Chess – Tournament. Mark Ball Memorial

Event Phone: (952) 314-1176

Current Registration as of 4/15/25

Coach Mark Ball Memorial Chess Tournament

For grades k-5 (divided by grade)

Coach Mark Ball was an instrumental chess coach in the Southern Metro area for over a decade before his passing in 2020.  Coach Ball taught 4,000+ kids chess and his students and teams often finished at the top of this very tournament.  Coach Ball had an infectious passion for chess, for learning, and an unforgettable laugh.

Test your mettle against the best chess players throughout the metro area!  Each participant will play SIX ROUNDS OF TOURNAMENT CHESS! This is a fantastic opportunity for students to match up their skills against players of similar age and skill level.  Sign up today to take on the best!

For more answers to your questions, visit our Chess Tournament FAQ page at: https://youthenrichmentleague.com/portfolio-item/chess-tournament-faq/

† Team Trophy: We take the top four scores from each school to calculate the team champion.  Whether there is 4 players from a school, 1 player or 20 players.  We take the top 4 scores across divisions k-5.  The school with the highest combined score will receive the TEAM CHAMPION TROPHY.  We will have a team trophies for first through third place.

† Individual Tournament:  Students will play 6 rounds against students of similar grade level (k-1, 2-3, 4-5).  We reserve the option to combine or separate grade levels based on the number of participants.

† Swiss Play: Participants are matched against others of similar skill level and grade.  If a player wins more games, they will play other players who have won more often as well.  By the 6th round, we will have a clear champion.

† Medals & Trophies:  Trophies are given out to 1st – 5th place in each grade level category.  Medals are given out based on your performance.  Every student will get either a trophy or a medal by the end of the day.

This is a CXR rated tournament and official USCF rules will apply.  Many games use clocks.  USCF tiebreaker rules will be used.  Visit our Chess Tournament FAQ page at YouthEnrichmentLeague.com for more answers to your questions.