In past years the final count was often slightly above the final advance registration count.
This year numerous cancelled flights from NY caused the 447 advance entries to drop to 422 active players (as of the end of round four).
Previous numbers were 210 in 2010, 224 in 2011, 238 in 2012, 283 in 2013, 323 in 2014, 358 in 2015 and 448 in 2016.
The largest section (U10) had 134 players when round one was paired, 128 after removing the six round one no-shows, and finally 126 after removing two round two no-shows that had requested round one half-point byes. Per national scholastic rule 18.1.1 that section had accelerated pairings (more than 2 to the power of [N+1 = 7]), or 128 players when pairing the first round of a six round tournament).
18.1.1 National Scholastic events are individual tournaments with team scoring. Accordingly, they
are paired as individual Swiss System tournaments, with individual scores added to create team
scores. Whenever a section has more than 2(N + 1) players where “N” is the number of rounds,
the Chief TD will consider using accelerated pairings (e.g. 7 rounds, more than 256 players; 9
rounds, more than 1024 players).
After four rounds, with two remaining, the number of 4-0 players by section are: 4 in U8; 4 in U10; 1 in U12; 2 in U14; 2 in U16; 1 in U18. No section will have multiple 6-0 players.
With the tons of flight cancellations from the east there were some participants who were forced into a very late decision to drive non-stop from NY to Chicago. Some in the east drove to Atlanta so that they could meeting their connecting flight to Chicago. Many simply could not make it at all.
That said, all 6 U8 team trophies and all 6 U12 team trophies went to NY teams.
U8, U10 and U16 finished with a single 6-0 (U8 and U10 both had four at 4-0 going into round five after having 9 at 3-0 and 19 at 2-0). U12 finished with a single 5.5-0.5 taking first. U14 had two 5.5-0.5 tied for first/second. U18 had two 5-1 tied for first/second.
The first place players all qualified to represent the US at the FIDE world cadet (U8/U10/U12) or the FIDE world youth (U14/U16/U18)
Players from MN, CA and KS qualified for the Cadet. Players from WA, CA and NY qualified for the Youth. Players from TX and IL tied but just missed out on tie-breaks for the Youth.
In the process of going 6-0 in the U16 section Julia Sevilla of CA beat the players that came in 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.
With one more player starting on Sunday the final count was 423.
uschess.org/assets/msa_jooml … 1704094212
rknights.org/registration/tourna … standings/
There were 76 individual and 28 team trophies awarded in a 46 minute awards ceremony. I anticipate that the awards ceremonies next month will hand out more trophies per minute using a format that needs to be more regimented and have strictly designated seating to keep things moving.
PS Next year April 20-22 at McCormick Place in Chicago.