8th Annual Queen City of the Prairie Open

DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Worth Fossil Creek

Friday, July 18, 2025 - Sunday, July 20, 2025

Event Overview

Join the Alliance Chess Club for the 8th Annual Queen City of the Prairie Open

This tournament also includes the Tarrant County & Fort Worth championships.

Please note the new venue for this year!

$5,000 prize fund

Based on 80 paid entries. Registration is capped at 100 players. A US Chess Junior Grand Prix event.

FIDE and US Chess Rated

Open and Intermediate sections will be FIDE standard rated and will be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. The Reserve and Novice sections will be played according to US Chess rules. All sections are US Chess regular rated and require a valid US Chess membership (excluding foreign GM/IM titled players) through July 31, 2025. Memberships can be purchased or renewed at the tournament site; cash or credit only (no checks).

Dates

July 18-20 (three day schedule) or July 19-20 (two day schedule)

Location

DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Worth Fossil Creek
4635 Gemini Place
Fort Worth, TX 76106

Sections

Open

This section is Open to all players.

Intermediate (U1800)

This section is available only to players rated under 1800 US Chess rating.

Reserve (U1400)

This section is available only to players rated under 1400 US Chess rating.

Novice (U1000 & unrated)

This section is available to players rated under 1000 US Chess rating and unrated players.

Format

Five (5) round Swiss, G/90;+30 (all moves in 90 minutes with 30 seconds increment from move one) for all rounds in the three day schedule. Round one of the two day schedule is G/30;d5 and will be US Chess dual (Quick and Regular) rated and will not be FIDE rated. The remaining rounds will be played at G/90;+30. Affects US Chess Regular rating / FIDE Standard rating (Open and Intermediate sections only).

US Chess regular over the board (OTB) ratings for July 2025 will be used for assigning sections and pairing numbers. US Chess pairing rules will be used for all sections.

Prizes

US Chess rules and US Chess regular over the board (OTB) ratings for July 2025 will be used for awarding prizes.

Per US Chess rules, unrated players may only win place prizes or a prize designated for unrated players (if available).

Open

$2,500 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section.

$1,000-$500-$300-$200-$100, 1st Expert $200, 1st Class A $200

Special Prizes:

TARRANT COUNTY CHAMPION plaque to the highest finishing Tarrant County resident. Must provide a valid photo ID with Tarrant County address to qualify.

FORT WORTH CHAMPION plaque to the highest finishing Fort Worth resident plus free entry to next year's tournament. Must provide a recent Fort Worth water bill (or other official city document) and valid photo ID with matching address to qualify.

Intermediate (U1800)

$800 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section. Prizes for unrated players are capped at $100 in this section.

$400-$200-$100, 1st Class C $100

Reserve (U1400)

$600 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section. Prizes for unrated players are capped at $100 in this section.

$250-$150-$100, 1st Class E $100

Novice (U1000 & unrated)

$500 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section.

$225-$125-$75, 1st U600 $75

Mixed Doubles

$600 prize fund based on 80 paid entries overall.

$400-$200

A mixed doubles team must consist of one female player and one non-female player (male/non-binary/undisclosed/etc. are acceptable) as listed in the players' US Chess MSA data page. Players can be from any section or schedule provided that the team signs up before both players have begun round 2. The average rating of the team must be under 2200 US Chess rating. Signing up to compete for these prizes is free. Note that these are special prizes and can be won in addition to any other prizes that the players may already be entitled to. Note: Team entries will be accepted from female players only!

Additional Prizes

If attendance exceeds 80 paid entries, additional prizes may be added at the organizer's discretion. Evaluations will be based on the attendance of a given section.

Entry Fees

All entry fees shown below are the discounted early rate if paid by 11:59 PM on July 4, 2025. Add $20 to all entry fees paid after 11:59 PM on July 4, 2025. Add $30 for entries after 11:59 PM on July 17, 2025 including onsite registration. All registration closes 30 minutes prior to round 1 of the applicable schedule.

Foreign players in the Open and Intermediate sections are required to disclose their FIDE ID Number before round 1 or lose prize eligibility. USA players in the Open and Intermediate sections without a FIDE ID Number must disclose their email address, birthdate and agree to be assigned a USA FIDE ID Number in order to play.

Open - $108

Intermediate (U1800) - $98

Reserve (U1400) - $88

Novice (U1000 & unrated) - $78

$20 discount for veterans, seniors 60+ or players with a disability.

$10 discount for an additional family member in the tournament or player birthday during the tournament.

Discounts cannot be combined. To request a discount code, email [email protected] with your name, US Chess ID number and requested discount type; and a discount code will be provided. Request your discount code at least 24 hours prior to the entry deadline you are attempting to meet.

Hotel Rate & Information

DoubleTree is offering a special tournament rate of $139 until July 4, 2025. This rate includes breakfast vouchers for two people (a $30 value).

Book your room online at bit.ly/ChessHotel8 for the Alliance Chess Club tournament rate.

Online Wall Charts / Pairings / Standings

We will be using SwissSys.com for online wall charts, pairings and standings.

Schedules

The default forfeiture time for G/90 rounds is 60 minutes.

Please do not drop out of a round or the tournament without first notifying a tournament director!

Three Day Schedule

Round 1 - 7/18 Friday 7:00 PM
Round 2 - 7/19 Saturday 11:00 AM (schedules merge)
Round 3 - 7/19 Saturday 4:00 PM
Round 4 - 7/20 Sunday 10:00 AM
Round 5 - 7/20 Sunday 3:00 PM

Two Day Schedule

Round 1 - 7/19 Saturday 9:00 AM
- Time Control for this round is G/30;d5.
- This round is US Chess dual (Quick and Regular) rated and not FIDE rated.
Round 2 - 7/19 Saturday 11:00 AM (schedules merge)
Round 3 - 7/19 Saturday 4:00 PM
Round 4 - 7/20 Sunday 10:00 AM
Round 5 - 7/20 Sunday 3:00 PM

Bye Requests

Up to two half point byes are available for any round; however, half point byes cannot be requested for both rounds four and five. Half point byes must be requested before the end of round two and before a full point bye has been assigned. Byes requested after round two has completed or after a full point bye has been assigned will be zero point byes. All byes must be requested at least one hour before the start of the next round.

Please do not drop out of a round or the tournament without first notifying a tournament director!

Registration

Online registration at KingRegistration.com

Section Changes

Rethinking your life choices? Change sections! Section changes to an eligible lower rated or unrated section of the same schedule are allowed prior to the end of round 2 for $10. 1/2 point byes will be given for already played rounds in the new section.

Re-entry

Have a slow start? Start over with a re-entry! Re-entries from the three day schedule to the two day schedule are allowed for Open $70/Intermediate $60/Reserve $50/Novice $40.

Refunds

Plans change and can't make it to the tournament? Ask for a refund! Refunds are available until 11:59 PM July 16, 2025 and are subject to a $10 processing fee. No refunds after 11:59 PM July 16, 2025.

Side Event

Saturday Night Blitz! - $20 cash only (no discounts) - 65% of Blitz entry fees will be returned in cash prizes. Five (5) double round (you play both white and black pieces against each opponent) Swiss; 10 games total. Time control will be G/3;+2. Registration is onsite only and closes about 20 minutes after the end of round 3. Tournament should start around 10:00 PM and finish before midnight.

Note: You do not have to play in the main event to play in our blitz event. Valid US Chess membership required; can be purchased or renewed onsite.

Equipment

Sets provided; please bring clocks.

Restrictions

A valid US Chess membership is required; membership can be purchased or renewed onsite.

Checks not accepted for onsite registration; cash or credit card only.

Duplicate scoresheets will be provided and are required for play. Personal scorebooks are not allowed. The signed white copy of the game must be left at the board and is the property of the Alliance Chess Club. A copy of each game played MUST be submitted to claim any prize.