3rd Neil Falconer Memorial Tournament (FIDE-rated)

4-Round Swiss - Full Weekend, FIDE-Rated Tournament

Open to Everyone!

 

Standings - Prize Winners

Dates & Location -- Tournament Format -- Byes -- Prize Fund

Registration -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules  -- Change Request Form -- FAQ
 

Masks are optional in the chess room.
Tournament capacity: 80 players

The top 6 boards are broadcasted on Chess.com with a 15-minute delay:
https://www.chess.com/events/2025-3rd-falconer-memorial-tournament/games
 

1. Dates & Location

• Saturday, February 22 - Sunday, February 23

• Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
  57 Post Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Individual Swiss

• Total Rounds: 4

• Round Times: Saturday 10:00 am, 2:30 pm and Sunday 10:00 am, 2:30 pm

• Time Control: G/90+30s inc  (Game in 90 minutes with a 30-second increment after each move.)

• Games will be US Chess regular-rated and FIDE-rated. Tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.

• Sections: 2000+, 1600-1999 and under1600.

• Pairings are based on the Feb 2025 supplemental regular US Chess ratings.

• Play-up: Players must have an 1800 USCF regular supplemental or actual rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 2000+ section, and similarly, players must have a 1400 USCF regular supplemental or actual rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1600-1999 section.  FIDE Rating may not be used as a replacement for US Chess ratings to select the players' selection. The play-up fee is determined based on the supplemental rating.

• Unrated players can only play in the u1600 section.

• To request any change, please use the Change Request Form.

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in any round in case they can't participate but would like to stay in the tournament.

• A maximum of 2 half-point byes can be requested in this tournament.

• Round 1-3 byes must be requested 15 minutes prior to the round start time.

• Round 4 byes must be requested before the start of Round 1. Round 4 bye is irrevocable to prevent prize-fund manipulations.

• Late registrations will receive a half-point bye for any missed round, up to a total of 2 rounds.

• To request a bye after registration, please use the Change Request Form.

4. Prize Fund

• $2600 based on 80 paid entries. ​

	2000+	1600-1999	u1600
1st Place	$425	$325	$250
2nd Place	$325	$225	$150
3rd Place	$225	$125	$100
Best under2200	$100
Best under2000	$100
Best under1800		$75
Best under1600		$75
Best under1400			$50
Best under1200			$50

• Under prizes are based on the USCF OTB rating.

• Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing prize checks.

• Per IRS rules, anyone with a cumulative $600+ prize in any calendar year will need to fill out a W-9 form, and the Mechanics' Institute will provide a 1099 form at the end of the calendar year.
 

5. Registration

• Onsite Registration: Saturday, February 22: 9:30 am-9:45 am

• Mechanics' Institute Member: $70

• Non-Member: $100

• Play-up for member: $15

• Play-up for non-members: $20

• Late fee on the day of the tournament: $20

• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.

• Free entry for GM/IM/WGM/WIMs by February 15. 

• Click here to register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/3rdNeilFalconerMemorialTournament

• To request any change, please use the Change Request Form.
 

6. Eligibility

• Players must have a current US Chess Federation membership. The expiration date of their US Chess membership must be later than the last day of the tournament.

• Not sure if you have a membership? Need to check the expiration date of your members? Visit: https://new.uschess.org/player-search

• Become a member or renew your membership: https://new.uschess.org/player-search
 

7. Tournament Rules

• Standard US Chess and modified FIDE rules apply.

• Forfeit time is 60 minutes. Please be considerate of your opponent, and don't be late! Let us know if you can't make it to one round!

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
The time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
For example, G/90+30inc means a game in 90 minutes with a 90-second increment with each move. This means you get 90 minutes, your opponent gets 90 minutes, and at each move, 30 seconds are added to your clock.

• How many games/rounds?
The 4SS before the time control means there are four rounds or four games a player can play in the tournament. The tournaments are never eliminated, so you can stay in the tournament.

 

Mechanics' Institute Chess Club reserves the right to update any details of this event (including, but not limited to, sections, time control, round times, prize fund, etc.) as the event date approaches to ensure an excellent tournament experience for players.