For the 2024-2025 academic year, HRCA will be offering three Master classes – fall, winter, and spring.
Here are answers to frequently asked questions about our Master Class.
Our Master Classes will be taught by National Master Daniel Miller, six-time Virginia State Champion and reigning Virginia State Senior Champion.
HRCA Master Classes are designed for students rated 1200-2000. Lower rated students may be admitted by exception. This class is also open to both youth and adults. It is open to students who reside outside of Hampton Roads.
The topic for the Fall session is an in-depth look at the match that changed the way chess is played – Tal v. Botvinnik 1960. What happens when an immovable object is hit by an irresistible force? Botvinnik, through iron logic and preparation, was creating rules. Tal , using psychology and dynamics, was creating the exceptions. Behind the scenes was a fight for the heart of the Russian people, and for the ultimate definition of proper chess play. Mikhail v. Mikhail, the match to determine who would be Chess Ceasar of the U.S.S.R, began on the Ides of March, 1960.
Coach Daniel may recommend books to his students, but none are required to purchase for class.
This class is offered via ZOOM ONLY. Enrolled students will receive a link, meeting ID, and passcode to access class.
This class takes place on Mondays from 7:00-8:00 PM EST. The Fall session begins on September 9th and runs for 12 weeks, ending December 9th. There is no class November 11th (Veterans Day) or November 25th (Thanksgiving Break). Students are guaranteed ten live classes with their instructor. Up to two classes may be “flex weeks,” in which the instructor delivers asynchronous content for students to review. **Please note that our Parent/Player Portal does not allow us to customize class dates. Any changes to the schedule will be posted on our website alerts page and in our weekly newsletter.
This class costs $195 + $25 non-refundable Annual Registration Fee. The default payment method will be to pay for the full session up front. If monthly payment plan is needed, parents may use our Financial Aid application (below) to request three monthly installments of $65 (Sep-Nov) prior to August 28th. Annual Registration includes student HRCA membership and a ChessKid Gold subscription (a $70 value!). Tuition will be billed via autopay to account on file September 1st.
HRCA requires autopay for tuition and registration fees. The non-refundable $25 Annual Registration Fee will be charged to the account on file within 72 hours of sign enrollment, unless already paid via the Parent/Student Portal. It is a one-time yearly fee across all HRCA programs, so you will not pay it again if you have already paid it through a different class/club. Monthly tuition will be posted to your Parent/Student Portal approximately one week before payment is due, or upon enrollment, if later. To avoid autopay, you may log into your Parent/Student Portal and make your own payment early. Otherwise, HRCA will process payments on September 1st. Families with 3 or more siblings in our core chess programs are eligible for multi-sibling discounts and a family cap of $225/month. Scholarship families will only be charged for their Annual Registration Fee and co-pay amount. Please refer to HRCA’s Billing and Payment Policy for more info, including refund processes.
HRCA works hard to ensure that our tuition and fees are among the lowest of educational and sports offerings while providing quality staff and programming. We have limited financial assistance available, including payment plans, scholarships, and waivers, reserved for students with true financial need. If this applies to you, or you just need a monthly payment plan for tuition, please complete our Financial Assistance Application HERE. Needs-based financial aid is available to ALL individual students through our Joan H. Schlich Memorial Scholarship Fund. We are subject to limited funding, but we strive to turn no child away for inability to pay. Your card will not be charged for your class until your scholarship application is processed and a co-pay (if any) determined.
The deadline for Fall session scholarship applications was August 18th.
Masters Class is still open for new students, but will not be prorated. All missed sessions are available for replay.
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