Event Overview
Date & Time
Round 1 starts on February 15, 2026, at 10:00 AM.
Venue
Houston Chess Studio, 250 Patton Street Suite H Houston, Texas 77009.
Time Control
G/30, d10 (Each player gets 30 minutes with a 10-second delay per move).
Format
6-round Swiss system.
Pairings will be generated using ChessRoster SwissSys 11.75 (subject to updates to more recent versions).
Ratings
This tournament is USCF-rated, and the official February 2026 USCF ratings will be used.
Byes
- Up to two (2) half-point byes is allowed and must be declared during registration.
- No additional byes are permitted except for 0-point byes.
- A 1-point bye is awarded to a player who is left without an opponent when the number of players is odd in a given round.
Entry Fee
- $60 – Until January 15, 2025, or for the first 10 players, whichever comes first.
- $80 – Until February 1, 2026, or for the next 20 players, whichever comes first.
- $100 – Until February 15, 2026 at 12:00 AM (midnight), or until all spots are filled.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
- A 50% refund will be granted if a player requests cancellation by February 12, 2025, at 12:00 AM (midnight).
- No refunds will be issued after this deadline.
Withdrawal Policy
- Players must notify an arbiter before the start of a round if they intend to withdraw.
- Failure to notify an arbiter may affect eligibility for future tournaments organized by Azeri Chess Academy LLC.
Number of Entries
Maximum of 64 participants.
Eligibility
- Open to all players with active USCF membership.
- Players must ensure their USCF membership is active before the start of Round 1.
- Onsite check-ins may be available for players needing USCF membership renewal. They must pay the required renewal fee plus an additional $10 processing fee.
- Failure to renew an expired membership before the tournament will result in exclusion without a refund.
Tournament Schedule (Estimated Round Start Times)
1st Round – 10:00 AM
2nd Round – 11:25 AM
30-minute break
3rd Round – 1:20 PM
4th Round – 2:45 PM
5th Round – 4:05 PM
6th Round – 5:25 PM
Closing Ceremony – 6:45 PM
Prize Fund
Prize distribution is based on the final number of players in the tournament:
< 10 players
1st: $300 + plaque
Total prize fund: $300
10–15 players
1st: $400 + plaque
2nd: $100
Total prize fund: $500
16–20 players
1st: $500 + plaque
2nd: $250
Total prize fund: $750
21–25 players
1st: $500 + plaque
2nd: $250
3rd: $150
Total prize fund: $900
26–30 players
1st: $500 + plaque
2nd: $250
3rd: $150
Best U1600: $150
Best U1200: $150
Total prize fund: $1,200
31–35 players
1st: $500 + plaque
2nd: $250
3rd: $150
Best U1600: $150
Best U1200: $150
Best U800: $150
Total prize fund: $1,350
36–40 players
1st: $550 + plaque
2nd: $350
3rd: $150
Best U1600: $150
Best U1400: $150
Best U1200: $150
Best U1000: $150
Best U800: $150
Total prize fund: $1,800
41–45 players
1st: $590 + plaque
2nd: $350
3rd: $210
Best U1600: $200
Best U1400: $200
Best U1200: $150
Best U1000: $150
Best U800: $150
Total prize fund: $2,000
46–50 players
1st: $590 + plaque
2nd: $410
3rd: $300
Best U1600: $200
Best U1400: $200
Best U1200: $200
Best U1000: $200
Best U800: $200
Total prize fund: $2,300
> 50 players
1st: $590 + plaque
2nd: $410
3rd: $300
Best U1600: $300
Best U1400: $300
Best U1200: $300
Best U1000: $300
Best U800: $300
Total prize fund: $2,800
- If rating prizes are offered, unrated players are eligible only for prizes in the lowest rating group. This does not affect their eligibility for the overall (main) prizes.
- Prizes are equally shared in case of a tie.
- Payments will be sent via Zelle/PayPal before February 22, 2026. Prize-winners must contact the organizer immediately after the final round to confirm their preferred payment method. Additionally, the prize winners are required to participate in the prize ceremony following the tournament. Failure to complete these actions will result in disqualification from receiving the prize.
Tiebreaks
Tiebreaks will be determined using ChessRoster SwissSys, applying standard USCF tiebreak methods:
- Solkoff
- Modified Median
- Cumulative
If players are tied for 1st place and all tiebreaks are equal, a coin toss will determine the winner.
Anti-Cheating Measures & Electronic Devices Policy
- All players are subject to electronic device scanning (“wanding”).
- No electronic devices (phones, smartwatches, etc.) are allowed unless explicitly permitted by the arbiter for medical reasons.
- A designated storage box will be provided for electronic devices.
Photography & Video Recording
By registering, players consent to being photographed and recorded by the Tournament Director and their associates for promotional purposes.
Equipment & Notation Rules
- Chess sets, clocks, scoresheets, and pens will be provided by the organizer.
- Notation is mandatory unless a player has less than 5 minutes remaining on their clock.
- Players may keep a yellow scoresheet copy and a pen. However, players are encouraged to bring an extra pen, as available pens may be limited.
Parking & Nearby Restaurants:
- Free parking is available near the venue.
- 3 restaurants in the same strip center as venue: The Red Hot Noodle (Asian), Subway, and Patron Pizza. Several others are within walking distance.
Questions?
Contact us at [email protected].
250 Patton Street
Suite H
Houston, TX 77009
United States