2025 Texas Action Championship

State Championship Event
Abilene Christian University Hunter Welcome Center

Event Overview

Event Overview

A 5-round swiss

USCF Rated Sections: Open/Championship, U1200, U600

Other Section: UNrated section (not USCF rated, limited to first 20 participants)

Projected Prizes: $900 (based on 50 paid entries)

Including $300 Guaranteed Prize and

Texas Action Champion title and crystal award for the first Texas resident in the Open Section

One Day Event: G/30;d0 (no delay or increment)

*Registration closes at 10pm on Friday, July 18, 2025. There is no onsite registration.*

Benefits

1. State Championship Status

Do you want to be known as the best chess player in Texas for one hour games? As an official state championship sponsored by the Texas Chess Association, we have the high honor of making this possible by awarding the title of Texas Action Champion.

2. Beginners Are Welcome

This tournament is not just for high-rated players. There will be two under sections in the hopes that players compete against other players of similar ability and are not crushed by opponents they have no chance of defeating anytime soon. Also, because Abilene has not been host to a rated chess event in many years, we will offer one unrated section. The UNrated section does not require USCF membership, but does require TCA membership. The UNrated section is limited to the first 20 registrations.

3. An Opportunity to Explore Abilene

Abilene is home to multiple museums, including Frontier Texas!, The Grace Museum, National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature, and Dyess Air Force Base Memorial Museum and Linear Air Park (the personal tour is a treat!). Other interesting sites include the Abilene Zoo, historic sites, public sculptures and parks, and multiple entertainment options, such as the Free Play Arcade.

4. Savings Potential

Register by July 13th for the best rate. Our early entry fees ($45 for the Open and $35 for all other sections) increase on July 14th. If you want a deal, register now. Not sure if you can come yet? No need to worry. Your entry fee is fully refundable until seven days before the event. No questions asked. No hassle. Just ask for a refund by the deadline and your refund will be on its way in no time. Note: only the registration fee will be refunded; if you incur any service charges, those will not be refunded.

The Fine Print

Qualifications for USCF rated sections (Open, U1200, and U600): All chess players, regardless of residence, are welcome as long as they meet the membership requirements. You must have an unexpired USCF and TCA membership in good standing on the day of the tournament for all sections except the Unrated section. If you do not have these memberships at the moment, you can still register but you will need to purchase/renew them before the tournament. Please note, however, that while residents of other states may participate and win cash prizes, state champion titles are for Texas residents only. Players of all ages are welcome in every section.

Qualifications for UNrated section: The UNrated section does not require a USCF membership as games will not be rated, but a TCA membership is required for all players as this is an official TCA state championship event. Experienced players will find the rated sections more challenging and exciting. Players of all ages are welcome.

Entry Fee: For the Open section, $45 through 7/13 and $60 thereafter. For all other sections, $35 through 7/13 and $50 thereafter.

Registration: To register, please visit: https://forms.gle/MbJKqC6w5BEsEnZu5

Online registration will close at 10:00pm on the day before the tournament. Any fees associated with online payment are nonrefundable. Note: There is no onsite registration available. All registration closes at 10pm on Friday, July 18, 2025.

Byes: Every player is entitled to one half point bye if requested before the close of online registration. After that time, all requested byes will be for zero points.

Schedule (all sections): Round 1, 9:30-10:30am; Round 2, 10:45-11:45am; Lunch Break 12:00-1:00pm; Round 3, 1:00-2:00pm; Round 4,2:15-3:15pm; and; Round 5, 3:30-4:30pm. Awards for sections will be presented at a designated location outside the playing hall shortly after the last game finishes in each section; lower sections usually finish faster than higher sections.

Prizes: For the Open section, $300 for first place, $150 for second place and $75 for third place, all of which is unconditionally guaranteed. For the U1200 section, $130 for first place, $70 for second place and $35 for third place, and for the U600 section, $80 for first place, $40 for second place, and $20 for third place, with the prizes in these two sections being proportionally reduced if less than fifty paid entries (net of refunds) are received for these two sections combined sections combined. Prizes will be paid by cash or check (or another reasonable method of payment) after the event. In the event of ties, prizes will be equally divided between the tying players in conformity with the Official Rules of Chess. However, if two or more Texas residents tie for first place in the Open section, all of them will be recognized as co-champions, though only the player with higher tie-breaks will take home the crystal. For the UNrated section, prizes will consist of trophies for first, second, and third place and medals for players tied for third who do not win the third-place trophy based on tie-breaks. 
Bonus Prizes for High Attendance: If there are 100 or more paid entries (net of refunds) for all sections combined, first prize in every section, including Unrated, will be increased by $50 additional cash prize.

Notation: Absent a physical or developmental disability rendering a player unable to notate, notation is required in all sections except the U600 section and UNrated section. Failure to notate when required to do so will incur a five minute deduction against one's time. All players are encouraged to provide electronic copies of their notation to the organizer. Any notation received will be referred to the Editor of Texas Knights and may be published at his discretion.

Equipment: Chess boards and pieces will be provided by the organizer. If you own a chess clock, please bring it, but you can still play even if you do not own a chess clock. If both players in a game lack clocks, they will play without a clock, but we will put a clock on their board if the game goes long. Electronic notation approved by US Chess will be allowed and notation sheets will be provided free of charge as well.

Section Assignment: You may play up. If you initially register for an under section and then move to the Open section, you will be charged a $15 section adjustment fee because the entry fee for the Open is higher to allow for larger prizes. However, this fee will not apply if you were allowed to play in an under section when you registered but later are required to play in the Open section because your rating increased after registration.

Rating: This tournament will use your regular rating as shown on the July Supplement for the purposes of section qualification and pairings. If you do not have a regular rating according to that supplement but have another US Chess rating, that rating will be used (if more than one, whichever rating the tournament director deems appropriate). Players with foreign ratings are required to disclose such ratings and the tournament director may make such adjustments to the deemed rating of said players as he thinks proper.

Unrated Policy (for rated sections): There are no prize caps for unrated players. However, the tournament director may assign a rating to an unrated player, in his sole discretion, if the player has a FIDE rating, a foreign rating or a rating on a widely-used online chess platform like chess.com. If no rating is assigned, an unrated player may choose any section.

Illegal Moves: As a variation of the Official Rules of Chess, an illegal move that is not corrected within three moves shall stand. The default rule is that illegal moves may be corrected up to ten moves away. The organizer believes that a lookback of up to ten moves is impracticable for events with shorter time controls like the Texas Action Championship and bears a significant risk of players intentionally making or missing illegal moves for their own benefit.

Spectators: Except for players with games in process, our tournament directors and staff, members of the press and officers/staff of the Texas Chess Association, no spectators will be allowed in the Tournament Hall while games are underway.

Accommodations: The organizer will, as far as it is feasible and allowed by the Official Rules of Chess, provide reasonable accommodations for physical and developmental disabilities in the hopes of ensuring that this tournament is accessible to all. If accommodation may be required, please contact the organizer as soon as possible.

Food: You may choose to bring a packed lunch, or you may use the lunch break between rounds 2 and 3 to get something at a nearby restaurant. Players may not consume food or beverages in the Tournament Hall with the sole exception of water.

Amenities: The tournament will be held at Abilene Christian University at the Hunter Welcome Center located at 1949 ACU Drive, Abilene, TX 79699. Ample free parking will be available on campus. Lobbies on the first floor on the east and west sides of the building will serve as a waiting area for players and their families. Water will be provided in the Tournament Hall. Chess control will be at tables outside of the Tournament Hall to answer questions and provide assistance. Volunteers are limited; if the table is temporarily unattended, please look for a note with information about where you can find assistance.

Terms & Conditions: A link to full terms and conditions is provided in helpful links below. Important items to note include requirements for US Chess and Texas Chess Association membership. Please also note that the organizer is reserving, among other rights, the right to merge, divide and adjust sections as it deems necessary.

Helpful Links

 

Sections: 3 rated, 1 unrated

 

Address:

1949 ACU Drive
Abilene, TX 79699
United States

Sections: 4
Grand Prix Points:
Prize Fund: 900 based on 50 paid entries ($525 gtd in Open)
FIDE Rated: No
Handicap Accessible: Yes
Residency Restriction: No
Online Event: No

Organizer Overview

SPHERE Homeschool
Email: [email protected]
Phone:
Website: