On Saturday, Feb. 23, the Chess Mates Foundation will hold a West Seattle Chess Tournament at Schmitz Park Elementary (5000 S.W. Spokane St.).

Here are the details:

Awards: Team (top 4), individual, and grade trophies

First Round: 10:15 a.m. Pairings are posted at 10 a.m.

Check-in: No check-in. If you are late, please call or email us as soon as possible and report to the tournament director on arrival. No byes. Players who are late for the first round will start from game 2 with a forfeit.

Format: Kindergarten, 1-4, 5-8, 5-round Swiss. NWSRS rated, state qualifier.

Entry Fee: $14/player for Chess Mates schools; $20/player general. Add $5 late fee after 2/15/2013. Scholarships available for students qualifying for free/reduces lunch, coaches apply by email.

Registration: Advanced registration only, no day of tournament registration. The tournament is limited to 200 players; Chess Mates schools have 100 priority spots. Each school has a limit of 16 players.
Register online at www.chessplayer.com/signup.php

Contact: For registration info: Georgi Orlov (206) 387-1253 / chessmates@earthlink.net or for tournament info: Jeremy Higgins (206) 933-9966 / dangerscience@gmail.com.

Concessions: 9:30 -4, offered by Schmitz Park Chess Club.

Jeremy Higgins, whose work in teaching kids how to play chess was profiled by the Herald in 2012, said the Chess Mates Foundation hopes to bring in competitors from the Highline School District as well as Seattle Schools.