5th Annual “Chess On The Square” Tournament

Chess players of all skill levels are invited to participate in the 5th Annual “Chess on the Square” event, which will be held Saturday, May 25 at 223 West 8th Street, next to BVD Barber Salon beginning at 10 a.m. This FREE chess tournament and chess learning event, which is being held in a new location this year, is sponsored by BVD Barber Salon owner Terrone Warren. Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki today thanked Warren for staging this annual event—popular with chess players of all ages—in conjunction with Council Member Trippi Congo.

Warren and event co-organizer Lisa Flowers said this year’s FREE tournament will feature multiple chess tables and simultaneous games. To register for the chess tournament visit www.chessonthesquare.org, email chessonthesquarewilm@gmail.com or call 302.420.2152.

According to Warren and Flowers, Chess on the Square is a tournament for people of all ages and for all levels of chess experience. They said less experienced players are especially welcome so they can learn more about the game and increase their ability to become a more skilled chess player.

The annual event is operated under the Swiss Chess tournament system, meaning players are never eliminated. Instead, players are paired in each single round and the winner is the player who earns the most points at the end of the tournament. Players typically earn a single point for a win, and a half-point for a draw. In each round, a player will be paired against an opponent who has the same number of points. The tournament will be divided into three sections. The first section will be for grades K to 5, or for those with a chess rating below 500; the second section will be for grades 6 through 8, or for those with a rating below 900, and the final section is for high school students and adults with a chess rating over 900.

All registered participants will receive a medal to commemorate their participation, while the 1st place winners and 2nd place runners-up in each category will receive a trophy. The tournament will also feature an open chess session for beginners or less-experienced players who want to improve their chess game in a non-competitive setting. Organizers will also have beverages and snacks available for all registered participants.