ONLINE OR ONSITE?

Whether online or onsite, every Interschool Zone Tournament is a qualifying events to State Finals!​

Play Online on Tornelo

Interschool Chess was created based on the following fundamental values:

Respect
Equality
Fairness​​

Integrity
Friendship
Team spirit 

Tournament Format

All Zone events are hosted by local schools. If your school wishes to host an event CLICK HERE.

DOWNLOAD PLAYER BRIEFING

Tournament Structure

Schools may enter any number of teams. A school team comprises a minimum of 4 players and a maximum of 14 players.
All members of a team must be enrolled at the same school.

Home Schools
Students who are enrolled in an official home-school program may participate under the banner "Home School" and will be grouped with other Home Schooled students participating in that event.

Teams must have a minimum of 4 players to qualify to State Finals.

Although we allow participation from and acknowledge results of Individual players, only a team will win an event and qualify to State Finals.

Divisions and Age Rules

• Your age for the current school year is calculated as <current year> minus <year of birth>
• For schools with accelerated learning programs, a student may compete in the year level they are currently in, OR the year level they would have been in if not in an accelerated program.
• Junior Primary days follow all the same rules as regular events, but between each game a short Coaching Session will take place.

Zone Rules & Format	Jnr Primary	Open Primary	Middle Years	Open Secondary	Girls Only
Arrival Time	9.15am	9.15am	9.15am	9.15am	9.15am
Departure Time	12:15pm	2pm	2pm	2pm	2pm
Number of Games	5	7	7	7	7
Timed Games	10 min per player	12 min + 3 sec	12 min + 3 sec	12 min + 3 sec	12 min + 3 sec
Eligible Players	​Years P - 3	Years F - 6 (or equivalent year levels, Ages 5-12)	Years 5 - 9 (or equivalent year levels, ages 11-15)	Years 7 - 12 (or equivalent year levels, ages 13-18)	​Primary and/or Secondary

*Online events run using the same format, but games are played with 6 min + 4 sec per move for all games.

The “Swiss Format” ensures that all students play against players of a similar standard; we expect both beginners and experts to enjoy a fun, learning and social experience.

• All players play all games, regardless if they win or lose. 
• If a player wins a game, they score 1.0 point. In the subsequent game they play against a harder opponent.
• If a player draws a game, they score 0.5 points. In the subsequent game they play against a similar level opponent.
• If a player loses a game, they score 0.0 points. In the subsequent game they play against an easier opponent.

Computer pairing software Tornelo.com will be used to match players. Where possible, the computer algorithm ensures students from the same Team will not compete against each other.

Approximate Tournament Schedule (ON-SITE)

9:15am Arrival, registration and welcome
9:30am Player briefing
9:45am Round 1 starts
10:15am Round 2 starts
10:45am Round 3 starts
11:15am Round 4 starts
11:45am Round 5 starts
Lunch break
12:30pm Round 6 starts
1:00pm Round 7 starts
1:30pm Presentation Ceremony
2:00pm Departure

Approximate Tournament Schedule (ONLINE)

9:00am Arrival, registration and welcome
9:15am Player briefing
9:20am Round 1 starts
9:40am Round 2 starts
10:00am Round 3 starts
10:20am Round 4 starts
Recess break
10:50am Round 5 starts
11:10am Round 6 starts
11:30am Round 7 starts
11:50am Presentation Ceremony
12:00noon Finish

AWARDS

Certificates will be awarded to every player on the following basis:

High Distinction 6.0 points or more
Distinction 5.5 or 5.0 points 
Credit 4.5 or 4.0 points
Participation 3.5 or below

State Finals Qualification

One new school qualifies for the State Finals from each Zone event. In the case of a tie for first place all tied schools will qualify for the State Finals. If the winning school has already qualified for the State Finals then the next placed school will also qualify for the State Finals.

The top teams at the State Finals will be invited to compete in the National Interschool Finals.

Responsibilities of
​Supervising Adults

In order to manage the large (and growing) number of players in each event and to facilitate a smooth running and timely finish to the day we ask that each supervising adult assist in the following ways:

1. Supervision of own students, and ensuring player behaviour is appropriate at all times. 
2. Teaching students how to set clocks and answering the never-ending stream of requests to set clocks! (Arbiters will teach you how to set clocks if you don’t already know).
3. Being visible in the playing area – this helps remind students that there are umpires around and makes them more likely to self-enforce rules! It also gives players more confidence to ask questions if they are uncertain of something.
4. Answering players’ questions (if you feel comfortable).
5. In the interest of impartiality we request that teachers refrain from making decisions in games involving players from their own school.
6. If the question is too technical or you aren’t certain of the answer, please attract the attention of the head arbiter to solve the problem.
7. Assisting with pack-up (or directing kids to do so) of the room at the end of the day.

​TERMS AND CONDITIONS

• Each school must provide parents or teachers (minimum 1 per each 15 students) who are responsible for supervision of participants for the duration of the event. Kids Unlimited provides staff to organise the event, but not for child supervision.
  
• Any supervising or watching adults must sign in at the office of the host school on arrival. All adults on school grounds should have a WWCC or VIT registration.
• Photographs may be taken of each event and published in the local or state media, website, newsletter, magazine or used in future advertising materials. Sometimes we’re even lucky enough to have TV cameras take footage for the news! By entering this event you agree that all students in your team understand and accept this condition. Should any students NOT wish to be photographed we must be notified in writing prior to start of the event. 
• Subsequent to the event, results will be published on the website Tornelo.com. These results display the name of each player, final score and school represented. By entering this event you are giving us permission to publish results online.​
• Any students who wish for privacy features to be enabled, should do so using their Tornelo account.

Online or At School,
find your next competition and register now!

Can't find what you are looking for? Contact us events@kidsunlimited.com.au

Check out tournament results