November ICCA Update

[Erik Czerwin]

Coaches,

I'm excited for the early season and looking forward to intense chess action this Fall and Winter.  Please remember to forward this to all the scholastic chess coaches who might not know about our network.  And if y'all need anything, the ICCA is here to help!

**Quick note**  Make sure to work with your school's athletic director or administration to ensure you are listed as the coach on the IHSA/IESA systems, as well as your proper contact info.  That way, you'll receive all of the important updates from Dan Le at IHSA and Jonathan Hauter at IESA.  You'll also have some responsibilities to complete video trainings, enter rosters and lineups, etc., throughout the season.  Don't miss those deadlines!

October Recap

This October has been absolutely popping with dozens of teams already attending Tournaments.  Dozens more have begun their conference seasons, and everyone else is looking to get rolling within the next week or two.  Be sure to bookmark the ICCA Team Data Sheet to follow along with the season as it unfolds on Saturdays.  Also, be sure to follow each Conference season by checking out their websites and spreadsheets.  If your conference needs something like that set up, let me know!

Coaching Tips - Conferences page

The ICCA Conferences page is a great place to follow the chess season and build suspense.  You can share the progress of your conference matches and check in on your rivals and allies.  It's also a great place to find some of the best, most helpful coaches in the state.  The ICCA isn't really an organization; it's a connection that we all share.  It's all of us helping all of us be better chess coaches.  And those who step up to run their conference websites, schedules, and results pages are the best of the best.  Applaud them, ask for their support, and be sure to support them as well!  Don't miss that resource the next time you're on the site!

Upcoming Tournaments

November is jam-packed with great events.  We've got 10 ICCA tournaments, with multiple options each weekend.  Be sure to register your team ASAP and then get your lineup to the TD closer to the event.

• Saturday, November 1st
• HPHS Dia de los Muertos Tourney - This year, Highland Park Coach Pablo Alvarez has pulled out all the stops to deliver an amazing Dia de los Muertos chess experience.  With chess, culture, and community all colliding in a K-12 chess event, this is one you won't want to miss!  (Did you miss the t-shirts?!)
• Sterling Invite - This tournament has been running for over 2 decades; previously, it existed as the NICL Kick-Off tournament.  Coach Joel Penne has grown it into an anchor event for all teams.  With sections for K-12 AND adult players, this is a fantastic event for everyone.  
• Aries Team Tournament - Another Glenbard tradition continues this series of events.  With multiple HS sections and K-8 sections as well, this is a great event to bring your feeder programs to!
• Saturday, November 8th
• Argo Team Tournament - Reviving the Argo Team Tournament with a new format, Coach Christian Diaz is excited to invite teams out for a great time!  Prairie View Hobbies will be on scene to ensure this event kicks off smoothly with a ton of fun along the way.
• Chicago Prep Bowl - One of the longest-running events on the ICCA circuit, this unique event pits Chicago's public and private school programs against one another.  If you're in those conferences, be sure to get this on your schedule!
• West Chicago Team Tournament - Coach Paul Kash runs a solid competition, and this event is sure to draw a good crowd again this year.  Check it out!
• Saturday, November 15th
• High School Chess Cup - This tremendous event starts off with an IHSA-qualifying 3-rounds of G/40;d5 followed by 3 rounds of G/10;d3 followed by 3 more rounds of G/5.  Teams and individuals compete for prizes in each of those time controls, while an overall Cup prize is awarded to the competitors who perform the best.  Last year's inaugural event was a BLAST with tough competition and edge-of-your-seat drama.  Register today!
• Wolves Classic - Coach Gulbro's November event offers 4 rounds of G/45;d5 for both teams and individuals at Oswego East, a gorgeous setting for a tournament.  Check it out!
• Saturday, November 22nd
• Niles North 8-Board Turkey Classic - Legendary Coach Harry Kyriazes hosts this fun event every year that awards a literal frozen turkey in addition to the usual trophies.  With a clever shift in time controls, this event provides 4 rounds of competition that draw some of the best players in the state.
• Glenbard Classic - This event is a revision of the iconic Glenbard South Raider Tournament, which was the de facto pre-state event for decades.  Now in November, but still hosted at Gleanbard South by another legendary coach Al McWilliams, this is an event you don't want to miss!
• Tuesday, November 25th
• Glenbard Invitational - Coach Chris Aderhold pioneered this Tuesday afternoon event years ago.  What started as a quick and easy way to get a qualifying tournament on your way home for Thanksgiving has grown into an anchor event in the mid-season.  Sectioned to maximize the quality of competition, this event is always a great time for everyone!

Road to Nationals...

As you're moving through your season, let's keep the conversation going about HS Nationals!  We've got a unique opportunity to show the nation what our chess programs are capable of.  I'd be thrilled to answer any or all of your questions, but your colleagues have the experience you need to help you plan for the event.  Check out the Nationals page on the ICCA website and ask other coaches at your matches and tournaments.

If you or your players are looking for USCF-rated events, November has a couple of great options already listed on the ICCA Schedule, and the Illinois Chess Association calendar has all kinds of great options. Below are a couple of events that should work well for your players!

• 2025 Illinois Class State Championship - Sunday, November 23rd, Hyatt-Regency Schaumburg - Organized and hosted by ICCA Coach Glenn Panner, this State Championship level event matches our standard time control (4-rounds of G/60;d5 or G/45;d5).  Players play in sections by their rating (new, unrated players have 3 sections to choose from).  If you have any questions about this great 1-day event, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, let me know!  I'll see you there!
• 2025 Sevan Memorial Tournament - Friday through Sunday, November 28-30, Hyatt-Regency Schaumburg - Also organized and hosted by ICCA Coach Glenn Panner, this prestigious USCF & FIDE-rated event gives Players a longer time-control experience.  With 2 schedules to choose from, this event is a great way to experience high-level rated chess tournaments before the spring tournaments.  For you as a coach, it could be a holiday getaway at the end of Thanksgiving Break.  Again, questions?  Thoughts?  Let me know!

Host IHSA Sectionals?

Word has it that the IHSA is still looking for a couple of Sectional locations in the Northwest and Western suburbs.  If you've ever thought about hosting a tournament, this is a GREAT way to get started since IHSA takes care of most of the work, you can focus on your facility and team.  Get in touch with Dan Le ASAP!  d...@ihsa.org

That's it for now, coaches.  I'm thrilled to be of service and look forward to seeing everyone over the boards soon.  Until then...  Thanks for playing!

-- Erik Czerwin

Assistant Director of Events - US Chess

Secretary - Illinois Chess Coaches Association

Elevating Chess Experiences - Prairie View Hobbies