2025 North Carolina State Championship (National Chess Week)

The Official 2025 State Championship of North Carolina is a 5 round USCF rated tournament with a prize fund of $8,000 based on 130 players. (75% Guaranteed = $6,000). There is a registration cap of 150 players. We expect to sell out, so please register well in advance. (Registration closes at 150 players. Dragon Knight Chess reserves the sole right to accept entries past 150 players, depending on specific space constraints.)

WHEN

Friday-Sunday, October 3-5, 2025

WHERE

Best Western Plus Burlington

770 Huffman Mill Road

Burlington, NC 27215

Breakfast buffet is free for hotel guests with rooms. (Any family or friends without rooms need to pay $10 per person at the front desk, or have it added to the hotel guest's Master Bill.) 

HOTEL BOOKING

Reserve ASAP at:

(336) 584-0151, and mention block name "NC Chess State Championships"

https://www.bestwestern.com/en_US/book/hotels-in-burlington/best-western-plus-burlington/propertyCode.34053.html

Check-In is at 3pm, and Check-Out is at Noon. 

REGISTRATION

• Players are strongly recommended to register online.
• On-site check in is not necessary for online registered players;
• US Chess Federation (USCF) membership is required for all players. https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
• Adult NC residents must be current dues paying NCCA members ($10 per year). https://ncchess.org/membership/
• To renew: https://ncchess.org/membership-account/membership-levels/
• To join: https://ncchess.org/join/ 
• All registration closes 1 hour before the relevant Round 1.
• On-site registration:
• 3-Day Schedule - Friday 5:30-6pm
• 2-Day Schedule / Re-Entry - Saturday 7:30-8am

SCHEDULE

3-Day Schedule - 5 Rounds

Friday 7pm

Saturday: 2pm (merge with 2-Day schedule), and 7pm

Sunday: 9am and 2pm

2-Day Schedule - 5 Rounds

Saturday: 9am*, 2pm (merge with 3-Day schedule), and 7pm

Sunday: 9am and 2pm

*Round 1 of the 2-Day Schedule is played at G/90; d5 time control.

TIME CONTROLS

3-Day Schedule: G/110; d5

Round 1 of the 2-Day Schedule is played at G/90; d5 time control.

Prize fund: $8,000 based on 130 entries (75% = $6,000 Guaranteed):

Championship Section

$900 - $500 - $250

Class prizes:

U2200: $200 - $150 - $130

U2100: $120 - $100

Under 2000 Section: 

$600 - $300 - $200

Class prizes:

U1900: $160 - $150 - $140

U1800: $130 - $120

U1700: $110 - $100

Under 1600 Section

$600 - $300 - $200

Class prizes:

U1500: $150 - $140

U1400: $130 - $120

U1300: $110 - $100

Under 1200 Section

$500 - $250 - $150

Class prizes:

U1100: $120 - $110

U1000: $100 - $90

U900: $80 - $70

Senior prizes: Each section age 50+: $50 - $30 bonus prizes in each section

Plaque or trophy to Top Championship; U2200; U2000; U1800; U1600; U1400; U1200; U1000; U700

USCF tiebreaks for plaques and trophies

First place ties in title categories (Championship; U2200; U2000; U1800; U1600; U1400; U1200; U1000; U700) will be considered co-champions. 

Section choice guidelines:  For "playing up" in Open; Under 2000; or Under 1600  Sections, the 100 point rule applies: minimum rating to enter Open Section is 1900; minimum rating to enter Under 2000 Section is 1500; and minimum rating to enter Under 1600 Section is 1100.

Registration and Entry Fee:

Register by August 3 pay $50;

Register August 4-10 pay $95;

Register August 11-31 pay $104;

Register September 1-20 pay $114;

Pay $120 after September 20 or on-site at least 1 hour before the relevant Round 1; mandatory 1st round half point bye likely.

All withdrawals by October 1 will be refunded minus a $10 transaction fee. After Oct. 1, refunds will be 50% until 1 hour before the relevant Round 1.

Re-entry: If players have an undesirable tournament start, they may wish to re-enter the tournament, and can do so for a $40 fee.

Free entry for GMs/IMs/WGMs

USCF membership required. https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess

Up to 2 optional half point byes are allowed for any round(s) declared before Round 3. All registration changes, byes, and withdrawals must be submitted at least 1 hour before the relevant round. Players who forfeit ('no-show") without sufficient notice will be fined up to $100.  

USCF Regular rating used for section eligibility, pairings, and prizes (October 2025 rating list).

For questions, concerns, and withdrawals prior to the event email:  [email protected]

For contact during the event email (above) or text (or call) (919) 422-2535

Residency restriction: Open to all players who are residents of NC, students in NC colleges or universities, or military stationed in NC