Inaugural Swiss + Knockout Blitz

List of Registered Players 

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

Registration -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules -- FAQ
 

 Tournament capacity: 80 players.

Important Information:
This event has two parts: Swiss and Knockout.
The Swiss will have three rounds, and all players will participate.
Players who place in the Top 16 will move on to the Knockout part.
The Knowout will have 4 stages: Round 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, and the Final.
In each stage, winners will move forward to the next stage, and players who lose their game will be eliminated.
Details on format, time control, and other rules are below.

 

1. Date & Location

• Thursdays at 6:30 pm

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

 

2. Tournament Format:

• The event has two parts: Swiss and Knockout

• First Part: Swiss

• Total Rounds: 3

• Round Times: 6:30 PM and on a rolling schedule 

• Time Control: G/3;+2inc  (Game in 3 minutes with a 2-second increment at each move.)

• Games will be US Chess blitz-rated. 

• Sections: One open section

• Second Part: Knockout

• Only for qualified players (Top 16 players from the Swiss.)

• Total stages: 4

• Stages: Round 16, Quarter-Finals, Semi-Finals, Final

• Time Control: G/3;+2inc  (Game in 3 minutes with a 2-second increment at each move.)

• Each stage will have one match for the players. The match consists of two games, one game with each color. In case of a tie (1-1) after the second game, a 5-min for White vs. 4-min for Black Armageddon game will decide the winner of the match. Black has drawing odds, and colors will be determined by coin flip.

• In each stage, winners will move forward to the next stage, and players who lose their game will be eliminated.

• A match for the 3rd place will not be played. (We reserve the right to change this as we get closer to the event)

• Games will be US Chess blitz-rated. 

• Monthly supplemental regular OTB rating will be used. The Chief TD has the discretion to use a player's USCF online rating (ONL) or live rating for pairing purposes in extreme cases where fairness will be preserved by doing so.

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

 

3. Byes

• No byes for this event. Late joins may get one half-point bye. 

 

4. Prize Fund --  $450 based on 30 fully paid players.

	Open
1st Place	$70
2nd Place	$50
3rd-4th  Place	$35
Eliminated in the QF (x4)	$25
Eliminated in the R16 (x8)	$20

 

5. Registration

• MI library member: $30

• Non-MI library member: $40

• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.

• Free entry for GM/IM/WGM/WIMs 2 days before the event.

 

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/join-us-chess

 

7. Tournament Rules

• Standard US Chess rules apply.

• Forfeit time is 15 minutes.
 

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
Time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
G3;+2 means a game in 3 minutes with a 2-second added with each move. This means you get 3 minutes, your opponent gets 3 minutes, and at each move, is a 2-second added to the players' time.

 

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 we approach the event date to ensure an excellent tournament experience for players.