We invite you to participate in our two major events each year.
You must have an active membership in the U.S. Chess Federation
to register and play in rated games.
You are also welcome to observe our tournaments free of charge.
OUR NEXT THREE TOURNAMENT DATES HAVE BEEN SET:
2023 Roosevelt Chess Classic - November 4
2024 Bienville Chess Classic - April 20
2024 Roosevelt Chess Classic - November 9
Be sure to scroll all the way down to see information we have about tournaments.
One of our signature major events is the Roosevelt Chess Classic which is held on a Saturday in November at Alfreda-Harris Lodge at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, Miss. It features individual and team participation whereas players can compete for prizes and bragging rights as well as strengthen their ratings.
(Click HERE for information about the venue.)
The tournament includes four rounds using the Swiss pairing system with game control time of 45 minutes with 5 second increments. All games are rated and players must use a clock and notation and have active membership in the U.S. Chess Federation.
Individuals compete in three sections including Open, U1200, and U800. Individuals may also form teams with any number of players, but the top four players' scores in the sections will determine team scores.
Prizes include cash for first, second, and third place in the Open. Winners in the Open also receive a trophy for first place and medals go to second and third places respectively. The U1200 and U800 winners receive trophies and medals in similar fashion.
In the team competition, players register for the section according to their rating and their scores are calculated for their teams. Medals go to the top four players of the winning team.
The tournament is named for the state park where it is held.
Photo By BILLY FREEMAN, Nov. 13, 2021
To learn more about the Roosevelt Chess Classic and to register for the tournament, click the button at the right.
We hosted the 2nd annual Roosevelt Chess Classic on Nov. 5, 2022. We had 72 registrations and 69 players. Click the button at the right to view the results.
Our other signature major event is the Bienville Chess Classic which is held in April at Alfreda-Harris Lodge at Roosevelt State Park in Morton, Miss. It features individuals only whereas players can compete for prizes and bragging rights as well as strengthen their ratings.
(Click HERE for information about the venue.)
The Bienville Classic includes four rounds using the Swiss pairing system with game control time of 45 minutes with 5 second increments.
Individuals compete in three rated sections including Open, U1200, and U800. In these three sections, all games are rated and players must use a clock and notation. Players participating in these sections must have active membership in the U.S. Chess Federation.
An unrated section is offered where players may gain experience in tournament action without the pressure of ratings, but the rules of the U.S. Chess Federation will apply.
Membership in the Federation is not required for this section only.
Players are strongly encouraged to use notation, but must use a clock.
Prizes include cash for first, second, and third place in the Open only. Winners in the Open also receive a plaque for first place and medals go to second and third places respectively. The U1200 and U800 winners receive trophies and medals.
* The plaque awarded to the grand champion in the Open section is named the Beverly Jo Rhodes Memorial Award in recognition of a former gifted teacher in Scott County who taught chess in local schools. (Click HERE for information about Mrs. Rhodes.)
This tournament is named for the Bienville National Forest which includes the state park where the tournament is held and covers most of Scott County.
Photo By CHRIS BAKER, May 14, 2022
To learn more about the Bienville Chess Classic and to register for the tournament, click the button at the right.
We hosted the 2nd annual Bienville Chess Classic on April 1, 2023. We had 57 registrations and 45 players. Click the button at the right to view the results.
Chess cannot grow without events to give players opportunities to participate and those events cannot happen without the experience and dedication of our Tournament Directors who make sure all competitions comply with U.S. Chess Federation rules and regulations. In most cases, tournament directors organize and host the events they supervise.
The Scott County Chess Club recognizes and thanks the following Tournament Directors for their contributions and support for all our tournaments:
Chris Allen Baker - Chief Tournament Director
Beth Thrasher - Senior Assistant
Mark Nicholas - Senior Assistant
Douglas Stewart - Assistant
Jay Mitchell - Assistant
Anjanette Rassif - Assistant
There is plenty of space for players to compete on the main floor of the Lodge.
The Alfreda-Harris Lodge is surrounded by Roosevelt State Park woodlands overlooking a beautiful lake.
While there is limited seating in the indoor lobby area overlooking the main floor, the outside patio allows for generous seating and window view into the main floor.
Roosevelt State Park is an award-winning recreational destination that includes many amenities throughout the year. It is recognized as one of the best public parks in the state and in the country having received multiple national awards.
The park is conveniently located between Meridian and Jackson, Miss. The park offers an abundance of outdoor recreational opportunities in a picturesque setting. The park's scenic overlook provides a panoramic view of the Bienville National Forest. The gently sloping landscape is particularly striking during the fall when the forest is bright with autumn colors.
Alfreda-Harris Lodge offers a great venue for a Chess tournament with spacious rooms and amenities. To reach the Lodge when participating in our tournaments, take the park entrance (marked with highway signs - across from McDonalds/convenience store) off Highway 13 to the north of Exit 77 from Interstate 20.
Follow the winding road, always staying to the right past the gatehouse and past the folllowing curves and a speed bump. The Lodge is on the left. It has a flag pole in front and the name is on the front of the building. Parking area is visible just beyond the Lodge.
2149 Hwy 13 S
Morton, MS 39117
P: (601) 732-6316
Take Interstate 20 to Scott County, leaving the highway at Exit 77 about 30 miles east of Jackson. Drive north on Highway 13 to the park entrance on the left, following directional signs.
Clink on the button below to leave this site and view the park's website.
2149 Mississippi Highway 13, Morton, Mississippi 39117, United States
Many chess players are content to just play casually whenever an opportunity arises. This may include accepting a spontaneous invitation from a fellow chess player or attending a local chess club. However, there is another level to the game of chess - tournaments.
Tournaments are great ways to see how much progress a player is making in learning and growing in the game by discovering how they stack up against other players. It is also an opportunity to learn from other players in seeing a variety of strategies and styles of play. Like any other competitive activity, it is good to keep a healthy attitude and perspective, but playing in tournaments can reap many rewards. Remember, the #1 rule in Chess is to HAVE FUN!
Some players enjoy just playing in a random tournament for fun and experiencing the opportunity to learn and grow. Other players are more competitive and really get into tournaments, seeking to win and advance as far as they can go. They may have aspirations for earning master, grandmaster status within the U.S. Chess Federation through their rating. It is up to each individual to determine what kind of chess life they wish to have.
In Mississippi, there are many opportunities to participate in tournaments. The Mississippi Chess Association sponsors a state tournament each fall for adults and youth. Youth may also participate in the annual scholastic tournaments. These events are precursors to representing the state on the national level at many events.
Tournaments usually include registration fees and players choose what sections they wish to participate in, based on their skill level as determined by their U.S. Chess Federation rating. Tournaments may also include team play where individual players' scores are combined and calculated for overall scores. Prizes may include cash, trophies, plaques, medals, ribbons, and certificates.
Clocks come in a wide variety of designs and functionality. While some players enjoy traditional analog chess clocks, most modern players have embraced the technology of digital clocks.
When getting into playing tournaments, two major differences a player will find as opposed from casual play is the use of a clock and chess notation. These are adjustments that a player needs to bring into his participation, but they are not impossible to incorporate.
The Chess clock simply keeps games from lasting forever and allows tournaments to run smoothly on schedule. It also teaches players the value of making decisions in a reasonable amount of time. While some traditional settings may use analog clocks for nostalgic purposes, most clocks using in modern tournaments are digital. It is important to learn how to play timed games if you desire to take your participation to the next level.
Notation is a means of players writing down their moves and those of their opponents using algebraic symbols and abbreviations. Notation allows players to keep track of their moves so if there is a question or dispute over the legality of a move during a tournament, a decision can be made by a tournament director. In most cases, notation is required when playing rated games.
Even more valuable, notation allows players to keep their games for purposes of reviewing them later to see what mistakes may have been made. Chess teachers use notations with students in helping them improve. Notation also allows more experienced players to make their games available to other players to help them improve. It is widely used in chess publications where games are shared.
There are different designs of scoresheets for notation of games,
but this is the basic idea of what notation looks like. For a basic tutorial about notation, click below.
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