2022 Houston Chess Festival
July 22 - 24, 2022
Houston, TX
$13,100 b/265 full-paid entries
90% Guaranteed
Prize Fund will be increased if based-on is exceeded!
U1300 entries count as 70% of full-paid entries.
U1000 entries count as 50% of full-paid entries.
5SS - US Chess Rated - GPP: 50
"OPEN" & "U2000" SECTIONS are FIDE RATED using FIDE Rules - 5SS, G/90, i30 (US Chess Regular Ratings used for pairings and prizes)
ALL OTHER SECTIONS - 5SS, G/120, d5
Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule, All Sections - G/60, d5 (Not FIDE Rated)
Free entry for GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs
3-Day or 2-Day Schedules Available
PLEASE BRING YOUR CHESS SET AND CLOCK. THOSE ARE NOT PROVIDED BY THE TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THERE WILL BE A CHESS STORE ON LOCATION SELLING CHESS RELATED ITEMS, INCLUDING THESE.
* * * * * * * *
SPECTATOR POLICY
PLEASE NOTE THAT WE WILL BE ADHERING TO THE FIDE RULES CONCERNING SPECTATOR POLICY:
SPECTATORS (NON-PLAYING INDIVIDUALS) WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM DURING TOURNAMENT PLAY. PLAYERS WHO HAVE COMPLETED THEIR GAMES MAY STAY IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM TO WATCH OTHER GAMES UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THEY LEAVE THE PLAYING HALL AT WHICH POINT, THEY ARE CONSIDERED SPECTATORS AND MAY NOT RE-ENTER THE TOURNAMENT HALL UNTIL THE NEXT ROUND.
FOR FURTHER CLARIFICATION OF THESE RULES, PLEASE GO TO
Article 11.2 and 11.4 of the 2022 FIDE Arbiter's Manual
DETAILS & REGISTRATION
LOCATION
DoubleTree by Hilton
15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Houston, TX 77032
(take the JFK exit off of Beltway 8 in north Houston near IAH Airport)
- Complimentary Hotel Self-Parking;
- Free Shuttle Service from Bush Int'l (IAH) Airport to/from Hotel - please call hotel for pick-up service (281-848-4000);
- Basic Internet in Each Room!
SPECIAL HOTEL CHESS RATE: $89 & tax
NOTE: RESERVE BY JULY 8, 2022, TO GET THE GROUP RATE.
To make your reservation, please go to https://group.doubletree.com/cdukut
To make your reservation by phone, please call
(855) 610-8733
and mention 2022 Houston Chess Festival (HCF)
All sections will use US Chess July 2022 Rating Supplement (Regular Ratings) for pairings and prizes.
SECTIONS & PRIZES
$13,100 Prize Fund b/265 full-paid entries
OPEN & U2000 Sections are FIDE Rated using FIDE Rules, except for Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule.
OPEN: $1750 - 900 - $600 - $400 - $250
(U2200): $750 - $450
U2000: $850 - $500 - $300 - $200 - $100
U1800: $850 - $500 - $300 - $200 - $100
U1600: $850 - $500 - $300 - $200 - $100
U1300: $600 - $400 - $275 - $175 - $100
Added: U1000: $300 - $200 - $100.
Plaque for the top High School (9-12), top Middle School (6-8), top Elementary School (4-5) and top Primary School (Pre-K-3) in the U1000 Section only. Students in that section may win prize money and scholastic plaque.
Commemorative Chess Clock for oldest and for player whose home is the farthest from site (among all sections).
* Unrated players may play in any section except in U1000; however, in the U1300 they may only win 50% of the prizes awarded. In other sections, unrated players are eligible for the full prize awarded and they pay the full entry fee. If a player who does not have a US Chess rating has a FIDE or CFC rating, the player will be assigned a US Chess rating IAW Sections 2.1 or 2.2 of The US Chess Rating System and may not play in sections below allowable for their assigned rating.
"Champion's Plaque" awarded to the 1st Place finisher in each section. In the event of ties, plaque and trophy winners will be determined by US Chess tiebreaks (MSCO). Official July 2022 US Chess Rating Supplement used.
SCHEDULES & ROUND TIMES
3-Day Schedule
On-site Registration: Friday (7/22) from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
3-Day Round Times:
Friday, July 22: 7:30pm
Saturday, July 23: 1pm & 6pm
Sunday, July 24: 9:30am & 3pm
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2-Day Schedule
On-site Registration: Saturday (7/23) from 8:00-8:30 a.m.
2-Day Round Times:
Saturday, July 23: Round 1 at 9:30am then merge with 3-Day Schedule for Round 2 at 1pm.
Once the two schedules merge, all players will comptete as one group, within their section, according to the round times for the 3-Day Schedule. Therefore, Round 3 is Saturday at 6pm for all, Round 4 is on Sunday at 9:30am, followed by Round 5 on Sunday at 3pm.
BYES
Two 1/2-point byes are available. You must advise the Chief Tournament Director and commit to any byes prior to the start of Round 3. After the start of Round 3, no voluntary byes may be added, changed or rescinded.
ENTRY FEES
Titled Players: GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs pay no Entry Fee. IF YOU ARE A TITLED PLAYER, register online. The entry fee amount is adjusted with the title.- GM, IM, WGM, WIM) - $0 TO REGISTER
- OPEN, U2000, U1800 & U1600, including Unrated Players in any of these sections: $99 by 7/11/2022; $115 by 7/18/2022; $125 thereafter and on site.
- U1300: $69 by 7/11/2022; $85 by 7/18/2022; $95 thereafter and on site.
- U1000: $49 BY 7/11/2022; $65 by 7/18/2022; $75 thereafter and on site.
- Re-Entry Fee: $40. Available prior to the start of Round 3, EXCEPT in FIDE-rated Sections (Open & U2000). Re-entries = 34% of full entry.
Withdrawals after Friday, July 15, incur a $10 fee.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION
(Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
On-line: You may register with a credit card on-line by clicking on "Register" button on top or the bottom of this page.
By mail: You may send a check, payable to "F&B TROPHIES," with registration info (Name, US Chess ID, Section, Schedule, Byes if any, Address, Email Address, and Telephone Number) to:
Francisco Guadalupe
305 Willow Pointe Dr.
League City, TX 77573
ON-SITE REGISTRATION
Friday, July 22: 5:30pm - 6:45pm
Saturday, July 23: 8:00am - 8:30am
No checks accepted at site (cash or credit cards only).
On-line registration will close at 4:00pm on Friday, July 22 (for 3-Day Schedule), and at 7am Saturday, July 23 (for 2-Day Schedule).
OTHER CHESS FESTIVAL EVENTS!
20-BOARD GM SIMUL WITH GM DANNY FERNANDEZ
(Simul will Start at 4pm on Saturday. Participants who are still playing in the main event may start the simul once they finish their regular game.)
GM LECTURE (After the Simul)
BUGHOUSE TOURNAMENT
BLITZ TOURNAMENT (see note below)
(Bughouse and Blitz events will take place on Saturday after the completion of Round 3.)
- Advance Registration for GM Simul: $20. Use the Register Button above or below. No refunds for Simul after 7/20. Onsite registration if space permits: $25
- Bughouse and Blitz Tournaments, Saturday after Round 3 - Onsite Registration Only: $20 each. 75% Returned in Prizes.
- The Blitz Tournament has been changed from Knock-Out to a Regular Blitz Tournament, G5, not rated, with no delay or increment.
FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SET THE MOST COMMONLY USED CHESS CLOCKS, PLEASE SEE How to Set Chess Clocks
There will be a chess store selling clocks, pieces, boards, some books and other chess items onsite.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
**FACE MASKS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED.**
Masks will not be required but their use is encouraged. Your attendance at this event signifies your acceptance of the risks involved and willing to play other players with or without a masks. If you are unable or unwilling to comply, do not attend.
Any harassment of other participants who may or may not be wearing a mask will not be tolerated.