Girls Local & Regional Scholastics

Running Chess Tournaments
1

Chess enthusiasts,

 How many of your local affiliates or schools have sponsored local and regional girls-only

events, and what kind of attendance numbers have you enjoyed??

  In Texas, we have had a few moderately successful events, and I am running the combined

Region II & III TCA Girls Regional next weekend at the unviersity of North Texas.

  Certainly I would appreciate all positive thoughts of any marketing or promotional ideas

that organizers, tds have seen used for these events.

   Thank You,
   Rob Jones
   Region III Director
   Texas Chess Association
2

Kentucky has a women’s championship as part of the State games. This is for all ages and usually gets 3-6 participants every year.

We have trouble some years getting someone willing to go to the Polgar event.

3

One of the girl’s private schools in NYC has held a few girls tournaments. Attendance has ranged from 57 to 74 girls. On the other hand our state woman’s championship only drew 13 players, 9 who were under the age of 18.

4

Ok, I tried the girl’s only tournament, and had a small number come after months of publicity.
have any of you had much success in either annual or simi-annual or monthly events??
If so, what do you attribute your success to??

Rob Jones

5

In Maryland, we have had a State Girls Championship for the past 5 years (and will have our 6th on Jan 30). The attendence in the last 3 years was 49 in 2007; 79 in 2008; and 74 in 2009. The girls tend to love this event because it is a rare girls only event. We have made this a Maryland only event the past two years, due to controversies in selecting a State representative when some players played tough out of state players. It is a testament for demand, as we are asked to accomodate out-of-state girls.

We have helped demand by promoting with announcement and flyers for the girls-only event at scholastic tournaments. Since we have used online registration in the past couple of years, I have used the email lists to remind players of this year’s tournaments.

Also, with the US Chess Center, we tried for the first time to have a DC Girls Open (open to girls of any state) in October (“off-season”) and had 30 girls play. Hope word of mouth would increase participation.

Chris Kim
Maryland Chess Association
MD Girls Tournament Director

6

So perhaps this is a key–having a volunteer in the state organization primarily commited to girls chess.
Food for thought.

Rob Jones

7

Can you give us a link to the crosstable?

Alex Relyea

8

uschess.org/msa/XtblMain.php?201001179061.2z
Tournament North Texas Chess Fest
despite plenty of advertising, only 4 girls showed up for the
girls only section.

Rob Jones

9

Northern California girl’s championship attracted 70 and 73 players over past two years.

10

The 2009 All Girls Open in North Carolina drew 32. This was the fifth event - higher attendance every year. I think there were 10 the first year. It was started to select a participant to the Polgar.

Randy Wheeless