2023 AJ Fink Memorial Championship (u2200)

1. Date & Location

• Saturday, Mar 11, 2023
• 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: 10AM, 12PM, 2PM, 4PM
• 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.
• Three sections: 1900-2199, 1600-1899, under1600 & unrated players
• Pairings are based on the Mar 2023 OTB or ONL supplemental regular US Chess rating. The higher rating will be used for pairing purposes.
• Play-up rule: Players must have an 1700 USCF OTB or ONL supplemental rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1900-2199 section, and players must have a 1400 USCF OTB or ONL supplemental rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1600-1899 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 

                1900-2199 1600-1899. u1600

1st Place $240         $150            $90

2nd Place $150         $85            $75

3rd Place $85            $75           $50

• 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 - No onsite registration! Please register online!

• MI library member: $40
• Non-MI library 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/2023Tournaments/2023AJFinkMemorialChampionshipu2200  

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.

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean? Time controls tell you how much time you have for each game. G40;d5 means game in 40 minutes with a 5-second delay on each move. This means you get 40 minutes, your opponent gets 40 minutes, and at each move the clock counts down from 5 to 0 before the player's time starts. If a player doesn't use up the whole 5 seconds, the remainder of that time is lost.
• How many games/rounds? The 4SS before the time control means it is a Swiss System tournament with four rounds, or four games, that a player can play in the tournament. The tournaments are never elimination, so win or lose, you can stay in the tournament.