What is a tournament win?

Your name sits at the top of the final standings. A tournament is many games in one event, and if you win it, first place is yours. It takes more than one lucky game, because you have to stay calm through every round. In person means a real board and a real opponent. Tournaments at a school, a club, a library or a weekend event all count. Your group in the tournament is called a section, and it needs 8 players or more. A section just for your age counts too.

How the winner is found

The First Tournament page shows how a tournament runs. The player with the most points after the last round is the winner. With 8 players, three rounds are enough to find that winner. If two players have the same points at the end, a tie-break decides. A tie-break is an extra rule that picks who comes first. The people running the tournament know which tie-break they use.

Who runs one, and where you find it

Someone sets up every tournament, such as a teacher, a club, a library or a camp. To find one, ask at school or at the library. You can also search online for kids' chess tournaments near you. On the day, look at the pairing list, which is the list of who plays whom. Count the names in your section.

Coach tips for winning it

Think about one game at a time, not about the whole tournament. If you lose a game, first place is often still open, so keep going. In the last game, slow down and check every move twice.

How you get the sticker

Your grown-up or coach checks it and hands you the sticker. Show them the final standings, the list of scores, with your name at the top. Take a photo of the final list on the day, so it is yours to keep. If you have no club yet, your grown-up at home checks the photo. Did you win a tournament before you had the passport? It still counts.