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2025 Individual Player National Championship Tournament Logistics Information

The 2025 Individual Player National Championship Tournament (IPNCT) will be held at in Rosemont, Illinois (near Chicago), on April 6, 2025.

The IPNCT is ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s championship tournament for individual players. It is designed for high school players. Ambitious middle school players are welcome too, but there will not be a separate Middle School Division.

Registration is now open.

Register Now

Contents

    Tournament Date

    April 6, 2025 (Sunday). This is the same weekend (and site) as ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s 2025 Intercollegiate Championship Tournament, but the IPNCT is a completely separate event.

    Participants will check in on Saturday, April 5.

    All gameplay will occur on Sunday, April 6.

    Location

    The tournament will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago in Rosemont, Illinois (which is adjacent to Chicago and to O’Hare International Airport). A floor plan (PDF) is available.

    There are two Hyatt hotels in Rosemont; the one hosting the tournament is the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago.

    The hotel is twelve stories tall, and games may be held on high floors. Many of the elevators provide a view into the tall atrium.

    Important Dates

    1. Registration opens
    2. Standby registration opens (players who register in the first 24 hours are put into random order)
    3. Cancellation fee begins at $140
    4. Cancellation fee increases to $280
    5. Last day to make hotel reservations in our block
    6. Participation agreements due
    7. The tournament!

    Schedule

    This schedule is tentative.

    All times are listed in Central time.

    Saturday Evening

    Time Event Location Area
    7:00 – 9:30 p.m. Check-inConference Center foyer Lobby Level

    Sunday

    Time Event Location Area
    7:00 – 7:55 a.m. Secondary player check-inOutside the Rosemont Ballroom Entry Level
    7:30 – 7:45 a.m. Staff check-inLondon International Level
    7:45 – 8:15 a.m. Staff meetingLondon International Level
    8:00 – 8:15 a.m. Player meetingRosemont Ballroom AB Entry Level
    8:30 – 11:30 a.m. Rounds 1–3Throughout the hotel
    11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch (on your own)  Lobby Level
    12:30 – 3:30 p.m. Rounds 4–6Throughout the hotel
    3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Final (Round 7)Rosemont Ballroom AB Entry Level
    After final AwardsRosemont Ballroom AB Entry Level

    During the tournament, participants may text 213‑279‑6278 (“ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ”) with questions; tournament staff will answer incoming messages as quickly as they can. Standard messaging rates apply.

    Information Desk

    During check-in on Saturday evening, ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ will take questions at the check-in tables. On Sunday, during the tournament itself, the Information Desk will be in the Lobby Level Atrium. The Information Desk should be the first destination for any questions about or issues with the tournament (other than protests, which must be lodged within the game room).

    Participants may also text 213‑279‑6278 (“ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ”) with questions if it is inconvenient for them to get to the Information Desk. Tournament staff will answer incoming messages as quickly as they can.

    In general, lost-and-found items will be taken to the Information Desk during the tournament. We will notify owners to the extent we can identify them. At the end of the tournament, any unclaimed items will be brought to the hotel’s general lost-and-found.

    Gameplay Rules

    The tournament will use ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s standard rules with the IPNCT modifications. In brief:

    Eligibility

    This tournament is open to all players eligible to compete for their school (or homeschool) team according to ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s High School Eligibility Rules. This includes middle school players, though the questions will be very difficult for them.

    Players with special eligibility circumstances may write to [email protected] for a ruling on their situations.

    Qualification

    There is no qualification procedure for the Individual Player National Championship Tournament. ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ welcomes all players who want to see how their knowledge, anticipation, and buzzer speed stack up against the very best.

    Field

    The field is currently limited to 200 players; these players have registered. ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ may expand the field depending on the level of interest and the availability of resources.

    Format

    The tournament will consist entirely of group games, in which three or more (typically eight to ten) players compete in each room. There are special gameplay rules for the IPNCT.

    All players will compete in Rounds 1–6. The top nine players from those games will advance to the finals (Round 7).

    Within each game, players will be ranked by the order in which they buzz out (by reaching a specified score), or if they do not buzz out, by other criteria, starting with points earned in that game. The threshold to buzz out is 60 points in Round 1 and 90 points in subsequent rounds (except the finals). In Rounds 1–3, there is no limit to the number of players who can buzz out in each game; in subsequent rounds, some or all games have a limit on the maximum number of buzz-outs.

    Round 1: 48 tossups
    The players will be seeded and placed into game rooms of balanced strength.
    Round 2: 72 tossups
    The game rooms will be balanced in strength based on players’ Round 1 performances.
    Round 3: 72 tossups
    The game rooms will not be balanced in strength so as to make finer distinctions between players with similar performances thus far.
    Lunch is after Round 3.
    Round 4: 72 tossups (elimination games)
    The game rooms will be balanced in strength based on players’ Round 3 performances. The top players from each room will remain in contention for the championship; all other players will continue to play for placement (through Round 6). The number of buzz-outs will be limited based on the number of players advancing to remain in championship contention from each room.
    In this round, if at the end of a game there is a tie among players who have not buzzed out and the tie determines who will be eliminated from championship contention, the tie will be broken by further play (three tossups, followed by sudden death if the tie remains). Other than this, players will be ranked within each game the same way as they were in previous rounds.
    Round 5: 72 tossups (elimination games in some rooms)
    In this round, some rooms will contain players who remain in contention for the tournament championship. In these rooms, at most two players can buzz out; once that happens, the remaining players will play the rest of the game. The top three players from each of these rooms will remain in contention for the tournament championship; all other players will continue to play for final placement in Round 6.
    The other rooms contain players who have already been eliminated from contention for the tournament championship and who are playing for final placement. In these rooms, there is no limit on how many players may buzz out.
    In this round, if at the end of a game there is a tie among players who have not buzzed out and the tie determines who will be eliminated from championship contention, the tie will be broken by further play (three tossups, followed by sudden death if the tie remains). Other than this, players will be ranked within each game the same way as they were in previous rounds.
    Round 6: 72 tossups (elimination games in some rooms)
    In this round, some rooms will contain players who remain in contention for the tournament championship. In these rooms, at most two players can buzz out; once that happens, the remaining players will play the rest of the game. The top three players from each room will go on to play the final in Round 7; all other players will be done and will have attained their final placement.
    The other rooms contain players who have already been eliminated from contention for the tournament championship and who are playing for final placement. In these rooms, there is no limit on how many players may buzz out.
    In this round, if at the end of a game there is a tie among players who have not buzzed out and the tie determines who will be eliminated from championship contention, the tie will be broken by further play (three tossups, followed by sudden death if the tie remains). Other than this, players will be ranked within each game the same way as they were in previous rounds.
    Round 7: 80 tossups (finals)
    In this round, only the nine players who remain in contention for the tournament championship will play.
    There is no buzzing out.
    After 24 tossups, the player with the lowest score will be eliminated. Every 8 tossups after this, the remaining player with the lowest score will be eliminated. Other than at the end of regulation, if there is a tie for the lowest-scoring player, the standard statistical tiebreakers will be used. If at the end of regulation there is a tie, standard gameplay tiebreakers will be used (three tossups, followed by sudden death if the tie remains).

    The players in the finals will be ranked by their performance in that game. Other players will be ranked based on the round in which they were eliminated from contention for the championship, their performance in that round, and/or their performance in subsequent placement games.

    The IPNCT format is based on the Hillemann Singles Format pioneered by ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ Member Emeritus Eric Hillemann in 1997.

    Fees and Payment

    Registration is now open.

    Register Now

    The registration fee is $280 per player.

    The registration fee only covers participation in the tournament. It does not cover transportation, lodging, food or other expenses.

    Cancellation

    Players who cancel their registration between February 28 and March 13 (inclusive) will owe a cancellation fee of $140 (half of the registration fee). Players who cancel their registration on or after March 14, or who fail to show up to the tournament, will owe a cancellation fee of $280 (the full amount of the registration fee). These deadlines notwithstanding, players will always have a seven-day grace period after registering during which they can cancel without incurring a fee.

    Failure to submit participation agreements on time may be treated as a cancellation, including incurring a cancellation fee, at ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s discretion.

    Payment

    Once you have finished registering, click “View Cost.” Follow the page’s instructions to request an invoice (so we have the proper billing information), and you will be offered the opportunity to pay by credit card. If the information is not correct, write to [email protected] with the details.

    Spots in the field are not guaranteed until payment is received.

    Questions

    The tournament will use the tossups from the Division II ICT set, plus perhaps additional (newly written) tossups. No bonuses will be used at this tournament. Players unfamiliar with college-level questions may see a sample of a past year’s Division II ICT set.

    Participation Agreements

    Players, coaches, and chaperones must sign a participation agreement covering expectations, media coverage, etc. All agreements must be submitted to [email protected] by Sunday, March 23, 2025.

    For players who are under age 18, both the player and their parent/guardian must sign the agreement. For players who have reached age 18, ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ strongly recommends and requests that the parent/guardian sign in addition to the player.

    Download Player Agreement Form Download Chaperone Agreement Form

    The signature(s) on the participation agreement must be handwritten, not typed. The agreement may be submitted by sending a scan or photo to [email protected]. Only the last page is required unless the participant is indicating a preference not to be recorded (in which case the page with the checkbox to indicate that preference must be included).

    Chaperones

    Every player must have one official chaperone, subject to the following rules:

    All players’ parents/guardians must affirm (via the participation agreement) that they accept their child’s chaperone and the chaperone’s role of responsibility.

    Players who wish to request a variance from the chaperone policy should write to ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ at [email protected] well in advance of the tournament to discuss their situation.

    Checking In

    The primary check-in period will be from 7:00 to 9:30 p.m. in the Conference Center (Lobby Level) on Saturday, April 5. During this period ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ will distribute information folders, answer questions, and take care of other administrative matters. There will be a late check-in period on Sunday morning, but ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ prefers that as many players as possible check in on Saturday night.

    To check in, each player (or their chaperone) should come to the check-in area to receive their information folder.

    In past years there has been a long line just after check-in opens, so we encourage players to keep an eye on the line and check in when the line is short. There is no need to check in immediately.

    Players that don’t arrive at the hotel until after check-in closes on Saturday may check in early Sunday morning. Players that checked in on Saturday do not need to check in again on Sunday.

    Since the Intercollegiate Championship Tournament (ICT) is using many of the same questions on Saturday at the same site, no competitor (or coach or spectator with ties to a competitor) in the IPNCT may watch any part of the ICT, including the awards ceremony. Similarly, no ICT participant or attendee (in any capacity) may be a coach, chaperone, or player at the IPNCT. This applies to both divisions of the ICT.

    Standby List

    Potential players willing to travel to the tournament site without a guaranteed spot may sign up for the standby list. Such players will only play if a spot opens up, and if they play, they will play for free.

    Awards

    Plaques will be given to the top players overall and the top players in each subject area (history, literature, etc.). Subject awards will be based on the first six rounds (i.e., the rounds in which all players are playing). The specific numbers of awards will be determined based on the final field size.

    Each plaque will be personalized with the name of the player and have a list of their overall finish and top subject performances. These plaques will be ordered by ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ following the tournament and shipped to the players who earned them.

    Transportation

    Flights

    Participants are strongly encouraged to fly into (ORD), which is extremely close to the hotel. They may also fly into (MDW), but it is much less convenient.

    Ground Transportation

    The hotel runs a free shuttle every 15 or 30 minutes (depending on time of day) to transport people from O’Hare to the hotel (and vice versa). As of 2024, the shuttle pickup location has changed; it is now outside of Door 2A on the Arrivals Level (lowest level) of Terminal 2. There is also a pickup location by Door 5E in Terminal 5, but that is much less convenient for most domestic arrivals.

    There is no such shuttle for Midway. A taxi between Midway and the hotel will cost $35 or more, or you can take the ’s Orange and Blue Lines for $3 per person (getting on at the Midway Orange Line station, transferring to the Blue Line downtown, and getting off at the Rosemont Blue Line station, which is about one block from the hotel).

    Driving Directions

    The hotel’s address is 9300 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, Illinois.

    Parking

    Parking standard vehicles at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare costs $19/day plus tax, including in-and-out privileges. Participants traveling to the tournament in buses should contact the hotel in advance to discuss parking options.

    To receive the discounted parking rate, participants staying at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare should mention when checking into their guest rooms (not the tournament) that they have parked at the hotel and validate their ticket. Participants not staying at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare should use the manual validator box at the Information Desk to validate their parking ticket. (Do not use the manual validator box if you are staying overnight at the hotel.)

    Hotel

    The official hotel for the tournament is the . (There are two Hyatt hotels in Rosemont; the one hosting the tournament is the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago.)

    Rooms with one king bed are available for $125 per night, and rooms with two double beds are available for $134 per night (plus applicable taxes and fees). To receive the group rate, rooms must be by Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. Central time (and before the block fills). It is also possible to book by calling 800-544-9288 and mentioning the group code “LZM9,” but hold times are often long.

    Between the IPNCT and the other events scheduled to take place at the hotel, it is expected that the hotel will run out of rooms. ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ strongly recommends that players book their rooms as early as possible, particularly if they want rooms with two double beds.

    Guests with concerns about rooms on high floors should discuss that with the hotel as early as possible. The hotel may be able to assign sleeping rooms on lower floors. However, games may still be held on high floors.

    Under Illinois law, otherwise tax-exempt organizations are still required to pay hotel occupancy taxes. (Title 86, chapter 1, , subsection b.4 of the Illinois Administrative Code; see also )

    Food

    The hotel will (tentatively, but almost certainly) operate food stands for lunch near the Perks coffee shop on the Entry Level. Burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza, and similar food will be available.

    There is a food court with a variety of typical food-court-style restaurants at the mall at 5220 Fashion Outlets Way. To get to the Fashion Outlets from the hotel, until you get to Fashion Outlets Way. The food court is a 15-minute walk from the hotel.

    There are also several restaurants offering more formal dining at the . These are more suited for evening meals and are a away.

    Participants can also order carry-out or delivery from local restaurants.

    Honor Code

    ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ works to ensure that quiz bowl is a safe, welcoming, fair, and respectful activity for everyone and expects all participants to do the same.

    All tournament participants are bound by the ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ Honor Code to behave responsibly and ethically. Participants should read the entire Honor Code, but as a summary, all participants must…

    1. Treat all people present with courtesy.
    2. Avoid action or speech that is hateful or discriminatory toward others.
    3. Avoid behavior that disrupts the competitive integrity of quiz bowl.
    4. Abide by all decisions of the tournament staff and honestly report details of game situations to tournament staff.

    “Participants” for this purpose includes players, coaches, chaperones, institutional representatives, other people associated with a team, spectators, and tournament staff.

    Behavior that is in violation of the honor code must be reported to tournament staff as soon as is practical.

    Advocate Program

    Because ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ believes that quiz bowl is an activity for everybody, and in which all participants should feel welcome and respected, we have established the Advocate Program to make sure select tournament staff are available to hear reports about problematic behavior and comments by anyone at the tournament.

    Staff wearing blue ribbons that say “Advocate” have been specifically selected to receive reports about inappropriate behavior (as opposed to run-of-the-mill questions about the quiz bowl aspects of the tournament). At least one such staff member will generally be available at the Information Desk during tournament hours; if no such person is available (e.g., due to being on a break), the other Information Desk staff can be asked to have a senior tournament official come to the Information Desk to hear the report. Additional Advocate Program staff will be available in many places around the tournament site.

    Feedback about problematic behavior can, of course, always be sent to ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ by email ([email protected]) or other channels such as the Misconduct Reporting Form, but the Advocate Program is intended to allow for in-person reporting of sensitive complaints on-site so they can be handled immediately.

    Reports are confidential to the extent permitted by law and ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s agreements to share critical information with other quiz bowl organizations.

    Practice Material

    Participants may be interested in practicing on questions from previous years to prepare for the event. All of ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s past regular-season sets are available, as are the sets from previous championships.

    Participants may also want to study frequency lists, Power Up study guides, and/or Thumbs Up! question anthologies. These are also available on our practice materials page.

    Finally, participants may want to look at the information contained in ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s free You Gotta Know articles before the tournament. These detail the most frequently asked-about question topics in a wide variety of areas.

    Spectators

    Spectators are welcome to attend any part of the tournament (though some areas may have limited capacity).

    No registration or tickets are required for spectators.

    Sightseeing

    View Sightseeing Recommendations

    Social Media

    The official hashtag for the tournament is ipnct; please use this tag for all posts about the tournament.

    Remember that question content for the championship cannot be posted online (or shared through other channels)! This means that players, coaches, spectators, and moderators should not discuss clues, answers, or even overall themes (e.g., “Lots of opera”) with anyone else at all.

    We will post highlights from the tournament on ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ’s social media.

    ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ Nationals app logo

    Companion Mobile App

    ÎÞÓǶÌÊÓƵ has created a companion mobile app for attendees. The app includes the tournament schedule (with the ability to set reminders for various events), links to results, maps of the venue, help reaching the Information Desk, connections to social media, and other important documents related to the tournament.

    Further Questions

    To ask specific questions about the IPNCT, write to [email protected].

    We look forward to answering any and all questions, no matter how expansive or trivial, in the hopes of eliminating any possible confusion or mistakes in participants’ plans. If something’s not clear, let us know!