Blitz Tournament at the 86th Virginia Closed

Blitz Tournament at the 86th Virginia Closed

Hilton Garden Inn – Innsbrook, Glen Allen, VA

Friday, August 29, 2025

Round 1 at 7:30 pm sharp!

$650 guaranteed minimum in Cash Prizes, more if we have over 25 players.

Hotel & Playing Site: Site of the VA Closed, Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, 4050 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA. If you want to book a room, call the hotel at (804)521-2901 by Friday August 22nd and request the "Virginia Closed Chess Championships" rate. The Rates are $118/night-King and 128/night-Double Queen, plus taxes. You also can reserve your room online as advertised on the VA Chess Federation’s home page (https://www.vachess.org).

Format: 4 double-rounds in the Swiss System format (e.g., in each round you play one game with the White pieces and one with Black against the same opponent).

• Two Sections: Open and Under 1600. Unrated players must play in the Under 1600 section. A minimum rating of 1400 in the last year (since Aug 2025) is required to play in the Open Section. 
• Time Control is Game in 5 minutes, with no delay or increment (e.g., each player has 5 minutes to make all their moves in a game).
• US Chess-rated. No optional byes.
• Section eligibility and players' ratings will be reviewed and determined the Organizer using the highest and most relevant of your Blitz over-the-board or online ratings and your Regular over-the-board or online ratings. Rating relevance determined by the Chief TD based on number of games in the past year and recency of those games. The highest relevant rating will be assigned to pair each player for Blitz.

Player Eligibility: No Restrictions on age or residency, this event is open to ALL PLAYERS who are US Chess members. You do not have to be participating in the VA Closed to play, so come out and HAVE SOME FUN!

Entry Fee:

• $35 through Saturday, Aug 23rd.
• $40 starting Sunday Aug 24th through Wednesday Aug 27th.
• $45 starting Thursday Aug 28thand at the Tournament Registration Desk on Friday.

Minimum Prizes (all amounts shown are GUARANTEED): $$650

• Open Section: 1st-3rd place ($200, $100, $60)
• Under 1600 Section: 1st-3rd place ($160, $80, $50)
• We guarantee that we will add additional prize money if we have more than 25 players!

3 Ways to Enter the Tournament:

• Online: www.vachess.org
• US Mail: Check payable to VA Chess Federation or “VCF”, please include Name, Address, Email, Phone Number, US Chess ID, Section Playing In, and your Bye selections if any. Mail by Sat. Aug. 23rd to Mike Hoffpauir, ATTN: VA Closed, 405 Hounds Chase, Yorktown, VA 23693
• Onsite: Friday, Aug 29th, 3-7 pm. Round 1 of Blitz starts at 7:30 pm sharp.

Membership Requirements: US Chess membership is required. VA Chess Federation membership is not required to play Blitz.

What to Bring: Yourself. We have sets and clocks for everyone who plays Blitz. You got game?

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