Palmetto Scholastic Chess League - Charleston

A Premier Monthly Scholastic Tournament Series

Charleston Scholastic Chess organizes PSCL - Charleston as a regular monthly tournament series to encourage the organization of scholastic chess clubs and promote scholastic chess throughout South Carolina. Separate High School, Middle School, and Elementary School sections provide balanced competition and encourage players to form teams representing their schools to win awards.

See past winners of PSCL - Charleston.

Conveniently Scheduled, Easy to Enter

PSCL - Charleston events occur about once a month on a Saturday. Games start at 10:00 a.m. and finish before lunch. The games are officially rated by US Chess, meaning players receive a national rating after playing. If you are already a US Chess member, entry is only $20.

First Timers Get a US Chess Membership

For those playing their first US Chess tournament, registration is $25, which includes a youth US Chess membership that Charleston Scholastic Chess will create using the information provided during registration.

Read our guide to your first scholastic tournament.

Tournament Details

Online Registration

Online registration only. Standard registration is $20 for players with current US Chess memberships. First-time tournament players pay $25, which includes a US Chess membership created from the information provided at registration. To renew an existing membership, visit US Chess.

Format

4-Round Swiss. Time Control: G/10;+5. Sections: High School, Middle School, and Elementary School.

A four-round Swiss means players complete all four rounds and are not eliminated. Each player starts with 10 minutes and receives an additional five seconds with every move. Games affect the player's US Chess Quick rating, and all equipment is provided.

The tournament has three sections: Elementary School (K-5), Middle School (6-8), High School (9-12). Players must register for the section corresponding to their grade. Sections may be combined during play, but prizes are awarded separately for each section.

US Chess Rule 14K(2) is modified so a Tournament Director may declare a game drawn after 50 moves without a capture or pawn move rather than 75. The tournament may use a player's live rating for pairing purposes. For a blitz playoff, the first illegal move by a player incurs a one-minute penalty. A subsequent illegal move is a loss if the opponent has sufficient mating material.

Rules note: As a combined individual-team event, US Chess Rule 28N is in effect. The pairing program attempts to avoid pairing school teammates while they have less than a +2 score.

Schedule

Round 1

10:00 a.m.

Round 2

10:35 a.m.

Round 3

11:10 a.m.

Round 4

11:45 a.m.

Awards

12:15 p.m.

Awards

Team Trophies

Trophies go to first- and second-place teams in each High School, Middle School, and Elementary School section. The top three scores reported for the same school are combined to form its team score. The school with the highest team score wins. A team must have at least 2 players to be eligible. Homeschool students may register as Home School for individual-award eligibility only, or under the school for which they are zoned for both individual and team eligibility.

Individual Trophies

The top 5 players from each High School, Middle School, and Elementary School section receive individual trophies. Players tied for first place play a blitz playoff. US Chess tiebreaks determine all other places.

Superlative Awards

Special awards are presented for:

• Biggest Upset
• Top Female Performance
• Youngest Participant
• Best First Tournament

Frequently Asked Questions

Please contact [email protected] if you cannot find an answer to your question.