Tallahassee Chess Fest

Sponsored by the Challenger Learning Center (CLC), the Tallahassee Young Knights (TYK) Chess Club is organizing a USCF-rated open tournament in the 2025 Tallahassee Chess Fest at CLC. The main event is a 4-round Quick tournament (with a side event of a 6-round Blitz). 

Main Event: Quick

Date: March 30th (Sunday), 2025

Location: Challenger Learning Center, 200 S Duval St, Tallahassee, FL 32301

Format: 4SS, G/20, d5

Sections: Open, U1400, U800

Check in: 9:30am (first game is expected to start at 10am sharp)

Round Times: 10am-11am-1pm-2pm. One half point bye is allowed in any round before the start of Round 2.

Registration fee: $30 online at link (on ChessRegister.com) by 3/29/2025

Prizes: Open ($100 + trophy 1st, $60 2nd, $40 1st U1600), U1400 ($80 + trophy 1st, $50 2nd, $40 1st U1100), U800 ($80 + trophy 1st, $50 2nd)

Side Event: Blitz

Format: 6SS, G/3, inc 2 

Section: Open

Check in: 3:00pm

Round Times: 1st round 3:30pm, ASAP thereafter. Two half point byes are allowed in any rounds before the start of Round 3.

Registration fee: $15 online at link (on ChessRegister.com) by 3/29/2025

Prizes: $80 + trophy 1st, $60 2nd, $30 1st U1400, $30 1st U800

Notes: Active USCF membership is required. You are strongly encouraged to bring your own chess sets and clocks (a limited number will be provided by the organizer).

Free Activities on Friday (3/28) and Saturday (3/29) in the 2025 Chess Fest: 

• Classic Chess Movie: “Searching for Bobby Fischer”
• GM (grandmaster) Showdown w/ live commentating (Julio Becerra vs. Nikola Mitkov)
• Lectures by GMs, Simul with GMs

• Demonstrations and hands-on activities designed to teach, challenge, and entertain chess lovers of all ages/skill levels

  (see details at https://www.challengertlh.com/chess/ )