Windsor Chess Challenge

Go to Chess Challenge Homepage   Go to 2011 School Standings

It's Canada, it's February, snow happens. We will cancel the Chess Challenge only if the weather is catastrophic. If there is some snow, the school boards might cancel the buses. The county schools are particularly vulnerable.

If the Chess Challenge is held, but the boards cancel the buses, there are four issues:

1. The kids miss out on the tournament
2. Some kids may miss out on the playoffs/provincial championships
3. What about refunds
4. The organizers have done tons of preparation

1. Teachers, hold an in-school tournament, perhaps inviting neighbouring schools to join in. We can supply pennants and medals. (see refunds, below) Call it the Chess Challenge fun-event
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2. Schools that had less than 50% of their team present at the Chess Challenge may nominate players to go to the playoffs.

   So, who can go to the playoffs if they miss the Chess Challenge?

(a) The player must have missed the event because of transportation problems

(b) The nominated player(s) must be significantly better than their peers - remember, at the Chess Challenge only one player in eight goes to the playoffs. Don't nominate kids who are gonna lose every game!

• maybe, the nominated player won a gold medal in 2011;

• maybe, the nominated player has been attending practice tournaments, and doing well.

3. Refunds:

   (a) if we cancel the entire event, the schools get a full refund, and we supply medals and ribbons for a consolation tournament at cost.

   (b) if the school boards cancel the buses, but the event is held anyway (as happened on Tuesday in 2005, and again on Tuesday in 2008), schools get a 50% refund for any player that does not attend because of transportation problems. We supply medals and ribbons for a consolation tournament at no charge.

4. Too bad, organizers, suck it up, go home and shovel your driveway.