PURPOSE: Our goal is to expand rated chess opportunities in our community to benefit and encourage both new and experienced players.
SPECIAL PROMOTIONS: FREE registration for players with current USCF rating over 2000! Entry fee deducted from winnings.
DATE: Saturday, May 4, 2024
LOCATION:
Mad Hatter's House of Games; 1507 Texas Ave., Lubbock, TX 79401
START TIME: Round 1 begins at 11 AM (PLEASE arrive and check-in before 10:45)
END TIME: Most sections will finish at approximately 5:30 PM. The Novice Sections will finish at approximately 4:30 PM if players use full time allowed, but may end earlier. Section awards will be presented shortly after all players in a section have completed their final round. Lower sections typically wrap up earlier than higher sections.
COST: FREE REGISTRATION for players with current USCF rating over 2000! (Entry fee deducted from winnings); $15/player for Early (Online) or $20/player for Late (On-site) registration with all payments payable at check-in onsite (Cash and correct change greatly appreciated! No credit cards.)
REGISTRATION DEADLINES: Early (Online) pre-registrations are due by 6 PM Friday, May 3, 2024. Late (On-site) registrations must be done between 10:00 and 10:30 AM on Saturday, May 4, 2024.
TOURNAMENT DETAILS:
Tournament Director: Robert Moore, Region I Director – Texas Chess Association
USCF Rated Event: Current USCF membership required - PLEASE update your membership prior to tournament day. Contact us if you need help registering or renewing your USCF membership.
Schedule: This is a swiss style tournament; See below for number of rounds and time controls for each section. Pairings will be posted 5 minutes after the last game in the previous round ends, and the new round will begin 10 minutes after the previous round is complete. This effectively adds a 10-minute break for players who are the last to finish a round. Round 1 begins promptly at 11 AM.
Equipment: Chess sets and notation supplies will be provided. Some chess clocks will be available, but please bring your own clock if you have one.
Four sections as follows: - Open Championship - Must be rated above 1200. If fewer than 8 players are above 1200, highest rated players below 1200 will be used to ensure at least 8 players in the section. ( $15 Early/$20 Late due onsite; FREE for players with current USCF rating over 2000!) 4 Rounds, G/40;d5
- Reserve (U1200) - Rating between 750 and 1200 and unrated players. ( $15 Early/$20 Late due onsite ) 4 Rounds, G/40;d5
- Novice A (U800) - Rating between 350 and 800 and unrated scholastic players. (
$15 Early/$20 Late due onsite ) 5 Rounds, G/25;d5
- Novice B (U400) - Rating under 400 and unrated players 5th grade or below. (
$15 Early/$20 Late due onsite ) 5 Rounds, G/25;d5
- EXCEPTIONS FOR PROVISIONALLY RATED PLAYERS: Adult players with provisional ratings below 750 may choose to play up into a Reserve section, but they may also register for the novice section that matches their provisional rating. Scholastic players with provisional ratings may be placed in an appropriate section by the tournament director.
- NOTE: If fewer than 5 players register for any section, then players from that section may be combined with the section above or below at the TD's discretion. A player near the rating cut-off may be moved to maintain an even number of players in as many sections as possible. Also, at the TD's discretion, section rating ranges may be revised onsite based on natural breaks in rating distributions, which could increase the number of players in the Open Championship section to more than 8. Additionally, at the TD's discretion, an additional reserve section may be added if there are more than 50 confirmed registered players.
Prizes:
Cash prizes for Open Championship and Reserve Sections: Cash prize guarantees are
based on 50 registered players.
- The total guaranteed prize fund for 50 players is $400.
- The available cash prize fund will be increased or decreased based on registration variance from 50 players. At 100 players, the prize fund will grow to $1000!
- If there are fewer than 50 players, prizes may be given for fewer than 3 places in each section.
- Ties will follow USCF rules for splitting cash prizes.
Trophies & medals for Novice sections:
- Trophies will be awarded to the top three finishers in each Novice section.
- Medals will be awarded to players who tie for third but do not receive a trophy.
- Standard tie breaks will be used.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Photos may be taken during the tournament and awards ceremony. These
images may be shared with Texas Chess Association, news outlets, or other interested groups or
individuals. Images may be used for promotion of subsequent chess events.
CONTACT: Completing the registration form linked below should generate an email to the
address used to complete the form. Prior to the tournament, another email communication will be
sent with a link to check tournament registration details.
If you have any questions please email us:
- Robert Moore - bobertwbu@gmail.com; 334-233-4373
- Amy Jones - spherehomeschool@gmail.com; 806-787-3568
