Welcome to the 9th Edition of the New York State Magnus High School and Junior High Chess League

(Out-of-State Players Are Welcome)!
 

Covid-19 Policy

 

Oct. 15, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, 2023;

  Jan. 28, Mar. 3, April 21, 2024  (May 5th is for End-Of-Season Awards and possible playoffs)

 

    Our format this season for the Magnus League is six separate matches, each one is a two-Round Swiss-System tournament on each of the above dates.


 

    1. We are open to players in Grades 7-12 (who are also born after 4/21/2004).    


 

    2. Players can play as individuals as well as part of a school team. 
 

        We have both individual and team prizes!


 

    3. We also have Mixed Doubles Teams Bonus Prizes!


        Mixed Doubles teams are two players, one male, one female (they can be from any sections and any schools), with an average team rating Under 2200 at signup deadline.  Players must sign up by January 28th for Mixed Doubles.
 

    4. We have four separate sections.


        1
. Varsity, for players rated 1800 and above (at match date or within the prior 12 months, and invitees);
       2. Junior-Varsity, for players whose Official Rating is Under 2000 at match date or Unrateds;
       3. Novice, for players whose Official Rating is Under 1400 at match date or Unrateds;
       4. Under 900, for players whose Official Rating is Under 900 at match date or Unrateds.

   

    5. We have two rounds each date-- at about 10:00 am (all sections) and then about 12:30 pm (Under 900); about 1:30 pm (Varsity, Junior-Varsity and Novice)-- earlier if feasible. 
 

    6. Our Magnus League time controls:  Varsity, Junior-Varsity and Novice:  Game/60 + 30-second delay;   Novice:  Game/60 + 10-second delay (please bring a delay clock if you have one).  

 

    7There are $480 in individual prizes each match date:

        1. Varsity Section:  $150 to First, $80 to Second,
        2. Junior-Varsity Section: $100 to First, $50 to Second,
        3.  Novice Section:  $60 to First, $40 to Second

        4.  Under 900 Section (NEW!):  Medals or plaques to all scoring 1.5 or more!

                                (there is a $40 prize limit to Unrated Players in the Novice Section),

       There is also a $40 prize limit each date if a player's Official Online Regular Rating is 100 or more points over the section or prize maximum.  Prizes may be paid by PayPal (may take over a week).
 

    8.  Individual Bonus Prizes, to the two top-scoring players across all 4 sections after all 6 matches:  First $300, Second $150 (playoff at 10 am May 5 if tie for 1st; may be fast game).

    9.  School Prizes (the top 4 scores from the same school):  Plaques to the 4 highest-scoring overall school  team scores, and any school teams tied with them, across all 4 sections after all 6 matches (school team schools with more rounds played, including forfeit wins and full-point byes, may receive extra credit if tied).

  10. Mixed Doubles Team Prizes (split equally among winning team members):  First Team $200, Second Team $100!

 

  11.  The USCF Official Rating List in effect for the month during which a match takes place will govern the parings and section eligibility for that match date. Online Regular Ratings used if no OTB Regular Rating; Unofficial USCF ratings are usually used for players who would otherwise be unrated, or who wish to enter the Varsity Section.  The Tournament Director reserves the right to assign estimated ratings to players with non-USCF ratings or Online Ratings.
 

  12.  Limit of six half-point byes over all six match dates (limit of 2 byes March 3-April 21), must commit by March 2 (commit by April 20 for players minus scores if team also has minus score).  All byes for the second game of each match date must also commit by 11 am of match date.
 

  13. Players must check all cell phones, electronic communication devices and devices with chess-playing capabilities with the Tournament Director until after their games are over.  Possession of a cell phone in the restroom (or in a place where the player is not observed) is a very serious offense, and will result in a forfeit loss to the player (the TD may instead issue a warning if such an offense happens within the first five moves of the game).
 

  14. Players' electronic scorekeeping devices are not allowed.  The tournament supplies official duplicate scoresheets to use in recording games.
 

  15. Players are not allowed to leave the tournament area without permission of the Tournament Director.
 

  16. Notice to Late Players:  The Tournament Director reserves the right to make re-pairings among players who have not arrived 20 minutes after the advertised starting time of the round, unless they confirm their participation no later than 15 minutes after the start of the round.
 

 17. IMPORTANT:  Players who have already been registered by their school must also confirm their participation for this Sunday’s matches using our website registration— OTHERWISE THEY WILL NOT BE PAIRED!  Late registration fees apply after 5 pm Saturday!

 

 18. THERE IS A $20 FINE FOR PLAYERS WHO FORFEIT THEIR GAMES BY NOT GIVING THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR PROPER NOTICE (at least one hour notice is requested) THAT THEY WILL NOT PLAY.  Please email director@magnusleague.org by 9 am Sunday (Saturday is even better)! 
 

  19. Entries may be limited to 64 players on each date!

    
 20. Players can register at the early entry fee on the Magnus Chess League website  until 5:00 pm of the Saturday before the next match date, at  www.magnusleague.org

     Individuals can enter a match date without a team for $50 in advance until 5 pm the night before each date (entry fee will go up to $60), until 9 am on the match date (the Under 900 Section entry fee is $10 less than above).

    The school team entry fee is $920 for a team of up to eight players from the same school, for all six Magnus match dates (twelve games total).  A school can have the same or different players on each match date.  
 

  21. All players must also have current U.S. Chess Federation memberships during all their match dates: http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrLst.php

  One-year USCF membership dues may either be paid in advance at a discount when registering for the tournament, or directly through the U.S. Chess Federation at: https://secure2.uschess.org/webstore/member.php
 

             You can check out the Tournament Life Announcement on the USCF website, under New York State (shown below):

https://new.uschess.org/9th-annual-ny-state-magnus-high-school-and-junior-high-chess-league-out-state-players-welcome

 

Thank You Again, Chess Aficionados, for (re-)joining us for our Ninth Annual Season of the Magnus League!