Tri-Valley May Open (Youth and Adults, Cash and Trophies)

Emerald Hills Chess and the Tri-Valley Chess League present the Tri-Valley May Open, for K-12 players of all levels as well as adults!

Our low-cost, half-day tournaments consistently attract 120-150+ players of all levels, such as our 175-player Pleasanton Open in April.

These range from high-performance and nationally-age-ranked competitors to adult improvers and returnees to after-school chess club members trying out their first formal tournament!

Flex your chess skills over-the-board, boost your rating, and win trophies and $500 in guaranteed cash prizes!

Register and more info here

When: Sat May 17th 2025, 9-1:30 PM (late on-site registrants allowed but not guaranteed first round pairing)

Rounds and Time Control: 4-round USCF-rated Swisses with Game in 25 min/5 sec delay for top 4 sections; Novices is unrated 5-round round-robin at Game in 15 min/3 sec delay

Sections

Open Championship for players of any rating, age (including adults)

Free entry for USCF and FIDE titled players (GMs, WGMs, IMs, WIMs, FMs, WFMs, and NMs)

Prizes (guaranteed): $150 1st place, $80 2nd place, $60 3rd place, $60 Top U1200/unrated. Cash split in case of ties. Prizes will be awarded within two weeks of the tournament being held.

Register here

Experts for U1200/unrated (based on May 2025 published rating - check here) players of all ages including adults

Prizes (guaranteed): $100 1st place, $50 2nd place. Trophies to Top 5, Top 2 U1000/unrated, and any other Outstanding Performers scoring 3 or more.

Premier for U800/unrated players of all ages

Prizes: Trophies to Top 5, Top 2 U600/unrated, and any other Outstanding Performers scoring 3 or more.

Register here

Youth Challenger for K-12 players under 400 rating or unrated

Prizes: Trophies to Top 5, Top 2 U200/unrated, and any other Outstanding Performers scoring 3 or more.

Register here

Youth Novices for unrated K-12 first-time tournament players only

Prizes: Top two players in each round robin plus all other Outstanding Performers scoring 3.5 or more.

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Emerald Hills Chess provides professionally-led after-school chess clubs serving 300+ kids in the Tri-Valley and Central Valley, as well as small-group tournament training classes open to all K-12 players. Learn more and register.

The Tri-Valley Chess League is a student-led non-profit that holds tournaments and classes.