QUEEN'S GAMBIT 2023
July 14-16
Sports Connection Northlake
8626 Hankins Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269

Queen's Gambit is a 3-day event where practitioners of many fencing schools come together to learn, socialize, and compete. This year we are pleased to offer cutting and sparring tournaments using sideswords with mixed companion weapons and longswords, an invitational spear tournament, a dagger sparring tournament, workshops, and lectures. Enjoy the evening with your fellow fencers at our Saturday masquerade dinner and awards ceremony, with after-dinner Renaissance dancing.
PLEASE NOTE that attendees (including spectators and non-competitors) must show proof of a negative COVID test taken within 24 hours of arrival. QG staff will not provide test kits so make a note to set one aside now!
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Events and Schedule
Friday, July 15 Doors Open: 1:00pm
2:00-2:30: Cutting rules briefing
2:30-4:00: Longsword Cutting - a loaner sword will be available courtesy of CloudHammer Forge
4:00-5:30: Sidesword Cutting - a loaner sword will be available courtesy of Swordwind Historical Swordsmanship
5:30-6:30: Dinner Break
6:30-8:00: Workshop 1 & Lecture 1
8:00-9:30: Workshop 2 & Lecture 2
6:30-11:00: Free Sparring
Saturday, July 16
8:00: Doors Open
8:00-8:30: Check-In
8:30-9:00: Dagger rules briefing
9:00-11:00: Rose Division and Crown Division Dagger Tournaments
11:00-12:00: Lunch break
12:00-12:30: Longsword rules briefing
12:30-5:30: Rose Division and Crown Division Longsword Tournaments
6:30-8:00: Queen's Masquerade Dinner
8:00-10:00: Renaissance Dancing
8:00-11:00: Free Sparring
Sunday, July 17:
8:00: Doors Open
8:00 - 8:30: Check-In
8:30-9:00: Sidesword rules briefing
9:00-12:30: Rose Division and Crown Division Sidesword Tournaments
12:30-1:30: Lunch break
1:30-2:00: Spear rules briefing
2:00-4:30: Invitational Spear Tournament
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Workshops and Lectures
Queen's Gambit is proud to host in-depth workshops and lectures taught by nationally recognized instructors on a variety of topics. Our workshop lineup this year is coming soon.
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Tournaments
We are offering nine tournaments this year. Full tournament rules to follow.
Sidesword Cutting. Tatami cutting with a sidesword. Loaner sword available; fencers are also invited to bring their own swords.
Longsword Cutting. Tatami cutting with a longsword. Loaner sword available; fencers are also invited to bring their own swords.
Sidesword with Mixed Companion Weapons - Rose Division. A sparring tournament for fencers under 5'9"using sideswords accompanied by bucklers, daggers, or cloaks. Fencers are required to provide their own steel weapons and companion weapons.
Sidesword with Mixed Companion Weapons - Crown Division. A sparring tournament for fencers 5'9" and above using sideswords accompanied by bucklers, daggers, or cloaks. Fencers are required to provide their own steel weapons and companion weapons.
Longsword - Rose Division. A sparring tournament for fencersunder 5'9" using longswords accompanied by daggers. Fencers are required to provide their own steel weapons and companion weapons.
Longsword - Crown Division. A sparring tournament for fencers 5'9" and above using longswords accompanied by daggers. Fencers are required to provide their own steel weapons and companion weapons.
Dagger Duels - Rose Division. Returning for 2023, this Saturday morning sparring event will focus on dueling with the dagger in the cut-and-thrust style of the Bolognese tradition. Rose division is for fencers under 5'9"
Dagger Duels - Crown Division. Returning for 2023, this Saturday morning sparring event will focus on dueling with the dagger in the cut-and-thrust style of the Bolognese tradition. Crown division is for fencers 5'9" and above
Invitational Spear. A sparring tournament using partisans. Weapons will be provided. Fencers may express interest in this event, however participation in this tournament is by invitation only.
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Location and Accommodations
Queen's Gambit 2023 will be held at:
Sports Connection Northlake,
8626 Hankins Rd, Charlotte, NC 28269
Recommended hotels nearby include:
Fairfield Inn Charlotte Northlake
9230 Harris Corners Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28269
Courtyard by Marriott Charlotte Northlake
9110 Harris Corners Pkwy, Charlotte, NC 28269
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Tournament Rules
Full tournament rules can be found here.
Short Version:
General:
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2-minute rounds fought to 4 points.
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Basic scoring:
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3 points: Normal sword cuts, thrust to the mask or body, some slices, grapple with control. **Sideswords and daggers cannot score 3-point cuts to the body
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1 point: One-handed sword cuts, all dagger and spear cuts, thrust to the limbs, most slices, pommel strikes.
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Only clean hits with no afterblow will be scored
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Open Doubles will be Penalized. 3 ODPs equal a loss of that match.
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Fencers must provide their own weapons for longsword and sidesword. Dagger fencers may provide their own weapons.
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Spear and dagger weapons will be provided (Descendant Leather foam partisans or Purpleheart Armory rubber partisans with hickory shafts, Cold Steel parrying daggers).
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Longsword and spear fencers may bring a dagger (no more than 18" blade, thrusts only).
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Sidesword matches will have a 67% chance of being fought with chosen companion weapon, and 33% chance of being fought with sword alone.
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Sidesword fencers must register with a companion weapon, which will not change for the entire tournament:
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Sword alone. Fencers may choose to register without a companion weapon.
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Buckler (Center-Gripped Shield). No more than 15" diameter.
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Targa/Non-Round Buckler. No more than 18" x 12".
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Dagger. No more than 18" blade, may cut or thrust.
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Cloak. May not be weighted; no limit on size. May be wrapped or thrown. Wrapped arm immune to all slices and cuts.
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Targe (Arm-Strapped Shield). No more than 20" diameter.
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Shield punches not allowed; shield press to the arms or body permitted but non-scoring.
Cutting: full cutting rules will be here shortly!
2022 Short Version (for reference):
Requirements:
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Straight-bladed swords only, single- or double-edged.
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Longswords: two-handed swords of no more than 40" blade
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Sideswords: one-handed swords of any length
Cutting Patterns:
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Round 1:
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Five diagonal descending cuts, alternating sides (1 point each)
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Round 2:
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Two ascending descending cuts, alternating sides (1.5 points each)
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Two horizontal cuts, alternating sides (2 points each)
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Two descending diagonal cuts, alternating sides (1.5 points each)
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Round 3 (sidesword):
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Doubled descending diagonal cuts, one side (2.5* points)
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Doubled descending diagonal cuts, other side (2.5* points)
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Ascending diagonal cuts, alternating sides (1.5 points each)
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Round 3 (longsword):
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Linked descending diagonal cuts, alternating sides (2.5* point each)
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Linked ascending diagonal cuts, alternating sides (3.0* point each)
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Ascending diagonal cuts, alternating sides (1.5 points each)
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Round 4:
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Target 1: Diagonal descending cut, dominant side (1 point)
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Target 2: Diagonal descending cut, non-dominant side (1 point)
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Target 1: Horizontal cut, dominant side (2 points)
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Target 2: Horizontal cut, non-dominant side (2 points)
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Target 1: Diagonal ascending cut, dominant side (1.5 points)
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Target 2: Diagonal ascending cut, non-dominant side (1.5 points)
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Target 1: Diagonal descending cut, dominant side (1.5 points)
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Target 2: Diagonal descending cut, non-dominant side (1.5 points)
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Registration
Register for Queen's Gambit in two easy steps:
Registration Options:
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Cutting Tournaments: $65
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Sparring Tournaments: $135
All registrations include Saturday dinner and dancing as well as Friday night workshops and lectures.
EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT! Registration is 10% off through May 31, 2023.
VOLUNTEER DISCOUNT! Registration is 20% off! You must volunteer as Staff, Judge, or Director for 2 events in order to receive this discount. Events include all Sparring Tournaments and the Masquerade Dinner.
Combine this with the early bird discount to get 30% your registration!
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Budget
In the interest of transparency the Queen's Gambit Planning Committee has decided to publish our event budget as a justification for the increased costs.
Based on our previous years in running this event, and in talking with other HEMA event organizers, there is a widespread history of events losing the host club/organizers money, sometimes *thousands* of dollars. Even with our volunteers scouring for discounts and deals, getting donations from sponsors, and borrowing as much as possible from friends and family it can be hard to cover costs for large events.
We at Swordwind are looking to break even with Queen's Gambit 2023 and do not intend to profit off of it. Any profit made will go towards our 2024 budget.
Venue: $5,700
Queen's Masq Dinner: $2,700
Tatami Mats: $1400
Volunteer Food and Drinks: $800
Staff T-Shirts: $800
Loaner Partisans: $800
EMS Staff: $725
Banners, Signs, and Lanyards: $650
Awards: $400
Marketing: $300
Misc Event Costs: $700
Misc costs include but are not limited to: zipties, tape, tarps, trash bags, containers, extension cords, and electrical equipment.
Total estimated costs: $15,000