Tag: Austin Grandmaster

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Wednesday Blitz Night 3/25/26

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting a weekly blitz tournament on Wednesday evenings for players aged 14+ or younger players with mature ratings (1400+). 6:00-8:30. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 60 players

Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail
Austin, TX 78729

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
9 Round Swiss, one section, Time control: G/3;+2

RATING INFORMATION:
● Published official USCF ratings will be used.
● Unofficial USCF ratings will be used if unrated or to play in a
higher section.
● Players must reveal foreign, FIDE, and other over-the-board
ratings. These ratings will be adjusted, if necessary, and may be
used if they are higher than USCF ratings.

TIME CONTROL & SCHEDULE:
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

One section: G/3;+2
●  1st round: 6:00 PM
●  2nd round: 6:15 PM
●  3rd round: 6:30 PM
●  4th round: 6:45 PM
●  5th round: 7:00 PM
●  6th round: 7:30 PM
●  7th round: 7:45 PM
●  8th round: 8:00 PM
●  9th round: 8:15 PM

The Closing ceremony for each will take place after the final round of that section.

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
● $20 online at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/wednesday-blitz-night-2026-jan-21/

For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES: 30%, 20%, 10% of Entry Fees

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance.  We reserve the right to charge a $5 service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins. 

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 

Sections
Blitz

Prizes
Prizes are determined by paid entry fees.
First Place: 30%
Second Place: 20%
Third Place: 10%
There will be no closing ceremony but prizes will be sent after the tournament is complete via PayPal

Rules
SECTIONS: All players will be playing in the same section. (USCF Rated)
Players aged 14 or older, as well as those rated above 1400 USCF, will be allowed into the tournament.
ENTRY FEE:
Standard Fee: $20 before 11:59PM March 18
Late Fee: $30 on or after March 19th
TIME CONTROL: Game 3 min + 2 sec increment
9-Round Swiss System Schedule
Rounds will be started as soon as the last game is finished.
There will be a 10 minute break after Round 5.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.
PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Please leave your phone at home, in your car, or turned off (vibrate/silent not acceptable) on top of your table.
Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

Policies
Cancellations made 7+ days before the event receive a full refund.
Cancellations made within 7 days of the event receive a 50% refund.
No refunds for cancellations made on the day of the event.
No-shows will not receive a refund.

Contact
info@austin-chess.com
Additional Information
12466 Los Indios Trail, Ste.100 Austin, TX 78729 Free Parking Provided

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AGCA Summer Camp 6/1-6/5

Our chess masters will provide the highest level of training for children and teens in Austin, Texas.

Dates

Summer Camp 1: June 1 – 5, 2026

Coaches

GM Kamil Dragun, CM Jeffrey Serna, NM Colin Albert, Shahin Masoumi

Daily Schedule
Drop-off: 8:30 – 9:00 am
Camp start: 9:00 am
Lunch break: 12:00 -1:00 pm
Camp resumes: 1:00 pm
Pick up: 4:00 – 4:30 pm
Location: 12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100, Austin, TX 78729

Weekly Fee: $500.00

Day Pass Fee: $115.00 (send us an email at info@austin-chess.com if you choose to use this option)

Groups
Kids will be separated into 4 different groups:

Novice Group: Below 700 USCF
Intermediate Group: 700-1200 USCF
Advanced Group: 1200 – 1600 USCF
Expert Group: 1600+ USCF
**NOTE: It is, however, required for the kids to know all the rules of chess and how each pieces move!

Schedule for Advanced and Expert

Lecture: 9:00 – 10:30am

Break: 10:30 – 10:40am

Training Game: 10:40am – 12:00pm

Lunch Break: 12:00 – 1:00pm

Lecture: 1:00 – 2:30pm

Break: 2:30 – 2:40pm

Puzzle Solving: 2:40 – 4:00pm

Schedule for Intermediate and Novice

Lecture: 9:00 – 10:00am

Puzzle Solving: 10:00 – 10:30am

Break: 10:30 – 10:40am

Puzzle Solving: 10:40 – 11:10am

Training Game: 11:10am – 12:00pm

Lunch Break: 12:00 – 1:00pm

Lecture/Game Analysis: 1:00 – 2:30pm

Break: 2:30 – 2:40pm

Camp Activity: 2:40 – 4:00pm

Food

Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy staff will provide light snacks and beverages during scheduled snack times. Students are encouraged to bring their own lunch.

**NOTE: Please email us at with any food allergies and/or restrictions your child may have!

Cancellation Policy

A full refund, minus a $50 service fee, will be provided for all cancellation requests received 7 days prior to camp start date. No refunds are provided if the cancellation is not received a week prior to camp start date.

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4th Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #4

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on April 4, 2026. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 100 players!

Top 10 places in Section A will earn Junior Qualifier Points – see https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/ for information about the points system.

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Players are not allowed to play up or down*

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 9:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony: After the last game of the section finishes.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:

●  Early Bird: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-4-junior-qualifier-4/ by 11:59pm, March 15, 2026
●  Standard: $50 from March 16 until 11:59p on March 29, 2026
●  Late: $65 on or after March 30, 2026
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

 
PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)
 
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns.
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2026 AGCA Championship – Spring Edition

2026 AGCA Championship – Spring Edition

USCF Rated Tournament 

** Section A is FIDE Rated **

March 20-22, 2026

12466 Los Indios Trail, Ste.100

Austin, TX 78729

* USCF Membership Required *

 

Free Parking Provided 

 

Capacity: 112 players

 

 

 

All players will be divided into 4 sections: 

SECTION A: 1800+ Open USCF and FIDE rated

SECTION B: 1400 – 1799 Open USCF rated

SECTION C: 1000 – 1399 Open USCF rated

SECTION D: U1000 Open USCF rated

**Players are not allowed to play up or down** 
**The higher of the official or most recent rating will determine section selection.**
**If two adjacent sections each have an odd number of players, and the highest-rated player in the lower section is within 50 rating points of the higher section, they may be moved up to balance the sections**
These rules are to avoid byes and better pairings for all. 

**Maximum number of players per section is 32** 

ENTRY FEES: 

Early Bird: $100 by February 28, 2026 by 11:59pm 

Standard Fee: $120 before March 15, 2026 11:59pm
Late Fee: $150 on or after March 16, 2026

Re-entry Fee: $40 (from 3-day to 2-day schedule) by 8am, March 21. Please, email us at info@austin-chess.com to complete re-entry.

 

PRIZES: 

Section A: $1000, $500, $250

Section B: $500, $250, $125

Section C: $300, $150, $100

Section D: $200, $150, $100

Medals will be awarded to top 3 finishers in all sections

**USCF Rules will be used for prizes** 

 

Open Qualifier Points: 

Top 10 places in Section A will earn points according to the following table:

1st Place: 25 OQ Points

2nd Place: 18 OQ Points

3rd Place: 15 OQ Points

4th Place: 12 OQ Points

5th Place: 10 OQ Points

6th Place: 8 OQ Points

7th Place: 6 OQ Points

8th Place: 4 OQ Points

9th Place: 2 OQ Points

10th Place: 1 OQ Points

 

For more information about the point system, visit

https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/

 

TIME CONTROL: 

3-day Schedule:

Rounds 1-5: G/90; +30 (90 minutes per player with 30-second increment)

2-day Schedule:

Round 1: G/60; +10 (60 minutes per player with 10-second increment)

Rounds 2-5: G/90; +30 (90 minutes per player with 30-second increment)

**Forfeit time for no-show is 1 hour** 

 

5-Round Swiss System Schedule

3-day Schedule:

1st round: March 20, 7:00 PM (Friday)

2nd round: March 21, 1:00 PM (Saturday)

3rd round: March 21, 6:30 PM (Saturday)

4th round: March 22, 10:00 AM (Sunday)

5th round: March 22, 3:15 PM (Sunday)

 

2-day Schedule:

1st round: March 21, 9:00 AM (Saturday)

2nd round: March 21, 1:00 PM (Saturday)

3rd round: March 21, 6:30 PM (Saturday)

4th round: March 22, 10:00 AM (Sunday)

5th round: March 22, 3:15 PM (Sunday)

 

Closing ceremony for each section will take place after the final round.

NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.


PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT.  Please leave your phone at home, in your car, or turned off (vibrate/silent not acceptable) on top of your table. 

Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture. 

 

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance. We reserve the right to charge a $20 service fee for cancellations. NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event. 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins. 

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

 

For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

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4th Austin Chess Tour: Open Qualifier #1

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting an Open USCF Rated Tournament on January 31, 2026 starting at 10:00 AM.  USCF Membership required.  Capacity: 100 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Ste 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

 

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
4SS, time controls determined by section
SECTION A:  1800 +  USCF rated
SECTION B:  1400 – 1799  USCF rated
SECTION C:  1000-1399 USCF rated
SECTION D:  U1000 USCF rated

*USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED*
**Players are not allowed to play up or down**

RATING INFORMATION:
● January 2026 official USCF ratings will be used.
● Unofficial USCF ratings will be used if unrated or to play in a
higher section.
● Players must reveal foreign, FIDE, and other over-the-board
ratings. These ratings will be adjusted, if necessary, and may be
used if they are higher than USCF ratings.

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 12:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 2:30 PM
●  3rd round: 3:30 PM
●  4th round: 5:45 PM

Sections C & D (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

●  Closing ceremony for any section takes place after the last game finishes for that section.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Early Bird: $50  by January 25th at 11:59 pm.
●  $60 on or after January 26th (if space is available)
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com
Link for registration: https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-4-open-qualifier-1/

PRIZES:
●  Section A : $400, $200, $100
●  Section B: $200, $100, $50
●  Section C: $100, $75, $50
●  Section D: Chess books
Medals will be awarded to the top 3 finishers in each section.

OPEN QUALIFIER POINTS:
The top 10 places in Section A will earn points according to the following table
1st Place: 25 OQ Points
2nd Place: 18 OQ Points
3rd Place: 15 OQ Points
4th Place: 12 OQ Points
5th Place: 10 OQ Points
6th Place: 8 OQ Points
7th Place: 6 OQ Points
8th Place: 4 OQ Points
9th Place: 2 OQ Points
10th Place: 1 OQ Points

For more information about the point system, visit https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance.  We reserve the right to charge a $15 service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. 
NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.

NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.

Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns.

Posted on by

4th Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #3

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on March 14, 2026. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 100 players!

Top 10 places in Section A will earn Junior Qualifier Points – see https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/ for information about the points system.

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Players are not allowed to play up or down*

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 9:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony: After the last game of the section finishes.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:

●  Online: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-4-junior-qualifier-2/ by 11:59pm, February 22, 2026
●  $50 from February 23 until 11:59p on March 8, 2026
●  $65 on or after March 9, 2026
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

 
PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)
 
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 
Posted on by

4th Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #2

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on February 7, 2026. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 100 players!

Top 10 places in Section A will earn Junior Qualifier Points – see https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/ for information about the points system.

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Players are not allowed to play up or down*

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 9:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony: After the last game of the section finishes.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-4-junior-qualifier-2/ by 11:59pm, January 18, 2026
●  $50 from January 19 until 11:59p on February 1, 2026
●  $65 on or after February 2, 2026
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com
 
PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)
 
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 
Posted on by

4th Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #1

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on January 17, 2026. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 100 players!

Top 10 places in Section A will earn Junior Qualifier Points – see https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/ for information about the points system.

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Players are not allowed to play up or down*

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 9:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony: After the last game of the section finishes.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-4-junior-qualifier-1/ by 11:59pm, January 11, 2026
●  $50  on or after January 12, 2026
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com
 
PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)
 
CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns. 
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2025 AGCA Winter Open 12/26/25-12/30/25

Description:

There is going to be one Open Section which will follow a Swiss format. Players above 1400 USCF are going to be allowed to play in the tournament. 

This tournament is FIDE and USCF rated.

Top 3 Finisher Prizes: 

$1200, $800, $400

For 3rd Austin Chess Tour 10 Finalists:

The top 1 finisher among the people qualified through the 3rd ACT Grand-Prix Tournaments will earn the right to participate in the next IM Norm tournament organized by Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy. 

Eligibility Information can be found here

Tournament Capacity: 40 players

Organizers:

Chief: GM Alex Mista

Deputy: GM Andrey Stukopin

Email: info@austin-chess.com

Chief Arbiter: FA Sarah Brauner

When: December 26-30, 2025

Playing Venue:

Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy

12466 Los Indios Trail, Ste.100

Austin, TX 78729

Hotels Nearby:

Fairfield by Marriott Inn & Suites Austin Northwest/Research Blvd,

13087 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78750 (1.1 miles away)

SpringHill Suites by Marriot Austin North

13309 North US Highway 183, Austin, TX 78750 (1.5 miles away, our recommended hotel)

Entry Fees:

GM, WGM, IM, WIM, FM, WFM Titled Players – Free

$100 Early Bird Registration – on or before November 30th, 2025

$150 – on or after December 1st

Note: All 3rd ACT Grand-Prix Winners (top 7 qualified players from the Open Qualifiers and top 3 qualified players from the Junior Qualifiers) will have their entry fee reimbursed to them given that they complete all their games. The list can be found here.

Time control:

G/90 minutes; increment 30 seconds – 90 minutes for the entire game plus 30 second increment from move 1. There is only one time control, no additional time at move 40.  Players must keep accurate scoresheets for the entire game.

Schedule:

Round

Day

Date

Time

1

Friday

Dec 26

6:00 pm

2

Saturday

Dec 27

10:00 am

3

Saturday

Dec 27

4:00 pm

4

Sunday

Dec 28

10:00 am

5

Sunday

Dec 28

4:00 pm

6

Monday

Dec 29

10:00 am

7

Monday

Dec 29

4:00 pm

8

Tuesday

Dec 30

9:00 am

9

Tuesday

Dec 30

3:00 pm

 

Regulations

  • All players are expected to play all 9 rounds. 1 bye request is allowed for any round.
  • Current FIDE Laws of Chess apply.
  • All games will use the equipment provided. Players shall sign scoresheets after each game.
  • Electronic Device Policy: players are strictly forbidden from having electronic devices with them during the game, even if they are turned off. Players found with any device during the game may lose the current game. Turn in cell phones at the arbiters’ desk before each round. No electronics are allowed in the playing hall unless they are checked in with the arbiter.
  • Default/forfeit time: 60 minutes unless the arbiter decides otherwise. White’s clock will be started at the start of the round even if the players are not present.
  • The organizers request that all players arrive on time for each round.
Posted on by

3rd Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #5

We are hosting an In-Person USCF Rated Scholastic Tournament on December 20, 2025 starting at 10:00 AM.  USCF Membership required.   Capacity: 100 players!

LOCATION:
Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy
12466 Los Indios Trail, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78729
Free parking provided!

TOURNAMENT STYLE:
SECTION A: 1600+ USCF rating
SECTION B: 1200 – 1599 USCF rating
SECTION C: 800 – 1199 USCF rating
SECTION D: 400 – 799 USCF rating
SECTION E: Under 400 USCF rating and/or unrated.
*Note that no player will be allowed to play up or down*
*The higher of the official or most recent rating will determine section selection.**
*If two adjacent sections each have an odd number of players, and the highest-rated player in the lower section is within 50 rating points of the higher section, they may be moved up to balance the sections**
These rules are to avoid byes and better pairings for all.
*USCF MEMBERSHIP IS REQUIRED*

RATING INFORMATION:
● December 2025 official USCF ratings will be used.

Time Controls:

Section A: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section B: G/60, d5 (60 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section C: G/45, d5 (45 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section D: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)
Section E: G/30, d5 (30 minutes per player with a 5-second delay)

4 or 5 Round Swiss System Schedule, depending on section
Number of rounds and round times vary by section. Please read the below carefully!

Sections A & B (all rounds G/60, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 12:15 AM
●  Lunch break: 2:30 PM
●  3rd round: 3:30 PM
●  4th round: 5:45 PM

Section C (all rounds G/45, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:45 AM
●  Lunch break: 1:30 PM
●  3rd round: 2:30 PM
●  4th round: 4:15 PM

Sections D & E (all rounds G/30, d5)
●  1st round: 10:00 AM
●  2nd round: 11:15 AM
●  3rd round: 12:30 PM
●  Lunch Break: 1:30 PM
●  4th round: 2:30 PM
●  5th round: 3:45 PM

Closing ceremony for any section takes place after the last game finishes for that section.
NOTE: Half-point byes are acceptable for all rounds, limit 1. Must commit before the 1st round.

Players may not posses cell phones during the tournament. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
●  Online: $40 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-3-junior-qualifier-5/  by 11:59pm, December 14, 2025
●  $50  on or after December 15, 2025
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES:
● Trophies for 1st place (in each section)
● Medals for 2nd and 3rd place (in each section)

CANCELLATION POLICY: If you do not wish to participate in our tournament after paying the entry fee, please email us at info@austin-chess.com no later than 24 hours in advance for an 80% refund. We reserve the right to charge a service fee for cancellations.  NO refunds will be issued if we are notified of cancellation within 24 hours of the start of the event.
WITHDRAWAL POLICY: If you would like to withdraw from the tournament after it begins, please alert the tournament director. NO refunds will be issued after the tournament begins.
NO-SHOW POLICY: There are NO refunds or credit for players who do not show up for their scheduled tournament matches.
Please contact us at info@austin-chess.com for any additional questions or concerns.