1st John Grefe Memorial Tournament

1. Date & Location

• Saturday, August 3, 2024
• Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
  57 Post Street, 4th Floor
  San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)
   

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Swiss System
• Total Rounds: 4
• Round Times: 10:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 4:00 pm
• Time Control: G/40;d5  (Game in 40 minutes with a 5-second delay at each move.)
• Games will be US Chess regular-rated. Tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.
• NEW: Four sections: 2000+, 1600-1999, 1200-1599, u1200 & unrated players
• Pairings are based on the August 2024 regular supplemental US Chess rating.
• Play-up rule:
  Players must have an 1800 USCF regular supplemental rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 2000+ section;
  Players must have a 1400 USCF regular supplemental rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1600-1999 section;
  Players must have a 1000 USCF regular supplemental rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1200-1599 section.

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in any rounds in case they can't participate but would like to stay in the tournament.
• Max of 2 half-point byes can be requested in this tournament.
• Round 1-2 byes must be requested 15 minutes prior to the round start time.
• Round 3-4 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 0.5 bye for any missed round, up to a total of 2 rounds.
   

4. Prize Fund --  $1000 based on 60 paid entries 

• Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing prize checks.
• Per IRS rules anyone with a cumulative $600+ prizes in any calendar year will need to fill out a W9 and Mechanics' Institute will be providing a 1099 form. 

5. Registration:

• Mechanics' Institute Member: $40
• Non-Member: $50
• Play-up: $15 for members, $20 for non-members.
• $20 late fee
• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.
• Click HERE to Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2024Tournaments/1stJohnGrefeMemorialTournament

6. Eligibility

• Players must have current US Chess Federation membership. 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 40 minutes.

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 get closer to the event date to ensure an excellent tournament experience for players.