Hampton Roads Chess Association
presents
National Chess Day 2025
Raiden's Birthday Blitz
October 11, 2025
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Center Court
MacArthur Center
300 Monticello Avenue
Norfolk, VA 23510
Registration for Blitz extended to 11:59 PM Friday the 10th!!
This is a scholarship fundraising event. There are no refunds or credits for entry fees paid.
This event is sponsored in honor of Raiden Ervin Syed's 5th Birthday and will be held in conjunction with National Chess Day!
Thanks to this generous sponsorship, ALL proceeds from this event benefit HRCA's Scholarship Fund.
This fund provides needs-based financial assistance to HRCA members to help cover costs of chess classes, tournaments, and other chess-related programs. HRCA provides an average of $5,000 each year in needs-based scholarships.
Learn more about our scholarship program HERE
HRCA chess tournaments are NOT drop-off events for youth under the age of 14. Please ensure you have arranged for a responsible adult to accompany your child to the tournament and stay for the duration. This can be a parent or guardian, a friend or relative, or parent of a friend or teammate staying on site and agreeing to be responsible for your child.
Looking for information or to register for the Main Event? CLICK HERE.
The Blitz tournament is a separate event held at the start of the day, from 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM.
Format: 4 double rounds (play the same player twice, once as black and once as white) Swiss system with a time control of G/5; d0. One section only, must be a US Chess member.
Awards: Cash Prizes - $100-75-50 (1st-3rd), Top U1200 $50, Top U800 $50
All payouts will be sent electronically to winner via Venmo, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle. Prize winners must provide their payment method preference and contact information onsite. Prizes will be paid out within 24-48 hours of the event. Cumulative prize payments of $600 or more each calendar year is reportable to IRS and requires issue of a 1099-MISC. Prizes crossing this threshold will not be paid out without player completion of a W-9.
Any prizes, monetary or non-monetary, not claimed within 14 days of completion of the event will be forfeited.
Entry Fees: $20 Early Bird rate thru 9/13. Standard entry fee $25 from 9/14-9/27. Late entry fee $30 9/28-10/4. Last-minute / "week of" entry fee $35 10/5 to close of registration at 6 pm on 10/9.
Refunds: This is a scholarship fundraising event. There are no refunds or credits for entry fees paid. Any withdrawals prior to the close of registration will convert to tax-deductible donations.
Tournament Organizer: For more information/questions, contact Tina at cschweiss2@hrchessclub.org or 757-472-5909. Email is the fastest way to reach us.
Policies and other Important Information
Safe Play and Code of Conduct: It is our goal to provide a fun, safe, and supportive environment. Community partnerships are vital to HRCA, and we want to ensure we remain good stewards to our partners and their facilities. There is a lot of downtime during tournaments -- parents are responsible for supervising their children when they are not playing a scheduled match. Running through the facility and horseplay/roughhousing area prohibited.
By registering and attending in this event (as participant or guest), you acknowledge and agree to abide by the US Chess Federation's Safe Play Policy, and HRCA's Code of Conduct and General Liability Waiver and Release. For more information on Safe Play or HRCA's Code of Conduct and General Liability Waiver and Release, please click the BLUE links above. Violations of these policies may result in warnings, or ultimately, disqualification or dismissal from the event without refund.
Photo Policy: Please be advised that photos and/or videos may be taken at HRCA events for use in HRCA's marketing, grant reporting, educational, news, or other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other forms of media, including on our website and social channels. HRCA will not identify images using the full names of those photographed without express written permission. By attending an HRCA event, you consent to have your image recorded for distribution and agree to release, defend, hold harmless, and indemnify HRCA from any and all claims, including compensation, involving using your picture or likeness. If you wish to opt-out, you can make your wishes known to the photographer, and/or the event organizers, and/or contact HRCA at hrca@hrchessclub.org.