The first of the two USCF-rated Illinois scholastic championships of the 2015-2016 school year is slated for this weekend and registration remains open through the week. The fall All-Grade (K-12) is a one-day event, the spring K-8 is a two-day tournament.

The Greater Peoria Chess Foundation was selected to host this year's All-Grade, to be held November 7 at the Travelodge Hotel and Convention Center.

The website for registration and further information is www.illinoisallgrade.com. As of 11/5 11pm, 214 have registered.

According to the organizer's posting: "The GPCF is the driving force behind Peoria Chess. The Federation provides tournaments and activities and the Foundation supplies the fiscal muscle to promote chess. Our youth chess programs involve over 100 youth of various ages... "

So far the schools with the most registrants are (Dunlap's) Hickory Grove Elementary (12), Bloomington's Benjamin Elementary (11), and (Wilmette's) Romona Elementary (10).

Dunlap Middle School has registered eight, Wheaton Christian has registered seven, and Normal's Parkside Junior High has six entrants to date.

Five schools have five registrations on file: Colene Hoose (Normal), Indian Trail (Highland Park), Northpoint Elementary (Bloomington), Wilder Waite Grade School (Dunlap) and (Chicago) Bateman School.

But there is still another day to go!

By city, Dunlap has the most entrants at 40, Normal has 36 and Bloomington has 33. But northern Illinois will be represented with 12 registrants from Chicago, 11 from Wilmette, 8 from Highland Park and 7 from Winfield.

All totaled so far, 137 registrants or 64% are from downstate.

Current USCF membership is required to participate in the tournament. To take advantage of ICA arrangements for discounted USCF membership, contact the this reporter at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for the special rate. If your membership expires before the end of the year and you wish to renew, you may also be eligible for this promotion.

According to the announcement: "Each grade is held as a separate tournament. Each player plays only others in their own grade."  Due to small registrations in the high school ages, grades nine through twelve may be combined.

The organizer reminds all that "To be eligible players must be Illinois residents attending Illinois schools or being home- schooled within the state."

"Team trophies are also given for the top team scores in each grade group. To compete as a team, all players must be from the same school or home schooled but teamed with the school that they would attend if in the public school system."

Depending on grade, there will be anywhere between three and fifteen individual trophies and between three and five team trophies awarded per section.

Time controls vary from 30-minutes per side with a five-second delay to hour-per-side games (also with a delay).

Grades K-5 play five rounds, grades six and up play four rounds at the slower time control.

The GPCF promises a walk-in simultaneous exhibition as a special feature of the event. A chess store and food vendor is promised as well.