2025 Houston Open

2025 HOUSTON OPEN

Organized by Cypress Chess, LLC

US Chess Affiliate A9539495

Texas Chess Association Member

November 7 - 9, 2025

Houston, TX

$11,750 b/225 full-paid entries, 65% guaranteed, but the Prize Fund for the Open Section is 100% Guaranteed!! 

5SS - US Chess Rated 

***  US Chess and the Organizer of this event are committed to a safe and welcoming environment for all players and spectators.  US Chess has adopted Safe Play guidelines and all tournament staff have completed SafeSport training. The US Chess Safe Play Hub explains the details of this initiative. If you have any cause to feel unsafe or uncomfortable during your interaction with anyone at this event, please report the problem to a tournament director immediately.  Each tournament director is wearing an official badge identifying them as a TD.  US Chess and the Organizer of this event will follow up on the report in real time.  Thank you for your attention to this important information.***

"OPEN" & "U2000" SECTIONS are FIDE RATED using FIDE Rules - 5SS, G/90, i30 (US Chess Ratings used for pairings)

ALL OTHER SECTIONS - 5SS, G/120, d5. 

Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule is G/60, d5 for ALL sections.  Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule is not FIDE rated for Open or U2000.

Free entry for GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs 

3-Day or 2-Day Schedules Available

PLEASE BRING YOUR CHESS SET AND CLOCK.  THOSE ARE NOT PROVIDED BY THE TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS.  FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THERE WILL BE A CHESS STORE ON LOCATION SELLING CHESS-RELATED ITEMS.

SPECTATOR POLICY 

SPECTATORS (NON-PLAYING INDIVIDUALS) WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM DURING TOURNAMENT PLAY.   PLAYERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR GAMES MAY STAY IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM TO WATCH OTHER GAMES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY LEAVE THE PLAYING HALL.

DETAILS & REGISTRATION

LOCATION

DoubleTree by Hilton

15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd.

Houston, TX  77032

(take the JFK exit off of Beltway 8 in north Houston near IAH Airport)

• Complimentary Hotel Self-Parking;
• Free Shuttle Service from Bush Int'l (IAH) Airport to/from Hotel - please call hotel for pick-up service (281-848-4000);
• Basic Internet in Each Room!

SPECIAL HOTEL CHESS RATE:   $92 & tax

THE DEADLINE FOR RESERVING ROOMS AT THE CHESS RATE is October 20.

Please go to Online Reservations for Houston Open, or call the hotel's direct line at 855-610-8733, and mention HCO.

FORMAT

5SS - US Chess Rated

OPEN & U2000 Sections Only (US Chess-Rated and FIDE- Rated using FIDE Rules):  G/90, i30

All other Sections: (US Chess Rated):  G/120, d5

All sections, including Open and 2000 will use US Chess ratings for pairings and prizes.

US Chess November 2025 Rating Supplement.

SECTIONS & PRIZES

OPEN & U2000 Sections are FIDE Rated using FIDE Rules.

OPEN: $1500 + plaque - $900 - $500 - $300 - $200.  Special prize for top female player in the Open Section:  $250 (Winner may also be eligible for place prizes. 

(U2200):  $700-400

U2000: $800 + plaque - $400 - $200 - $125 - $100

U1800: $800 + plaque - $400 - $200 - $125 - $100

U1600: $800 + plaque - $400 - $200 - $125 - $100

U1300.: $600 + plaque - $300 - $200 - $100

    U1100:  $450 + plaque - $225 - $150 - $100    

  * Plaque for Top High School (9-12), Top Middle School (6-8), Top Elementary School (4-5), and Top Primary School (Pre-K - 3) students in the U1100 Section only. In addition to the plaque, a student may also win a cash prize based on the standings.

*Commemorative Chess Clock for the oldest player and the player whose home is farthest from the event.

* UNRATED PLAYERS MAY PLAY IN ANY SECTION EXCEPT U1100.

In the event of a tie, plaque winners will be determined by US Chess-recommended tiebreaks (MSCO).  Official November 2025 US Chess Rating Supplement used.

SCHEDULES & ROUND TIMES 

3-Day Schedule

On-site Registration: Friday (11/7) from 5:00-6:45 pm

3-Day Round Times:

    Friday, Nov. 7:          7:30pm

           Saturday, Nov. 8:     1pm & 6pm

             Sunday, Nov. 9:       9:30am & 3pm

*   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

2-Day Schedule

On-site Registration: Saturday (11/8) from 7:00-8:45 a.m.

2-Day Round Times:

                        Saturday, Nov. 8:     9:30am & 1pm & 6pm

             Sunday, Nov. 9:       9:30am & 3pm

*** NOTE:  Both Schedules merge on Round 2.***

BYES

Two 1/2-point byes are available for any round.  You must advise the Chief Tournament Director or Event Organizer and commit to any byes before the beginning of Round 3.  After the start of Round 3, no voluntary byes may be added, changed, or rescinded.

ENTRY FEES

0$ REGISTRATION FOR TITLED PLAYERS (GM, IM, WGM, WIM)Titled Players:  GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs pay no Entry Fee.  IF YOU ARE A TITLED PLAYER, register online. The entry fee amount is adjusted with the title.

OPEN (including Unrated Players in the OPEN), U2000, U1800, U1600: 

     Early Entry Fee  -  $109 by 10/15;

     Regular Entry Fee -  $119  by 10/31; 

     Late Entry Fee  -  $125 after 11/5 and on site.

U1300:

     Early Entry Fee  -  $79 by 10/15;

     Regular Entry Fee  -  $89 by 10/31;

     Late Entry Fee  -  $99 after 11/5 and on site. 

U1100:

     Early Entry Fee  -  $59 by 10/15;

     Regular Entry Fee  -  $69 by 10/31;

     Late Entry Fee  -  $79 after 11/5 and on site.

Discounted Entry Fee for Senior Players: in U1300:   $69 by 10/31, $79 after 11/5 or onsite.

Discounted Entry Fee for Senior Players: in U1600, U1800, U2000, & Open: $89 by 10/31, $99 by 11/5, $105 after 11/5 or onsite.

For Senior Player (65+) discount, please email [email protected]

Onsite registrations starts at 4 P.M. Friday, 11/7

Online registration for 3-Day Schedule ends on Friday, 11/7 at  4:00 P.M.

Online registration for 2-Day Schedule ends on Saturday, 11/8 at 7 A.M.

Check not accepted for onsite registrations; cash and credit cards accepted.

All REFUNDS WILL HAVE A $10 PROCESSING FEE WITHHELD. **

NO REFUNDS AFTER NOVEMBER 5

RE-ENTRY FEE:  $40 

Re-entry in U1800, U1600, U1300, and U1100 is available before the start of Round 3.

NO RE-ENTRY IN THE OPEN & U2000 Sections

For prize fund calculations, Entries in U1300/Unr. = 72% of full entry; U1100 entries = 54%; Re-entries = 37%

SIDE EVENT

  BLITZ Tournament - Saturday 11/8 after Round 3, G/5;d0.  Entry Fee, $20 onsite registration only.

Bughouse Tournament - Saturday 11/8 immediately following the Blitz. Entry Fee $25 per team, onsite registration only.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE HOUSTON OPEN...

email

[email protected]

** REGISTRATION FEES MAY BE APPLIED TO FUTURE EVENTS RATHER THAN REFUNDED IF REQUESTED BEFORE MIDNIGHT 11/5.