Spotlight Academy Spotlight Academy

Summer Chess
Tournament 2026

Five Swiss Rounds·20 Minutes Per Player·Two Categories

Order of play

9:30 am

Check-in

Players must be present to be paired for round one.

10:00 am

Round one begins

Boards are assigned. Players take their seats.

11:30 am
Intermission — pizza lunch

Pizza and bottled water provided for registered players — no other food or snacks.

12:00 pm

Round three begins

Play resumes through the afternoon rounds.

2:15 pm

Awards ceremony

Approximate start. Trophies presented in both categories.

Players not checked in and seated by 10:10 am forfeit their round-one game. After each round, players are paired against opponents with similar scores; rounds are paired as soon as the previous round concludes, and times after lunch are approximate.

The categories

0 – 800
Category A
Rising players
800 – 1200
Category B
Advancing players

The prizes

1st
Trophy
2nd
Trophy
3rd
Trophy

Awarded in each category — six trophies in all.

Rules of the board

Be prompt, be ready

Arrive at your assigned board promptly and make sure the pieces are set up correctly before play begins.

Begin with respect

Greet your opponent respectfully before the game begins.

Touch-move

A touched piece must be moved — or captured, if the capture is legal. This rule is enforced in every round.

Play your own game

No assistance from parents, coaches, siblings, spectators, or electronic devices during games.

Devices away

Electronic devices must remain silent and away from the playing area.

Sportsmanship above all

Good sportsmanship and respect are expected at all times — in victory and in defeat.

Round one cutoff

Players not checked in and seated at their board by 10:10 am forfeit their round-one game.

Scoring the field

Points per game

Win 1pt
Draw or stalemate ½pt
Loss 0pt
Bye (unpaired round) ½pt

Breaking ties

Buchholz The combined score of each player's opponents
Head-to-head The direct result between the tied players
Number of wins Total decisive games won
Blitz playoff If still tied, at the director's discretion

Applied in order, until the tie is resolved.

For parents & spectators

Every game belongs to the two players seated at the board. We ask our audience to watch the way great chess deserves — quietly, and at a respectful distance.

Parents and spectators are welcome to observe from designated areas.
No coaching, signaling, or discussing moves with players during games.
Please remain quiet and avoid distracting the players.
Only players are permitted in the playing area during active rounds.
Repeated violations may result in removal from the playing area.

Equipment & provisions

Bring if you have them

Your chess board and clock
Notation sheets, if available
A pencil or pen for recording moves

Provided by the academy

Boards and clocks for players without their own
Pizza lunch and bottled water

Pizza and water only — no snacks or other refreshments are provided. Food is for registered players only.

The Tournament Director and Arbiter's decision is final in all matters related to the tournament.

Tournament Authority