Seth Bishoff of CHESS Academy challenges a Byne Christian defender in a game earlier this season. Both teams will be competing Saturday in the first ever CHESS Invitational at the First United Methodist Church.

TIFTON — CHESS Academy will be hosting its first major tournament Saturday morning and afternoon at Tifton’s First United Methodist Church.

The first CHESS Invitational basketball tournament is set to begin at 9 a.m. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets will be good for all games.

Four teams are scheduled to play; CHESS, Byne Christian, Warner Robins Christian and Corinth Christian Academy of Jasper, Fla. according to Jason Bishoff, head coach of CHESS.

Providence of Tallahassee, Fla., was to participate as well, but has backed out, leading to Corinth signing on.

CHESS and Corinth will lead off the action at 9 a.m. with Warner Robins and Byne to follow at 10:30 a.m.

All teams will play two games Saturday. A consolation game will be played at 1 p.m. with the championship at 2:30 p.m.

In between the first round and finals will be a skills challenge. Bishoff said three-point shooting, free throw shooting and layups will all be tested.

There are some guidelines, though. An athlete that appears in one competition cannot appear in another.

Perhaps even more interestingly, there will also be a coach’s skills challenge.

Bishoff said he might talk assistant Ethan Dorden into representing the Knights.

The competition level should be even. CHESS’ Knights have beaten both Byne and Warner Robins, but not by much.

“We played really close games with both of them,” said Bishoff.

Byne has defeated Warner Robins, he said. Warner Robins Christian is a team that has given the Knights fits.

Byne has been bolstered by the return of one of its inside players, Justin Williams.

In the last game against the Knights, Byne led 17-4 after a quarter before CHESS fought back.

“We got hot,” Bishoff said.

CHESS eventually pulled out a 52-46 victory.

Corinth is a newcomer for the Knights. Bishoff is still learning information about them, but said they had a good point guard and good post players. Corinth has played Lighthouse Christian of Valdosta in the past.

Bishoff’s regulars have been steady for him — Seth Bishoff, Harmon Maraman, Blake Manders or Ernest Williams could be the entry in the three-point shooting contest — but he has also seen rapid improvement.

Josh Hall, he said, has progressed well and Williams has gotten much stronger on defense.