chess tournament Archives - Austin Chess Tournaments

QUAD FORMAT: A Quad Tournament is a four-player round-robin event where each player faces the other three opponents. Players are grouped by rating (1–4, 5–8, etc.), and each section plays three rounds. If the total number of players isn’t divisible by four, the remaining players (e.g., last 5–6) are placed into a small Swiss section instead.

TIME CONTROL: G/30, d5

3-Round Round-Robin System Schedule
1st round: 6:00 PM
2nd round: ASAP after 1st round finishes
3rd round: ASAP after 2nd round finishes
No closing ceremony, prize will be sent by PayPal after the end of the tournament.

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

ENTRY FEES:
● Online: $25 at https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/wednesday-quad-2025-oct-15/
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com

PRIZES:
● $50 for 1st place in each quad

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 $10 service fee for cancellations.

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 October 4, 2025October 4, 2025 by Sarah Brauner

Wednesday Blitz Night 10/8/25

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting a biweekly blitz tournament on Wednesday evenings for players aged 14+ or younger players with mature ratings (1800+). 6:30-9:00. 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:
● October 2025 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: 6:30 PM
● 2nd round: 6:45 PM
● 3rd round: 7:00 PM
● 4th round: 7:15 PM
● 5th round: 7:30 PM
● 6th round: 7:45 PM
● 7th round: 8:00 PM
● 8th round: 8:15 PM
● 9th round: 8:30 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-2025-oct-8/

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

PRIZES: $150, $100, $50

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 October 4, 2025October 4, 2025 by Sarah Brauner

Waco November Swiss

Registration is now open for the Waco November 1 Swiss.

Register here: https://forms.gle/Tyz43nfgWzTcS9Eg7.

See flyer below, and note from organizers: Since we’re not having a National Chess Day tournament in October, we’re having the special 4-section tournament in Nov.

4 Sections:

This is a special change from our regular sections. We only do these 4 sections occasionally.

*Please read the sections carefully.

Championship (1800+)
Under 1800 (1301-1799)
Under 1300 (801-1299)
Under 800 (0-799)

Thanks!

Posted on October 4, 2025October 5, 2025 by Sarah Brauner

2025 Chris Riley Memorial Tournament at Wooldridge Square

Chess outdoors at Wooldridge Square Park! Unrated 4 round G/20 tournament for all ages in 2 sections: one K-12 and one open section. Limited to the first 40 paid players. No elimination – play all rounds whether you win or lose! Please dress appropriately as this is an outdoor event with only some tree shading.

Please register online and view entries at: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/7526

The late Chris Riley was a very dedicated and passionate supporter of introducing chess to the community. He volunteered on most Saturdays from 2003-2023 at Wooldridge Square Park, near his home in downtown Austin, to organize chess matches for all ages and abilities with a Giant Chess set kept at the park. This project that he co-founded helped attract people to a beautiful park that is underutilized for many enjoyable moments for the players as well as interested spectators.

Date
November 9, 2025 (Sunday)

Location
Wooldridge Square Park
900 Guadalupe St
Austin, TX

The park is at the corner of 9th and Guadalupe. Plenty of street parking is typically available.

Sections

Open
K-12

*Sections may be split if registrations are high.
*All sections are unrated. NO USCF membership required.
*Restricted to the first 40 players.

Rounds and Times

Four Rounds at a time control of G/20+5.

We play approximately noon – 5pm.
Registration & Check-in required: 11:20am – 11:45am.
All pre-registered players must check in when they arrive, or they may be ineligible to play in the first round.

Entry fee and Prizes:

Online entries: $12 – by Friday, 11/7 (5pm) (online payment only).
Onsite entries: $20 – Sunday, 11/9 between 11:20 and 1:45am to receive a round 1 pairing.
No refunds for withdrawals requested after online registration closes (5pm 11/7). Email to withdraw.
Onsite entries: $20 – Cash or Venmo only. May receive a round 1 bye and begin play in round 2.
Prizes: Top finishers in K-12 section will receive a medal. Open section offers cash prizes.

Details

Space is available! Register onsite between 11:20 and 11:45 to receive a 1st round pairing!

Boards and Sets supplied!
NO US Chess Membership necessary.
NO Notation required. Feel free if you wish to bring pen and paper, but these are quick games.
Bring a water bottle and a folding chair, if you have one (for your players AND any spectators)!

Rain Location

If there is inclement weather predicted, the tournament will be held at the Dobie Mall food court – Guadalupe and 21st on the 2nd level.

Questions

For registration questions, please email
Sarah Brauner austinchesstournaments@gmail.com
For all other event questions, please email
Gary Gaiffe ggaiffe@att.net

Organized by Rocks & Rooks

Posted on September 27, 2025October 16, 2025 by Sarah Brauner

GT School Chess Tournament 10/25/25

Scholastic chess tournament in multiple sections to be held on October 25, 2025. G/30, +5 inc. Prizes include chess lessons, books, and more!

Registration is open! Click here: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/7630

Basics

USCF rated chess tournament on October 25th in multiple RATED scholastic sections: K-1 U400, K-3 U600, K-5 U800, K-12 U1000, and K-12 Elite (for players rated 950+).

This is a Swiss-system tournament, so everyone plays all day—there is no “elimination.” Players must know how to play the game of chess! We follow USCF rules including: touch-move, mandatory clocks if available, and notation. K-3 and younger sections are excused from taking notation. Please review the Parent/Coach Responsibilities before registering

Location

Austin Southpark Hotel
4140 Governors Row
Austin, TX 78744

Eligibility

This is a rated tournament. You must have a US Chess ID, which can be purchased or renewed online with US Chess in advance of registration) . You can verify your membership ID and expiration by visiting the US Chess Member Services Area. Anyone can become a USCF member. Players new to tournament chess are welcome to play. Your US Chess membership cannot expire before October 31, 2025.

“Under” sections are only for students meeting the rating criteria. All players who are new to tournaments are eligible for their age appropriate ‘under’ section. (Look up your player’s rating here. Please email the registrar or ask your chess coach for placement information.
If your 6th grader attends an Elementary School, please contact the registrar for options. With enough registrations, any section may be divided into two sections so we can offer more prizes. Sections with fewer than 20 entries may be merged into a similar section to provide optimal pairings and competition.

Please note: October 2025 ‘Regular’ OTB ratings will be used for pairing purposes. If no regular rating is available, then other USCF ratings (quick, blitz, online) can and will be considered for section placement. Requests to play down will not be honored. FYI: Any event that is rated after September 17th will not affect your October supplement rating, as those events takes place after October ratings are calculated.

All players in this event must be in 12th grade or lower.

Schedule

No check-in necessary for preregistrations. We will make every attempt to contact you in advance if we see a problem with your registration. Verify your entry ONLINE!
9:00 a.m. Chess Control opens for onsite registration. Onsite registrations after 9:30am accepted, but must start play in round 2.
9:45 a.m Announcements begin. Players and coaches should be present.
10:00 a.m. Rd 1 begins. Four rounds, G/30, +5.
9:15 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Chess control open for event issues. No changes for round 1 (bye or section) allowed after online registration closes. Requests for byes, withdrawals, and player or school information edits go in effect immediately if made via email before the close of online registration. Changes requested onsite go into effect as of round 2.

Approximate Round Times

Scholastic Sections:
round 1 – 10:00am, rd 2 – 11:45am, rd 3 – 1:30 pm, rd 4 – 3:15 pm
Awards as each section finishes and results are calculated.

Notes

There will be some “down time” between rounds since many games will finish early. We will provide an area (outside the tournament room) for casual “skittles” chess and/or other indoor activities. Parents and/or coaches, please provide age-appropriate activities during the time between rounds. The organizers cannot baby-sit. No child should be left unattended!

Concessions details coming soon. Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.

Awards

Chess Lessons, chess books, and more!

Registration Information

Entry Fee: $35

Withdrawals requested via email before online registration closes (midnight on Wednesday 10/22/25) are eligible for a refund (minus a $10 service fee). No exceptions. No refunds for US Chess memberships after purchased from US Chess. NO email/phone entries.

Please request byes when you register if possible. First bye receives 1/2-point. Further byes receive 0-points. Email the registrar to make changes to your requested byes. Deadline to add or remove a 1st round requested bye is 9am Friday 10/24/2025. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2.

Email Sarah Brauner, registrar (austinchesstournaments@gmail.com) with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.

The organizer will have a photographer/videographer present during the event. By registering and attending, you give consent for photos and videos to be used by GT School for recruitment materials.

Organized by

Posted on September 19, 2025October 4, 2025 by Sarah Brauner

Open Section at the 2025 Fall NYOS Scholastic Chess Tournament

5USCF rated chess tournament on November 1, 2025 for adults and more advanced scholastic players. 4 round Swiss at G/45 +5.

Registration is open! Click here: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/7432

Basics

This is a Swiss-system tournament, so everyone plays all day—there is no “elimination.” Players must know how to play the game of chess! We follow USCF rules including: touch-move, mandatory clocks (bring your own if at all possible), and mandatory notation. If registrations exceed 32, we reserve the right to split into two sections.

Location

NYOS Charter School
12333 N Lamar Blvd
Austin, TX 78753

Eligibility

All adults
Any youth who have reached at least 1300 by the November 2025 USCF supplement.
Ineligible entries will be moved to the appropriate scholastic section of the 2025 Fall NYOS Scholastic Chess Tournament.

This is a rated tournament. You must have a USCF ID and your membership (can be purchased/renewed at check out or online with the USCF in advance of registration) . You can verify your USCF membership ID and expiration by visiting the USCF’s Member Services Area. Anyone can become a USCF member. Players new to tournament chess are welcome to play. Your USCF membership cannot expire before November 30, 2025.

Schedule

No changes for round 1 (bye or section) allowed after online registration closes. Requests for byes, withdrawals, player info edits be made onsite with your chief TD and go into effect as of round 2.

Approximate Round Times

Open Section:
rd 1 – 9:00am, rd2 – 11:00am, rd3 – 1:30pm, rd4 – 3:30pm

Notes

Concessions TBA. Only water bottles allowed at the chess board.

Awards

Cash prizes (to winners in both sections, in the case of multiple sections), based on number of entries. Special trophies will be awarded to the highest scoring Family & Child teams (Uncles, Aunts, Adult siblings, Parents, or Grandparents paired with at least one scholastic aged player.).

Registration Information

Entry fee pricing is staggered and based on date of entry/payment.

*youth – $35/adult – $25 thru Saturday, 10/11/2025.
*youth – $45/adult – $35 thru Saturday, 10/25/2025.
*Late entry youth-$50 / adult – $40 begins Sunday, 10/26/2025 and ENDS at midnight on Wednesday 10/29/25, at which time online entry closes.
*If space permits, onsite registration on Saturday, 11/1/25 will be permitted, $50 regardless of age. Cash or venmo only. First round play requires registration and payment before 8:45am.

Withdrawals requested via email before midnight on Wednesday 10/29/25 are eligible for a refund (minus a $10 service fee). No exceptions. NO email/phone entries.

If you need byes, request them when you register if possible. First bye receives 1/2-point. Further byes receive 0-points. Email the registrar to make changes to your requested byes. Deadline to add or remove a 1st round requested bye is 9am Friday 10/31/2025. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2.

Email Sarah Brauner, registrar (austinchesstournaments@gmail.com) with other questions. No phone calls, please. Emails will be returned promptly.

Organized by Rocks & Rooks. Gary Gaiffe, tournament organizer (ggaiffe@att.net).

Posted on September 17, 2025September 17, 2025 by Sarah Brauner

3rd Austin Chess Tour: Open Qualifier

The Austin Grandmaster Chess Academy is hosting an Open USCF Rated Tournament on November 15, 2025 from 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM. USCF Membership required. Capacity: 80 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:
● November 2025 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 POSSESS CELL PHONES DURING THE TOURNAMENT. Any violators may be subject to disqualification and forfeiture.

ENTRY FEES:
● Early Bird: $50 by November 9th at 11:59 pm.
● $60 on or after November 10th (if space is available)
For additional questions, please contact us at info@austin-chess.com
Link for registration: https://austin-chess.com/tournaments/act-3-open-qualifier-4/

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/

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.