2023 Fredericksburg Open

The main tournament is on Saturday & Sunday, Oct 28-29. If you want to play Blitz, come out on Friday evening for the fun! Register for both tournaments at www.vachess.org.

Hotel & Playing Site: Country Inn & Suites Fredericksburg-South, 5327 Jefferson Davis Highway, Fredericksburg, VA 22408. Chess Rate for lodging is $89 plus taxes. Call the hotel at 540-898-1800 by Fri. Oct 20th and mention the chess tournament. Or click here to reserve your room online now.

Format: 5 Rounds, Swiss System (this is not an elimination tournament).

Sections: Players can compete in one of these 3 Sections based on their ratings:
    - Championship: Minimum post-tournament US Chess rating of 1600 in the past 12 months. No Unrated players.
    - Under 1800: Players rated below 1800, over 1000, and those who are Unrated.
    - Under 1200: Players rated below 1200, or who are Unrated.

      Notes:

1. An “Unrated” player is someone who does not have a US Chess rating or a rating in a system recognized by the US Chess Federation (e.g., FIDE and many foreign countries). A player with a rating in a recognized system is NOT Unrated. Ratings from Chess.com, Lichess, Chesskid, ICC, Tornelo, etc., are not used.
2. Chief TD will pair players and award prizes based on the higher of each player’s Over-the-Board and Online Regular ratings. These ratings also determine players’ section eligibility. The Chief TD is the final authority on ratings used.

MAIN EVENT SCHEDULE:

• Round 1: Saturday Oct 28th at 10 am. Time Control is Game-75 with a 10-second time increment from move one.
• Round 2: Saturday at 2 pm. Time Control is Game-90 with a 10-second time increment from move one.
• Round 3: Saturday at 7 pm. Same Time Control as Round 2, same for all remaining rounds.
• Round 4: Sunday, Oct 29th at 10 am.
• Round 5: Sunday at 3 pm. We distribute monetary prizes at the end of the event or by mail, trophies will not be mailed.

Prizes: $4000 Prize Fund based on 70 paid players. PLACE PRIZES Guaranteed in all 3 sections, remaining prizes will not be reduced more than 33% if we have less than 70 players. Prize fund increases if we have more players—so bring your friends!!
    - Championship: 1st – 3rd Places $650, $400, $250; Top Expert $200; Top A $180; Top Upset Rds 1-5 $120.
    - Under 1800: 1st-3rd $475, $310, $175; Top U1500 $140, Top U1200 $130; Top UNR $100; Upset Rds 1-5 $100.
    - Under 1200: 1st-3rd $350, $200, $100; Top U1000/UNR $70; Top U800 $50; Trophies to 2nd U1000 and U800, 1st & 2nd U600. 
      Note: All Unrated (UNR) players must play in the U1800 or U1200 sections, limited to $250 winnings.

On-Line Registration & Fees: Register online at www.vachess.org.
    - $80 through Sat Oct 21;  $95 starting Sun Oct 22;  $110 starting Thurs Oct 26 and at the event.
    - VA Chess Federation will retain $5 from any player who withdraws before Round 1.

On-Site Registration: At the hotel; Credit cards, checks, cash accepted. On-site Registration Fee is $110, so go online now!
    - Friday, Oct 27th, 4—6:30 pm. Round 1 of Blitz starts at 7 pm.
    - Saturday, Oct 28th, 7:30—9:15 am. Round 1 of the Main Tournament begins at 10 am.

Optional Half-Point Byes & Re-Entry in the Main Event:
    - One half-point bye allowed in any round, must declare during Registration or 30 min before the start of Rounds 1 and 2. Bye requests after 30 minutes before Round 2 must be Zero-point Byes.
    - Players who lose in Round 1 can Re-Enter in Round 2 for $30 and receive a half-point Bye.

Ratings Used for Sectioning and Prizes: We use the higher of a player’s Over-the-Board Regular and Online Regular ratings from the October 2023 US Chess Rating Supplement. Established ratings trump provisional ratings, and “stale” over-the-board or online ratings will be reviewed by the Chief TD. Players who lack US Chess ratings, but have ratings in other recognized systems, will have their ratings converted by the Chief TD to a US Chess equivalent.

Membership Requirements: All players must be US Chess members in good standing except Foreign GM/WGM, IM/WIM. Check, join, or renew your membership at www.vachess.org. Virginia-based players must be members of the VA Chess Federation. Join or renew during the tournament entry process or at the tournament site.

Mail-in Entries:
    - Check payable to VA Chess Federation or “VCF”.
    - Download our mail-in form from www.vachess.org, or include the Player’s Name, Address, Email, Phone Number, US Chess ID, Section Playing In, and whether you want an Optional half-point Bye.
    - Mail by Saturday Oct 21 to Mike Hoffpauir, ATTN: Fredericksburg Open, 405 Hounds Chase, Yorktown, VA 23693

Chess Equipment: VCF can provide all chess sets and clocks, but you may use your own. If you use your own clock, it must be time-increment capable. Please being your increment-capable clock and know how to set it! We plan to have a Chess Vendor on site, Mr. Todd Hammer.

Face Masks: Optional but recommended.

Info:  www.vachess.org, or Mike Hoffpauir, Click here to show mail address, text to 757-846-4805.