How many chess players at a software company?

Ever since I became a volunteer TD at the Metrowest Chess Club, I’ve been tempted to try to organize a rated tournament at The MathWorks where I work. There are several groups where you can find chess players competing over lunch. But I didn’t know if there would be enough interest in an OTB tournament played under USCF rules.

Well, there was enough interest, as it turned out. Out of the 1200 employees at our headquarters in Natick, MA, 18 played in the just-completed four-round G/45 Swiss. We played our rounds on four Monday evenings, just after work.

Four of the 18, including me, had established ratings. The other 14 were all playing in their first USCF tournament. The USCF $10 tournament membership was a critical part of making this work. I’m sure we wouldn’t have had enough participation if everyone had to pay the full USCF membership dues.

The tournament went well enough for me to consider doing it again, possibly twice a year.

Here’s the USCF crosstable and rating results.