$3,000 April Championship

USCF rated. Unrateds are welcome but you must be a USCF member to play. 

WHEN  April 5-7, or 6-7. Three-day or two-day schedule, take your pick.

WHERE Houston Chess Studio, 250 Patton St. Suite H, Houston TX 77009

FORMAT 5 round Swiss, G/90, +30 (round 1 of 2 day schedule is G/60,d5)

3 day scheduleRound 1 at 6:30pm Friday night. Round 2 at 1pm Saturday and Round 3 at 6:30pm.  Round 4 at 9:30 am Sunday and Round 5 at 2:00 pm. 

2 day scheduleRound 1 is at 9:30am Saturday morning and is G/60, d5.  Then it merges with the 3 day schedule for rounds 2-5.

ENTRY FEE:  Poison Pawns club members $80 anytime.  Non-members $95 thru Friday Mar. 29th; then $115 thru Tuesday Apr. 2nd; $135 thereafter. For membership info contact Edgar at:  PoisonPawnsChessClub@gmail.com  GMs and IMs may enter free, their entry fee will be deducted from winnings. 

3 SECTIONS: Championship 1900 and up; Challengers 1899-1500; Moving Up U1500. NOTE: If less than 10 players in a section, for round two, that section may be merged with another.

PRIZE FUND $3,000:   1st place in each section is guaranteed.  2nd place based on 50 paid entries in all sections combined. Championship 1st $850; 2nd $450Challengers 1st $650; 2nd $350Moving Up 1st $450; 2nd $250.  Unrateds may play in any section but are limited to winning $150 except in the top section where they are eligible for all prizes.

PLAYING UP: If you are rated U1900 but are at least 1700 you may play up into the Championship section for $35.  If you are rated U1500 but are at least 1300 you may play up into the Challengers section for $35.

CANCELLATION:  You may cancel up to 24 hours before the beginning of round 1 and get a refund of what you paid minus $15, or you may apply the entire amount towards a future entry fee.

BYES: One ½ point bye available, must be declared before the beginning of round 2.  No last round byes except for zero point byes.

RE-ENTRY: If you are in the 3-day schedule, after round 1, you may re-enter immediately for $35 and be given a choice of a ½ point bye for round 1 OR you may choose to play in round 1 of the 2-day schedule.  If you are in the 2-day schedule you may re-enter immediately after round 1 and take a ½ point bye for round 1.

HOTEL INFO:  Holiday Inn Express, 3401 N. Main St., is less than a mile from The Studio. Phone 832-834-6197 and ask for The Houston Chess Studio discount, or if booking online use code ALDR9.  Also within a mile is the Heights House Hotel, an America’s Best Value, and a Luxury Inn.  Google them for info.

THE HOUSTON CHESS STUDIO:  Houston’s only ‘brick and mortar’ chess venue is dedicated to providing a quality, high tech, chess playing experience for players of all levels, and their parents.  Centrally and conveniently located at 250 Patton St., Suite H, Houston TX 77009.  Just inside North Loop 610 and just 2 blocks off North I-45.  There are 3 restaurants in the same strip center as The Studio: The Red Hot Noodle (Asian), Subway, and Patron Pizza.  Several others are within walking distance.  Plenty of FREE parking.

SCANNING  All players are subject to being scanned (“wanded”) in order to help prevent cheating.

UPCOMING EVENTS  https://www.kingregistration.com/affiliate/poisonpawns

QUESTIONS?  Contact Edgar at poisonpawnschessclub@gmail.com or 281-844-4139.