 – $300 – $200. Class D (1200-1399 or Unrated): $500 – $300 – $200. U1200 (100-1199 or Unrated): $500 – $300 – $200.

* Strict 100-point rule used for “playing up” a section – see below.

• June 2026 US Chess ratings usually used.
• **100-point Rule: **Players rated within 100 points of next section cutoff (June USCF supplement or live rating thereafter) may “play up” a section if they choose to.
  • Example: a player rated 1700 on the June rating list (or live rating thereafter) may play up in Class A if they choose to, but not a player rated 1699.
  • No exceptions – do not register for a section that you are ineligible for by rating. Erroneous registrations will be moved to the correct section.
• Unrated players may enter the Class D or U1200 sections and are eligible for prizes.
• Prizes are paid on site on Sunday, June 28 until 5:30pm, or mailed out the week of June 30.

Entry Fee:

• $125 online by June 23
• $140 online after June 23 or on-site (cash only, exact change), at least 45 minutes before game.
• Free entries:
  • All GMs, IMs, WGMs: Free online entry. No deduction if registered by June 20, otherwise $125 deducted from prize.
  • FMs & WIMs currently rated 2200+, All Players currently rated 2400+. Free online entry. $125 deducted from prize.
• Re-entry: $60 online or on-site (cash, exact change).
• Campers who pay for the tournament at registration should not register separately.

Registration:

Online registration is strongly recommended!

On-site registration (not recommended): 3-day – Friday 5:15-5:30pm. 2-day/Re-Entry: Saturday 8:45-9:00am. Re-enter online or on-site. Cash only (exact change) on-site.

All registration & re-entry closes 1 hour before game.

Bye request/change deadline: 1 hour before first game.

NO CHECK-IN NEEDED if you register online – just show up for your first game.

Campers who pay for tournament at registration should not register separately.

Schedule:

3-day Schedule (5 rounds):

• Friday 6:30pm
• Saturday 1:30pm
• Saturday 6:00pm
• Sunday 9:30am
• Sunday 1:45pm

2-day Schedule (5 rounds):

• Round 1 – Saturday 10:00am (G/60, inc/10)
• Merge with 3-day schedule above starting round 2, Saturday 1:30pm.

Up to two half-point byes available, commit before first round. All byes requested during the tournament are zero points.

Contact:

tournament@castlechess.org – Chief TD Grant Oen

Notes:

• NO SPECTATORS – during active rounds, parents, spectators, and players that have finished their games are not permitted in the playing room or nearby hallways. Only staff and active players may be in the tournament hall and immediate hallways during play.
• Boards, sets, and clocks are supplied for the tournament only – bring your own for analysis or skittles.
• Withdrawals:
  • Cancellations until June 24 may incur a $5 transaction fee.
  • 50% refunds after June 24 until 90 minutes before round 1.
  • No refunds for cancellations less than 90 minutes before round 1.
  • Cancellations, withdrawals, or 0-point byes must be submitted at least 1 hour before the relevant round. Players who “no show” or forfeit a game may incur a $100 fine.
• Fair Play Policy will mirror the Charlotte Chess Center’s FPP – leave cell phones and smart watches in your room or car, or store them in a bag or under your chair during your game. No electronics on your person or in your pocket during play.
• **==IMPORTANT==** – due to the FIFA World Cup Games in Atlanta, out-of-town players should make their travel and hotel arrangements soon!