Event Overview
Emerald Hills Chess, the Tri-Valley Chess League, and the Emerald Knights Chess Club present the Tri-Valley November Open, for players of all levels and ages, including youth and adults!
Our low-cost monthly tournaments consistently attract 130+ players (including last month's 200-player East Bay Open), from high-performance and nationally-age-ranked competitors to adult improvers and returnees to after-school chess club members trying out their first tournament!
Flex your chess skills over-the-board, boost your USCF rating, win trophies and ~$500 in guaranteed cash prizes, and have fun!
When: Sat Nov. 15th 2025, 9-1:30 PM (late on-site registrants allowed but not guaranteed first round pairing)
Rounds and Time Control:
Championship: 3-round USCF-rated quads with Game in 40 min/5 sec delay
Experts, Premier and Challenger: 4-round rated Swisses with Game in 25 min/5 sec delay
Novices is non-rated 5-round round-robin at Game in 15 min/3 sec delay time control
Sections
Championship Quads for USCF 1200+ players of any age (unrateds only if FIDE 1200+ or higher online equivalent; no other play up allowed)
Players will be grouped by similar rating (unrateds placed in lower sections).
Free entry for 1) Grandmasters, International Masters, and other USCF and FIDE titled players (including GMs, WGMs, IMs, WIMs, FMs, WFMs, and NMs) 2) Chess teachers and coaches bringing students (may be asked to show proof) - choose Championship Free option
Prizes: $80 first prize per quad (split in case of ties); $100 for quads with 1500+ average rating; +/- $20 per additional/fewer player in round-robins (i.e. $100 for 5 players, $120 for 6 players)
Experts for U1200/unrated (based on Nov 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 including adults
Prizes: Trophies to Top 5, Top 2 U600/unrated, and any other Outstanding Performers scoring 3 or more.
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.
Non-Rated Youth Novices for K-12 players that 1) are unrated first-time tournament players; 2) have played less than 10 USCF rated games with a provisional rating under 400; 3) have not won a 1st or 2nd place trophy in a prior Novices tournament.
Prizes: Top two players in each round robin plus all other Outstanding Performers scoring 3.5 or more.
Organizers
Emerald Hills Chess provides professionally-led, competitve after-school clubs and small group tournament training classes serving 300+ kids in 14 locations around the Tri-Valley.
The Tri-Valley Chess League is a student-led non-profit that holds tournaments and classes.
The Emerald Knights Chess Club is a student-led non-profit that holds tournaments and classes.
3300 Antone Way
Dublin, CA 94568
United States