GM Shankland Special Lecture & Blitz

0. Pre-Blitz Lecture & Book signing

• Lecture: 5:30-6:30 pm
• Book signing: 6:30 - 7:00 pm
• GM Shankland will have his books for sale onsite. Please bring cash.

1. Date & Location

• Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 7:00 pm
• Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
  57 Post Street, 4th Floor
  San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Swiss System
• Total Rounds: 7 rounds of single games (7SS)
• First Round: 7:00 pm and consecutive rounds are on a rolling schedule. Estimated end-time: 9:00 pm.
• Time Control: G/3+2  (Game in 3 minutes with a 2-second increment with each move.)
• Games will be US Chess blitz rated and FIDE blitz rated. Tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.
• Section: one Open section.
• Pairings are based on the higher of November 2024 OTB supplemental regular US Chess rating. 
   

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in case they can't participate but would like to stay in the tournament.
• Byes can be requested for a maximum of 2 rounds, with receiving 0.5 points for each round.
• Late registrations will receive two half-point byes for any missed round, up to a total of 2 rounds.
   

4. Prize Fund --  $540 based on 60 paid entries  -- this will be updated for two sections.

• Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing prize checks.
• Per IRS rules anyone with a cumulative $600+ prizes in any calendar year will need to fill out a W9 and Mechanics' Institute will be providing a 1099 form. 

5. Registration:

• Mechanics' Institute Member: $30
• Non-Member: $40
• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.
• Click HERE to Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2024Tournaments/GMShanklandSpecialBlitz
   

6. Eligibility

• Players must have a current US Chess Federation membership. Expiration date of their US Chess membership must be later than the last day of the tournament.
• Not sure if you have a membership? Need to check the expiration date of your members? Visit: https://new.uschess.org/player-search
• Become a member or renew your membership: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
   

7. Tournament Rules

• FIDE blitz rules apply.
• Forfeit time is 3 minutes.