US Chess Announces New Fee Structure for National Events Starting in 2024

US Chess Announces New Fee Structure for National Events, Encourages Early Registration

US Chess has announced a new fee structure for national events, starting with the 2024 National K-12 Grade Championships. The changes include higher costs for last-minute entries, with the full structure detailed on the US Chess website.

The decision to implement these changes comes as US Chess has faced increased costs associated with hosting national events. Despite record-breaking attendance in recent years, some events have still resulted in financial losses. In order to maintain the affordability and accessibility of its events, US Chess has decided to adjust its fee structure to better reflect the rising costs of hosting these tournaments.

Factors contributing to the increased costs include fewer reduced-rate hotel rooms, higher expenses for space and equipment rental, and rising staffing and travel reimbursements. Additionally, specific needs such as increased staffing to accommodate higher attendance and enhanced security measures have added to the overall costs of organizing national events.

One significant change in the fee structure is the higher rates for registering closer to the event date. US Chess hopes that these increases will incentivize participants to register early, thereby allowing the organization to better manage last-minute entries without incurring financial losses.

For the upcoming National Grade Championship in December, the entry fee starts at $100 for registrations postmarked by Monday, October 21. The fee then increases to $150 for registrations by Monday, November 11, and further rises to $225 until November 25. The final deadline for registration is Thursday, December 5, with the entry fee set at $350.

US Chess emphasizes the importance of early registration, as the fee increases significantly between each deadline. Participants are encouraged to register as soon as possible to secure their spots and avoid higher costs associated with late entries.

The national scholastic events directly organized by US Chess include the National K-12 Grade Championships, National High School (K-12) Championship, National Middle School (K-8) Championship, and National Elementary (K-6) Championship.

US Chess expresses gratitude for the support of participants and their families in attending these national scholastic championship events.