2-DAY CHAMPIONSHIP SECTIONS

K-5 Open                    K-5 Girls

K-8 Open                    K-8 Girls

K-12 Open                  K-12 Girls

FORMAT: A five-round Swiss in six sections, as shown above.
TIME CONTROL: G/75; +10.  Game in 75 minutes with a 10-second increment.
RATING: Dual NWSRS and US Chess Rated.
ROUND TIMES: Friday 11/24 @ 10AM & 1:30PM.  Saturday 11/25 @ 10AM, 1:30PM, 5PM.  Awards ~ Sat. 8:30PM.
PRIZES: Trophies awarded to the top-scoring individuals in each section.  The highest-finishing high school player in the K-12 Girls and K-12 Open 2-day Championship Sections win scholarships to Webster University, each valued at over $50,000!
WA State Elementary Qualifier!
ENTRY FEE: $80 by 10/31, +$15 11/1-11/16, +$30 11/17 or after.

1-DAY SCHOLASTIC SECTIONS (Fri-only)

K-1 U800                    K-3 Open

K-3 U800                    4-6 Open

4-6 U900                    7-12 Open

FORMAT: A five-round Swiss in six sections, as shown above.
TIME CONTROL: G/25; d5. Game in 25 minutes with a 5-second delay.
RATING: NWSRS rated.  Open sections also US Chess rated.
ROUND TIMES: Friday 11/24 @ 9:00AM, 10:45AM, 12:15PM, 1:30PM, 2:45PM.  Awards ~ 4:30PM.
PRIZES: Trophies awarded to the top-scoring individuals in each section.  Medals for first-time players who do not earn a trophy.
WA State Elementary Qualifier!
ENTRY FEE: $45 by 10/31, +$15 11/1-11/16, +$35 11/17 or after.

ALL SECTIONS

Open to all students registered in grades K-12.  Grade is based on 2023-2024 school year.  Registration and payment deadline Thursday Nov 23 @ 5PM at chessreg.com.  On-site registration available for side events only.  Pay by Zelle (ID: washingtonchessfederation@gmail.com), Venmo (ID: @WAChess) cash, or check made payable to Washington Chess Federation.  Trophies for top-scoring individuals and teams.  Higher of November 2023 US Chess or current NWSRS rating will be used to determine section and pairings.

US Chess Membership

US Chess membership required for the 2-day Championship Sections, the 1-day Scholastic Open Sections (K-3 Open, 4-6 Open & 7-12 Open), and for the SPFNO Blitz Championship.
Join or renew your US Chess membership here.

Parents & Coaches Seminar

Fri, 11/24 @ 10:30-11:30AM.
Led by WCF President Josh Sinanan and WIM Penny Pham.
Description: A 1-hr seminar for parents and coaches that focuses on how best to guide children on their chess journey. Ask questions and hear tips from NM Josh Sinanan and WIM Penny Pham, each full-time chess coaches in the Seattle and Vancouver (BC) areas, respectively.
Entry Fee: Free!

Gabby Face Painting

Fri, 11/24 @ 11AM-3PM.
Description: Local face painter Gabby Carrillo will be on site for a few hours offering her fantastic face painting services to anyone who is interested!
Limit one face paint per person. Gabby will be located nearby the parent waiting area. Be sure to check out this talented artist at work, and perhaps get your face painted too!
Entry Fee: Free!

Special Appearance by Magician Rich Waters

Fri, 11/24 @ 11:30AM-1:30PM.
Description: Local Magician Rich Waters will perform some close-up magic tricks and balloon twisting in the foyer area.  Be sure to catch this tricky and exciting exhibition!
Entry Fee: Free!

Susan Polgar Book Sale

Fri, 11/24 @ 1-2PM.
Description: A book sale featuring books by written by GM Susan Polgar.  Get your exclusive copy of a variety of books well suited for all levels of players, including:

• Learn Chess the Right Way, Vols. 1-5
• A World Champion’s Guide to Chess

SPFNO Girls Workshop

Fri, 11/24 @ 2-3PM.
Description: Join WIM Penny Pham, WFM Chouchan Airapetian and local chess leaders for a special 1-hr workshop that focuses on empowering girls through chess.  Learn how Penny overcame obstacles and found success at the chess board to become the second highest rated woman in Canada!
Entry Fee: Free!

SPFNO Puzzle Solving Competition

Fri, 11/24 @ 5:30-6PM.
Format: Solve 20 chess puzzles in 30 minutes.  Write solutions on paper.  Evaluation based on accuracy, speed, and completeness.  One solution per puzzle only, entire move sequence for both sides required for full credit.  One section.
Entry Fee: $25 by 11/16, $40 after.  On-site registration: 4:30-5:15PM.  No memberships required.
Prizes: Trophies awarded to Top 5 1000+ and Top 5 U1000 contestants.  Ties broken by time used to complete puzzles.

SPFNO Blitz Championship

Fri, 11/24 @ 6:30-9PM.
Format: A 2-section, 8-round single Swiss in two sections: K-5 & 6-12.  US Chess Blitz rated; US Chess membership required.
Time Control: G/5; d0.
Entry Fee: $25 by 11/16, $40 after.
On-site registration: 5:30-6:15PM.  First round at 6:30PM, rounds approximately every 15 minutes thereafter.
Rating: Higher of Nov. 2023 US Chess Blitz rating and current NWSRS rating used to determine pairings and prizes.
Prizes: Trophies awarded to Top 5 players in each section.

GM Liem Le Lecture + Q&A

Sat, 11/25 @ 10:30-11:30 AM.
Description: A presentation by special guest GM Liem Le, director of the Susan Polgar Institute for Chess Excellence and current world number 18!
Entry Fee: Free!

GM Liem Le Simul

Sat, 11/25 @ 1-4PM.
Description: Special guest and world no. 18 GM Liem Le will play up to 30 opponents simultaneously.
GM Liem Le plays white on all boards.  Open to all ages and players rated <2000!
Entry Fee: $60 by 11/16, $80 after.
Prizes: Medal awarded to any player who scores a win or a draw against GM Liem Le!  Games still going at 4pm will be adjudicated.

All-Comers Blitz with GM Liem Le + other chess masters!

Sat, 11/25 @ 5-7PM.
Description:  Challenge GM Liem Le and other chess masters to a game of blitz chess!
Entry Fee: Free!

Special Discount!

• Bundle Puzzle and Blitz side events to receive a $10 discount.

2022 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2022 SPFNO Article

2021 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2021 SPFNO Article

2020 SPFNO

• Final Standings, Games, and Prize Winners
• 2020 SPFNO Article