MVP Chess K-12 Swiss | November 2026

Date: Sunday, November 22, 2026 at 12:45 PM

Venue: The Link in Old Town - 215 North Payne Street Alexandria, VA 22314

Organizer: MVP Chess is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Alexandria, VA. Our mission is to make chess accessible for everyone and develop growth-minded players. For questions, please email info@mvpchess.org.

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Entry & Donations

• This tournament is FREE for all US Chess members in grades K–12.

• An active US Chess membership is required — you can join or renew here.

• We welcome voluntary donations to help cover the cost of room rental, awards, and other tournament-related expenses.

• All contributions are tax-deductible and may be made online or onsite at the event.

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Is My Kid Ready for a Tournament?

If this will be your child’s first chess tournament, we recommend reading our quick blog post on what to expect and how to prepare so their first event is positive and fun.

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Format

• 4-rounds using Swiss-system pairings

• Time control: G/25; d5 (25 minutes per player, 5-second delay)

• Rated by US Chess

• Non-elimination, so all players will play all rounds regardless of their result

• Live ratings used for pairings

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Awards

🏆 Trophies for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd

🏆 Trophy for Top Girl

🏆 Trophy for Top U500

📊 Ties will be broken first by head-to-head result, then by (in order) Modified Median, Solkoff, Cumulative, and Opposition Cumulative.

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Schedule

• Check-in: 12:45 PM

• Round 1: 1:00 PM

• Rounds begin as soon as prior games finish

• Expected finish: no later than 5:00 PM

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Rules & Expectations

• US Chess rules apply

• Notation optional

• Chess sets and clocks provided

• Parents/guardians should stay on-site during the event

• Please show respect for opponents, staff, and the venue

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Media Policy

• MVP Chess may take photos or short video clips for educational and promotional purposes.

• Names will not be published without consent. If you prefer not to be photographed, simply let us or the photographer know.

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Parking & Metro Access

• Onsite parking lot available

• Free street parking available nearby

• King St–Old Town Metro (Blue/Yellow Lines) nearby