The process is (from your point of view)

  1. Register your school’s team right away when registration opens on January 1, 2025, even if you don’t know who will be playing for your school.
  2. You decide who is going to play. Enter their names by editing your original form online by February 21, 2025. Do not create another registration.
  3. You collect the entry fees from the players (or your school may pay the fee), and send us a cheque or pay by eTransfer to kathleen@chesschallenge.info
  4. You can make changes to your list until February 21, 2025. No changes are permitted after this date as players will have been assigned to sections by school and grade.
  5. After you get section details (see #6 below), you pass along that info to the kids.

We understand that you collect the money from the players, and then write a cheque to us. What we ask is that you mail the cheque before the event, and then you can honestly reply “the cheque is in the mail” if we starting nagging you.

From our point of view:

  1. We divide the players into groups, depending on what grade they are in and what day they play. Most years, there are 85 groups (called “sections” in chess parlance).
  2. We fit all the sections into the available space, and rent tables (about 100, usually).
  3. We produce room and section layouts, and assign volunteers to look after everything.
  4. After February 21, 2025, we make adjustments as necessary to sections.
  5. We produce nametags and score cards for all the players.
  6. We produce a player list for each school, showing where each kid will be playing.

On the day of competition, we all cross our fingers and pray for NO SNOW. (Snowday plan, just in case). You show up with your kids, a good time is had by all.