56th Annual Virginia Open

REVISED TLA for 56th Virginia Open, January 5-7, 2024

This TLA revises the Prize Payout for the tournament and the associated Grand Prix Points. All other aspects of the TLA are the same as the prior version. There are no changes to the event schedule, entry fee, venue, or tournament format.

Hotel & Playing Site: Washington Dulles Airport Marriott Hotel, 45020 Aviation Dr., Dulles, VA 20166; www.marriott.com, 703-471-9500, Chess Rate for lodging is $131 plus taxes. Reserve by Fri. 12/15/2023 at 703-471-9500 and mention the “Virginia Chess Federation” Group Name.

Format: 5 Rounds, Swiss System (this is not an elimination tournament). The Championship and Amateur (Under 1800) Sections are FIDE and US Chess rated. The Novice Section (Under 1200) is US Chess rated only.

Sections: Three (3) Sections.
    - Championship: FIDE and US Chess rated; 60-min. default/no show rule in effect. Round 1 at 7:30 pm Friday. Minimum rating of 1500 required from any post-tournament rating in the US Chess Member Support Area since Jan. 2022 (the past 2 years).
    - Amateur (Under 1800): FIDE and US Chess rated; 60-min. default/no-show rule in effect. Round 1 at 7:30 pm Friday.
    - Novice (Under 1200): US Chess rated; 60-min. default/no-show rule in effect. Round 1 at 10 am Saturday.

Prizes: Over 7,500 in cash prizes based on 110 paid players. The values of the 1st-3rd place prizes are guaranteed in all 3 sections! In the last two years we’ve added as much as $1,500 to the prize fund based on player attendance! So come out and play!!
    - Championship: 1st – 3rd Places $950, $700, $550 all guaranteed. Top Expert $250. Top Class A $240. Top U1800 $225. Top Upset Rds 1-5 $150. Plaque to 1st Place.
    - Amateur (Under 1800): 1st-3rd Places $700, $550, $400 all guaranteed. Top Class C $230, 2nd Class C $115. Top Class D $220, 2nd Class D $110. Top Upset Rds 1-5 $140. Plaque to 1st Place.
    - Novice (Under 1200): 1st-3rd Places $600, $400, $250 all guaranteed. Top U1000 $175, 2nd U1000 $100. Top U800 $160, 2nd U800 $90. Top Unrated $150. Top Upset Rds 1-5 $130.
    - Unrated players must play in the Amateur or Novice Section, limited to $250 Place Prize. A player who does not have a US Chess rating but who has a rating in another US Chess-recognized rating system (e.g., FIDE, Canada, most European and Asian countries) is NOT Unrated.

On-Line Registration & Fees: www.vachess.org.
    - $125 through Saturday Dec 30th
    - $150 starting Sunday Dec 31st
    - $175 starting Thursday Jan 4th
    - VA Chess Federation will retain $5 from any player who withdraws before Round 1.

On-Site Registration: At the hotel
    - Friday, Jan 5th, 4 pm to 6:45 pm. Championship and Amateur entries received after 6:45 pm will be paired for Round 2 on Saturday morning.
    - Saturday, Jan 6th, 7:30 – 9:15 am. Novice Section entries received after 9:15 am will be paired for Round 2.

Optional Half-Point Byes & Re-Entry:
    - One half-point bye allowed per player in any round, declare during Registration or 30 min before the start of Rounds 1 and 2. Requests made later than 30 minutes before Round 2 count as Zero-point Byes.
    - Players who lose in Round 1 can Re-Enter the tournament for $45 after Round 1, player gets a half-point Bye.

Schedule - Championship & Amateur Sections: FIDE Rules. FIDE and US Chess rated, there is a 60-minute default/no-show rule.
    - Round 1: Friday, Jan 5th, 7:30 pm. Time Control is Game-90 with 30-sec time increment from move one.
    - Round 2: Saturday, Jan 6th, 10 am. Time Control is 40/90, SD/30, with 30-sec time increment from move one.
    - Round 3: Saturday, Jan 6th, 4:30 pm. Same time control as Round 2.
    - Round 4: Sunday, Jan 7th, 10 am. Same time control as Rounds 2 and 3.
    - Round 5: Sunday, Jan 7th, 4:30 pm. Same time control as Rounds 2-4.

Schedule - Novice Section: US Chess Rules. US Chess rated, default/no-show rule is 60-minutes.
    - Friday, June 24: NO GAMES on Friday in this section.
    - Round 1: Saturday, Jan 6th, 10 am. Time Control is G/60, with 10-sec time increment from move one.
    - Round 2: Saturday, Jan 6th, 2 pm. Time Control is G/60, with 10-sec time increment from move one.
    - Round 3: Saturday, Jan 6th, 6 pm. Time Control is G/60, with 10-sec time increment from move one.
    - Round 4: Sunday, Jan 7th, 10 am. Time Control is G/90, with 10-sec time increment from move one.
    - Round 5: Sunday, Jan 7th, 2:30 pm. Time Control is G/90, with 10-sec time increment from move one.

Ratings for Sectioning and Prizes: For section determination and prizes we will use the higher of a player’s Over-the-Board Regular and Online Regular ratings from the January 2024 US Chess Rating Supplement. Established ratings outweigh provisional ratings. The Chief TD is the final decision authority on what rating will be used. Players without US Chess ratings, but who have ratings in other recognized systems (FIDE, Canada, Europe, Asia, etc.), will have those ratings converted to a US Chess equivalent for sectioning and prize purposes.

Pairings: Players will be paired using their US Chess or equivalent converted ratings (see above).

Membership Requirements:
    - All players must be US Chess members in good standing except Foreign GM/WGM, IM/WIM. Check the status of your membership, join, or renew it at www.uschess.org.
    - Virginia-based players must be members of the VA Chess Federation. You can join as part of the tournament entry process or join later at www.vachess.org.

Mail-in Entries:
    - We STRONGLY recommend players enter online due to the potential for US Mail to be slowed by holiday season mail traffic.
    - Include Name, Address, Email, Phone Number, US Chess ID, Section Playing In, and Whether you want an Optional half-point Bye.
    - Make your check payable to VA Chess Federation or “VCF”
    - Mail by Tuesday Dec 26th to Mike Hoffpauir, ATTN: VA Open, 405 Hounds Chase, Yorktown, VA 23693-3356

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