Tag: tournament

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4th Austin Chess Tour: Junior Qualifier #5

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-5/ by 11:59pm, April 19, 2026
●  Standard: $50 from April 20 until 11:59p on Mary 4, 2026
●  Late: $65 on or after May 5, 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)
 

PLAYUP POLICY:

  • Playup fee is $0.50 per rating point below the section up to 100 points. We use the higher of the two ratings: Live rating or Current Monthly Ratings to calculate the fee. Playup fee is a guarantee you will play up. There are no refunds for playup fee including Withdrawals Your rating becomes above the rating needed to play the section Your rating becomes lower than the 100 points less threshold AGAIN IT IS A GUARANTEE YOU WILL PLAY IN THE SECTION YOU ARE PAYING FOR All sales for playup fee are final!

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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Waco Swiss 5/9/26

Click HERE to enter!

Saturday, May 9, 2026
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 1624 Wooded Acres Dr., Waco, TX 76710 (Behind Target)

 (Enter through main door and turn right. Tournament room is at the end of Parish Hall.)

VIEW ENTRY LIST  (This is manually entered, so it may not reflect recent registrations.)

4 Rounds at a time control of G/45;d5 (45 minutes with a 5 second delay)

3 Sections: 
  • Championship- Ratings 1600+ (1400-1599 may play up for $10 fee)
  • Under 1601- Ratings 1000-1600 (800-999 may play up for $10 fee) 
  • Under 1000- Ratings 0-999
 
Notes on Sections:
  • Most unrated players should play in the Under 1000 section, but you may play up in the U1601.
  • We go by monthly published ratings, but if your live current rating goes up before the tournament, you may request to move sections. 
  • There is a $10 PLAY-UP FEE for those playing up to a higher section.  You must still meet the section minimum rating to play up.
                
Check in & Pay: 9:30 to 9:50 AM
 (*Because we do not accept payment in advance,  players not checked in by 9:50 am will NOT be paired in Round 1 –unless you notify us that you are on the way.  If you are registered, but can no longer play, please let us know.)

Round Times: 
  • Round 1- 10:00 AM
  • Round 2- 11:45 AM 
  • Round 3- 2:00 PM 
  • Round 4- 3:45 PM
 
Entry Fee: $20 CASH (no credit, no debit) upon arrival.  Exact change is appreciated! Extra $10 play-up fee for those playing up.
Cash Prizes- Based on the number of entries. The prize list will be posted on-site, after the start of Round 1.

Limited Capacity of 70 players!
Register by filling out the form below.
——————————————————————
 
 
This is a rated tournament. Current US Chess membership required (https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess.)
Please check that your membership is not expired before registering (https://ratings.uschess.org.) If you need help creating or renewing your US Chess membership, please email us (contact info is below.)
 
Notation is required.  We provide notation sheets. You may also use your own notation book/ sheets or a USCF approved notation device.  Please bring a pen or pencil.

Please bring a chess clock if you have one.  The club has a limited supply.  Chess sets are provided. 
 
For those new to tournaments: Swiss means all players will play all 4 rounds, unless there is a requested bye (1/2 point) because you need to miss a round or an assigned bye (full point) due to uneven sections.
 
——————————————————————
 
For questions or problems registering, please email:
Dan Shafer (daniel_m_shafer@baylor.edu) or Deborah Shafer (dshaferchess@yahoo.com)
 
(For parents registering children, you may enter the parent email and phone number, but please enter the player’s name.)
 
Personal Information will not be shared.  Only the player’s name, USCF ID, rating, and expiration date will be posted on the entry list.
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Longhorn Monthly Swiss 5/2/26

Leander Public Library
 

Event Overview

The Longhorn Chess Club invites you to the 2026 monthly Swiss – USCF rated tournaments held on the first Saturday of every month at the Leander Public Library.

Dates: recurring 1st Saturday of every month

4 Sections: 

*Please read the sections carefully.

  • Advanced (1500+)
  • Championship (1000-1499)
  • Reserve (600-999)
  • Beginner (U600)

Eligibility: Open to Everyone (no age restrictions)

Time Control: G/45;d5 (45 minutes with a 5 second delay)

Check-in & Registration: 9:00 to 9:20 AM

Registration Link (this is the same link for each month, so check the date carefully): https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfUXRXpwZqdzQp-lXiAOL2Wi5YGt_yXWf7vqc_B5_5WLgrFHw/viewform

Round Times:

  • Round 1- 9:30 AM
  • Round 2- 11:15 AM
  • Round 3- 1:00 PM
  • Round 4- 2:45 PM 

Limited Capacity of 50 players!

Mandatory requirement:

This is a rated tournament. Current US Chess membership required! Please check that your membership is active before registering. Check your expiration date here  https://ratings.uschess.org. Join or renew here https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess. If you need help creating or renewing your US Chess membership, please email us (contact info is below.)

Please bring a chess clock and chess set if you have one.  The club has a limited supply. 

Directions:

Parking: Recommended around Library and near Veterans Park.

Address:

1011 S Bagdad Road
Leander, TX 78641
United States

 

Organizer Overview

Longhorn Chess
Email: longhornchess25@gmail.com
Phone: 3146664346
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Waco March 21 Swiss

Waco March 21 Swiss
4 Round Swiss Tournament (G/45;d5) with 3 sections (Champ, U1601, U1000)
https://forms.gle/jBQzUAnYgxDUHTq8A
Sections
● Championship- Ratings 1600+ (1400-1599 may play up for $10 fee)
● Under 1601- Ratings 1000-1600 (800-999 may play up for $10 fee)
● Under 1000- Ratings 0-999
 
Rounds & Times
Four Rounds at a time control of G/45;d5
● 9:30 to 9:50 AM – Check-in & Pay
All players must check in by 9:50 am
● 10:00 AM – Round 1
● 11:45 AM – Round 2
● 2:00 PM – Round 3
● 3:45 PM – Round 4
 
Entry Fee & Prizes
● $20 – Cash only. Paid on arrival to the tournament. There is a $10 PLAY-UP FEE for those playing up to a higher section.
● Cash Prizes, based on the number of entries. The prize list will be posted on-site.
 
Registration
● Limited Capacity of 70 players!
● Register online to ensure you get a spot. No payment will be taken online.
**Click Here for More Details and Registration**
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKSTbMRge7OepoBI0kH5uG0ZGCDDmDx9HUlrPsGxZssFhNfA/closedform
 
● Because we do not accept advance payment, anyone not checked in by 9:50 a.m. will not be paired in Round 1. If you are running late and notify us that you are on the way, we will pair you for Round 1; however, your clock will start when the round begins.
 
Location
● Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 1624 Wooded Acres Dr. Waco, TX 76710 (Behind Target Shopping Center)
o Enter through the main doors and turn right. The tournament room is at the end of the hallway.
o Free parking on-site
 
Details
● Bring a clock if you have one. The club has limited supplies. We provide sets.
● US Chess Membership is required. Please be responsible for your membership before the event.
● Notation is required. Please bring a pen or pencil. Notation sheets will be available if needed.
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2026 National High School (K-12) Championships

See full information here: https://new.uschess.org/nhs-championships-2026

Schedule

Click here for a complete schedule, sorted by Day/Time – Printable PDF

Click here for a complete schedule, sorted by Event – Printable PDF

In the blue dropdown menus below, you’ll find the schedule of all events from March 26 through 29, broken down by day. Select a day from the menu below to see all events for that day.

Note that, all weekend, the skittles room, chess store, and apparel vendor will all be in TBA (Skittles)

All Girls Club (link coming soon) events will be in Room TBA. For these rooms, hours will be posted on-site. 

For the first time, we will have live commentary of every round, with WGM Sabina Foisor’s coverage available on Twitch. Submit games for analysis at (link coming soon).

All times below are in CT, and all end times are approximate. For a map of the venue, click here.

All sections will consist of 7 rounds with Swiss system pairings. All rounds will be played at a time control of G/90;d10 except K-12 Unrated, K-12 Under-800, and K-12 Under-1200. These sections will play three rounds of G/60;d10 on Friday. Read more here. 

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Open Section at Greater Austin Scholastic Championships

Awards:

Full pairings and standings can be found at the registration link below (click on the blue “Live” text to get to them).

The wrap-up email will be linked HERE once sent.

USCF rated chess tournament on February 21, 2026 for adults and more advanced scholastic players. 4 round Swiss at G/45 +5.

Full pairings and standings can be found at the registration link below (click on the blue “Live” text to get to them).

Register HERE! When you click the link, scroll to the bottom for registration.

See Preregistration List HERE

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 February 2026 USCF supplement.
Ineligible entries will be moved to the appropriate scholastic section of the 2026 Greater Austin Scholastic Championships.

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 February 28, 2026.

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. Open section begins. Open has 4 rounds, all rounds are are G/45, +5.

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

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.

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 through Saturday, 1/31/2026.
*youth – $45/adult – $35 through Saturday, 2/14/2026.
*Late entry youth-$50 / adult – $40 begins Sunday, 2/15/2026 and ENDS at midnight on Wednesday 2/18/26, at which time online entry closes.
*If space permits, onsite registration on Saturday, 2/21/26 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 2/18/26 are eligible for a refund (minus a $10 service fee). No exceptions. NO email/phone entries.

If you need byes, request them by adding a note when you register. 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 2/20/2026. All 1/2-point byes must be requested/removed before the end of round 2.

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

Organized by Rocks & Rooks

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2026 National Middle School (K-8) Championships, May 15-17

Registration is OPEN! Registration, schedule, entry list, hotel information, and more at this link: https://new.uschess.org/nms-championships-2026

See all US Chess national events here: https://new.uschess.org/national-events-calendar

2026 National Middle School (K-8) Championships, May 15-17
Kalahari Resorts & Conventions
3001 Kalahari Boulevard, Round Rock, TX 78665
HR: $199 single-quad

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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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Waco January 17 Swiss

Saturday, January 17, 2026
Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 1624 Wooded Acres Dr., Waco, TX 76710 (Behind Target)

 (Enter through main door and turn right. Tournament room is at the end of Parish Hall.)
 
VIEW ENTRY LIST   (This is manually entered, so it may not reflect recent registrations.)

4 Rounds at a time control of G/45;d5 (45 minutes with a 5 second delay)

3 Sections: 
  • Championship- Ratings 1600+ (1400-1599 may play up for $10 fee)
  • Under 1601- Ratings 1000-1601 (800-999 may play up for $10 fee) 
  • Under 1000- Ratings up to 999
 
Notes on Sections:
  • Most unrated players should play in the Under 1000 section, but you may play in the U1601.
  • We go by monthly published ratings, but if your live current rating goes up before the tournament, you may request to move sections.  There may be a play-up fee, depending on your rating.
  • There is a $10 PLAY-UP FEE for those playing up to a higher section.  You must still meet the section minimum rating to play up.
                
Check-in & Pay: 9:30 to 9:50 AM
 (*Because we do not accept payment in advance,  players not checked in by 9:50 am will NOT be paired in Round 1 –unless you notify us that you are on the way.  If you are registered, but can no longer play, please let us know.)

Round Times: 
  • Round 1- 10:00 AM
  • Round 2- 11:45 AM 
  • Round 3- 2:00 PM 
  • Round 4- 3:45 PM
 
Entry Fee: $20 CASH (no credit, no debit) upon arrival.  Exact change is appreciated! Extra $10 play-up fee for those playing up.
Cash Prizes- Based on the number of entries. The prize list will be posted on-site, after the start of Round 1.

Limited Capacity of 70 players!
Register by filling out the form below.

—————————————————————
 
This is a rated tournament. Current US Chess membership required (https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess.)
Please check that your membership is not expired before registering (https://ratings.uschess.org.) If you need help creating or renewing your US Chess membership, please email us (contact info is below.)
 
Notation is required.  We provide notation sheets if you don’t have your own. You may also use your own notation book/ sheets or a USCF approved notation device.  Please bring a pen or pencil.
If you don’t know how to notate, learn here: 

Please bring a chess clock if you have one.  The club has a limited supply.  Chess sets are provided. 
 
For those new to tournaments: Swiss means all players will play all 4 rounds, unless there is a requested bye (1/2 point) because you need to miss a round or an assigned bye (full point) due to uneven sections.
 
——————————————————————
 
For questions or problems registering, please email:
Dan Shafer (daniel_m_shafer@baylor.edu) or Deborah Shafer (dshaferchess@yahoo.com)
 
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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.