Welcome to the 7th Edition of the Magnus High School and Junior High Chess League!

 

Oct. 6, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, 2019:

  Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 1, May 3, 2020

 

Rounds 13-14, which were originally scheduled to be played on May 3rd,  have been postponed due to the corona-virus pandemic.  We are hoping to have our final match date after school reopens.  The Magnus League website will be updated with more details about Rounds 13-14 later in the year.

Updated May 1, 2020
 

 
    We resume and expand on our popular format from last season for the Magnus League:

 
    1. We are open to players in Grades 7-12 (who are also born after 5/3/2000).    

 
    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 Bonus Prizes!

 

 
    5. We have two rounds each date-- fourteen games total-- at about 10:00 am (all sections) and then about 12:30 pm (Novice); about 1:15 pm (Junior-Varsity) and about 2 pm (Varsity).
 
    6. We now have three separate sections.
        1
. Varsity, for players rated 1800 and above and special invitees
            (the Varsity Section is FIDE-rated);
        2. Junior-Varsity, for players rated Under 1800 or Unrateds;
        3. Novice, for players rated Under 1200 or Unrateds.

   7. Our Magnus League time controls:  Varsity:  Game/90 + 30-second delay;  Junior-Varsity:  Game/75 + 10-second delay and Novice:  Game/60 + 10-second delay (please bring a delay clock if you have one).  
 

   8.  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.  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 assigned estimated ratings to players with non-USCF ratings.

   9.  For players whose ratings exceed the rating ceiling of the section in which they played in previous Magnus League matches, their final score for the season will  be based on the match games from the section in which they played the most match games.  If they have played the same number of games in multiple sections, their final score will be based on the section having their most recent match games.  If a player is required to move up to a higher section because his/her rating now exceeds the rating ceiling of the section in which he/she played previously, the Director may assign that player half-point byes for the previous rounds in the player's new section and also for subsequent rounds in the player's previous section.  The Director's decision will be final in determining which games to count in cases of players with games in more than one section.

10. 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 serious offense, and will result in a forfeit loss to the player or a significant loss of time on the player's clock (the TD may instead issue a warning if such an offense happens within the first five moves of the game).

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

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

13. 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.

14. IMPORTANT:  Players who have already been registered by their school must also confirm their participation for this Sunday’s matches— OTHERWISE THEY WILL NOT BE PAIRED!  Please email director@magnusleague.org by 6 pm Saturday! 
 

15. 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.

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

    
    Players can register at the early entry fee on the Magnus Chess League website  until 6:00 pm of the Saturday before the next match date, at 
www.magnusleague.org

    The entry fee is $550 for a team of up to six players from the same school, for all seven Magnus match dates (fourteen games total).  A school can have the same or different players on each match date.

     Individuals can enter without a team for $30 in advance until 6 pm the night before each date, $35 later or at site (2 rounds each date).

    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

     The entries may be paid on site by cash or check (or a purchase order from the school), payable to:  Chess Center of New York, P.O. Box 4615, New Windsor, NY  12553.
 

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

Oct. 6, Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 12, Feb. 9, Mar. 1, May 3   7th Annual Magnus High School and Junior High Chess League!

Columbia Grammar and Prep. High School Cafeteria, 36 W. 93rd St. (bet. Central Park West & Columbus Ave., near 96th St. subways), NYC. 14-SS, open to grades 7-12 born after 5/3/20. 3 sections: 1. Varsity (over 1799 at match date, and invitees), G/90 d30, FIDE. 2. Junior-Varsity (Under 1800 official rating at match date or unr.), G/75 d10. 3. Novice (Under 1200 official rating at match date or unr.), G/60 d10. All: May be limited to 64 players each date (entries may be subject to wait list). Individual prizes: free entry to 3 specified Continental Chess tmts. thru 12/31/20 to 1st, 2 free entries to 2nd each section. Plaques to top 3 each section. Second-Half Bonus Prize: 1 free entry to top-scorer (not counting half-point byes), among all 3 sections, in rds. 8-14. Varsity Section Bonus Prize: 1 extra free entry to Clear First in Varsity (playoff between top 2 on tiebreak if tie for 1st in Varsity: may be fast game). Team prizes: free entry to 1 CCA tmt. thru 12/31/20 to the 4-top-scoring players from same school across all 3 sections, plaques to top 3 overall team scores. Mixed Doubles (2-player male/female team, avg. rating U2200, may be in different sections and from different schools, must sign-up by 2/9, no extra fee): free entry to 1 CCA tmt. thru 12/31/20 to 1st Mixed Doubles team, chess sets to top 3 Mixed Doubles. Free entries courtesy of Continental Chess and are valid for CCA tmts. with 100% guaranteed prizes. Rds. 10 am all sections, then 12:30 pm Novice; 1:15 pm JV; 2 pm Varsity each date. EF: $30 each date per player if paid by 6 pm the day before match, $35 later, at least 30 min. before game, $10 less if rated over 1999. Optional $550 EF per school for up to 6 players for all 7 dates (school EF $10 less per player over 1999). Ent: www.magnusleague.org. Each date’s games submitted for USCF rating prior to next date’s games; Varsity games may be submitted to FIDE on separate schedule. Players must re-confirm before each date; official USCF rating list in effect on each date used for that date (unofficial ratings usually used if otherwise unrated or if requesting to play in Varsity). Limit 8 half-point byes (2 byes max. rds. 11-14), commit by Feb. 9 (by May 1 for players with minus scores if team also has minus score); TD may assign byes to players whose ratings exceed previous match section limit. $20 fine for forfeits. $60 refunded to schools paying school EF if no forfeits for entire season. Teammate pairings avoided but possible. Free entries divided on ties. See www.magnusleague.org for rules and special situations. Bonus Points and/or prizes may be awarded each date! Bring clocks! Info: director@magnusleague.org, chesscentr@gmail.com. $15 service charge for refunds. School purchase orders: Chess Center of NY, PO Box 4615, New Windsor, NY 12553. W. Note: this supersedes the Sep., Oct., Nov. CL issues.