What is a national podium?

Your name is called, and you step up onto the podium. Once a year, the best kids in your country meet at one championship. You play there in your own age group. Finish 1st, 2nd or 3rd, and you stand on the podium, the stand for the top three.

How the podium is found

The First Tournament sticker explains how the points work. The player with the most points at the end wins, and then come second and third. When two players have the same points, the event's tie-break rule decides who goes first. Ask which rule your event uses. If you lose a game early, keep fighting, because third place is still on the podium.

With your team, it counts too

If your team finishes in the top 3 at your country's team championship for kids, that counts too. The Nationals sticker tells you how to get into the championship, while this sticker is for the podium.

The road to the podium

Your first nationals is for learning how the days go. You get used to the early mornings, the long rounds and all the waiting. Then come back the next year, and play sharper. Between rounds, think about your next game, not about the last one. The kids on the podium are the ones who kept coming back.

How you get the sticker

Your grown-up or coach checks it and hands you the sticker. Show the final standings with your name in the top three, or show your medal. If you played on a team, show the team list too. If you have no club, the grown-up who took you to the championship checks it. Did you stand on a national podium before you had the passport? It still counts.