Event Overview
$2,000 in guaranteed cash prizes. 60+ individual and school/club team trophies. Free entry for GMs and other titled players, as well as coaches. Five sections suitable for world-class players to novices.
Emerald Hills Chess, Tri-Valley Chess League, and the Emerald Knights Chess Club present the fourth East Bay Open 2025.
Last year’s tournament drew 235 players, and was won for the third straight time by GM Enrico Sevillano, who will be back this year to defend his title.
Date: Saturday Oct. 11, 2025
Location: Windermere Ranch Middle School, 11611 East Branch Parkway, San Ramon
Learn more and register
Sections (all USCF-rated except Novices)
Championship (1500+)
4-Round Swiss (G/40;d5) open to all ages
Rating range: 1500+ (based on official rating as of Oct. 2025 supplement; unrateds may use FIDE or non-US equivalent rating); USCF 1300-1499 players can play up for an additional $20 fee.
Free entry for USCF and FIDE titled players (including GMs, WGMs, IMs, WIMs, FMs, WFMs, and NMs) as well as Coaches bringing players (verification may be required).
Prize fund ($1,500, money shared evenly in case of ties): 1st - $500, 2nd - $300, 3rd - $200; 1st U1600 - $300; 2nd U1600 - $200
Learn more and register
Experts (1000-1500)
5-round Rated Swiss (G/25;d5) open to all ages
Trophies: Top 10 in each section, Top 3 U1200, and all other players scoring 3.5 or more
Cash prizes ($300 total): 1st Place - $150, 2nd - $100, 1st U1200 - $50 (shared evenly in case of ties)
Premier (U1000)
5-round Rated Swiss (G/25;d5) open to all ages
Rating range: USCF Under 1000/unrated
Trophies: Top 10, Top 4 U700, and all other players scoring 3.5 or more
Cash prizes ($200): 1st Place - $100, 2nd $50 Top U700 $50 (shared in case of ties)
Learn more and register
Junior Challenger (U500)
5-round Rated Swiss (G/25;d5) open to K-12 only
Rating range: USCF Under 500/unrated
Trophies: Top 10, Top 3 U300, and all other players scoring 3.5 or more
Junior Novices
5-round Non-Rated Swiss open to K-12 only (No USCF membership required)
Open to: 1) Unrated first-time tournament players; 2) played fewer than 10 USCF-rated games with a provisional rating under 400; have not won a 1st or 2nd place trophy in a prior Novices tournament
Trophies: Top 5, and all other players scoring 3.5 or more
Learn more and register
K-12 Team Championship
Open to all teams (min 2) of any age from the same youth club or school
Team score is calculated based on the top 4 individual scorers overall, weighted higher for players in higher sections.
Trophies on offer:
Top 6 teams
Top elementary school team
Organizers
Emerald Hills Chess provides tournament training classes and after-school clubs serving 300+ kids in 12+ locations around the Tri-Valley.
The Tri-Valley Chess League is a student-led non-profit that also holds free chess classes in Pleasanton.
The Emerald Knights Chess Club is a student-led non-profit that holds tournaments and classes.
11611 East Branch Parkway
San Ramon, CA 94582
United States