2026 Lone Star Cup – Rules & Format (March 21st, 2026)

Overview

The Lone Star Cup is an elite online round-robin style playoff featuring the top four teams from each championship section in the Texas Scholastic State Championships. Unlike the traditional format where team standings are based on individual points, this event uses true team versus team match play. Each team competes head-to-head in a 4 vs 4 format to determine the overall champion in each scholastic division: Primary, Elementary, Middle School, and High School.

Eligibility 

Teams must have competed in the Texas State Scholastic Championships. Each team must represent a single school and meet all scholastic eligibility requirements established by the Texas Chess Association. Players that transferred from another school must not have played for another league team or have to sit out the season.

Qualification

Qualification is determined by final team standings using standard US Chess tiebreaks. Teams advance to the Lone Star Cup based on the championship year structure:

  • In Super State years, the top four teams qualify directly from the Super State Championship.
  • In North/South split years, the top two teams from the North Championship and the top two from the South Championship qualify.

Team Structure

Each team consists of four players and up to eight alternates. Board order must follow USCF ratings in descending order, with a 50-point transposition allowed. Teams may rotate alternates between rounds, but only four players may compete in any given match. All rostered players, including alternates, must be submitted in advance and approved prior to the start of the event. Once a round begins, no substitutions are allowed during that round.

Match Format

All teams play a round-robin over three rounds. Team seeds are determined by the average March USCF rating of each team’s top four rostered players. There will be a drawing to assign colors for Round 1 and Round 3 on Board 1 prior to the start of the event.

Round pairings are as follows:
Rd 1: Seed 1 vs Seed 4, Seed 2 vs Seed 3
Rd 2: Seed 1 vs Seed 3, Seed 2 vs Seed 4
Rd 3: Seed 1 vs Seed 2, Seed 3 vs Seed 4

Each match consists of four boards: Board 1 plays Board 1, Board 2 plays Board 2, and so on. Only four players may compete per match. No substitutions are allowed once a round has started.

Time Control

All games will be played with a time control of Game in 60 minutes with a 30-second increment (G/60 + 30). Games must be played on the official platform designated by TCA.

Match Scoring and Tiebreaks

The Lone Star Cup is a Team Round Robin scored by total individual points. Total game points (individual board results) across all three rounds determine the President’s Cup Champion. Win = 1 point, Draw = 0.5, Loss = 0

In the event of a tie, the teams are declared co-champions. If two or more teams are tied on game points, the following tie-breaking systems will be used to determine sole possession of the Lone Star Cup, in this order:

  • Total team match wins
  • Head-to-head outcome (result of the direct match between tied teams)
  • Armageddon Shootout
    • One player per team is selected to play.
    • White receives 5 minutes, Black receives 4 minutes; no delay or increment.
    • White must win to win the match; Black wins on draw or win.
    • A coin toss determines color choice.

Fair Play and Conduct

All games are subject to real-time monitoring and post-event fair play review. Players must not receive any assistance from other people, books, software, or electronic devices during the competition. All players are required to join a Zoom call with cameras on, remain visible for the entire duration of each round, and share their screen when requested. Use of tablets, phones, or iPads is not permitted except in unavoidable circumstances approved by the tournament director. Any violation of fair play rules may result in forfeiture of games, disqualification of the team, and suspension from future Texas Chess Association events.

Awards

The first place team earns the Lone Star Cup for their section. A replica trophy can be purchased by any other co-champions at their expense.

Champions will be recognized in Texas Knights and on TCA’s official platforms.

Deadlines and Roster Submission

Qualified teams must confirm participation within 72 hours of invitation.

Rosters with player names, USCF IDs, and board order must be submitted 48 hours before match time.

If a team declines or fails to respond, the next eligible team by tiebreaks will be invited.