Join the Alliance Chess Club for the 7th Annual Queen City of the Prairie Open

This tournament also includes the Tarrant County & Fort Worth championships.

Now with four sections!

A US Chess Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix Event

10 Grand Prix points

$3,600 prize fund based on 80 paid entries. Registration is capped at 92 players unless player is US Chess master level or higher.

FIDE and US Chess Rated

Open and Intermediate sections will be FIDE standard rated (up to 2399 FIDE) and will be played according to the FIDE Laws of Chess. The Reserve and Novice sections will be played according to US Chess rules. All sections are US Chess regular rated and require a valid US Chess membership (excluding foreign GM/IM titled players) through July 31, 2024. Memberships can be purchased or renewed at the tournament site; cash or credit only (no checks).

Dates

July 19-21 (three day schedule) or July 20-21 (two day schedule)

Location

Radisson Hotel Fort Worth North-Fossil Creek
2540 Meacham Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76106

Playing Hall

Chisholm Ballroom

Skittles Room

Barons room

Sections

Open

This section is Open to all players.

Intermediate (U1800)

This section is available only to players rated under 1800 US Chess rating.

Reserve (U1400)

This section is available only to players rated under 1400 US Chess rating.

Novice (U1000 & unrated)

This section is available to players rated under 1000 US Chess rating and unrated players.

Format

Five (5) round Swiss, G/60;+30 (all moves in one hour with 30 seconds increment from move one). Affects US Chess Regular rating / FIDE Standard rating (Open and Intermediate sections only).

US Chess regular over the board (OTB) ratings for July 2024 will be used for assigning sections and pairing numbers. US Chess pairing rules will be used for all sections.

Prizes

US Chess rules and US Chess regular over the board (OTB) ratings for July 2024 will be used for awarding prizes.

Per US Chess rules, unrated players may only win place prizes or a prize designated for unrated players (if available).

Open

$1,600 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section

$600-$300-$200-$100, 1st Expert $200, 1st Class A $200

Special Prizes:

TARRANT COUNTY CHAMPION plaque to the highest finishing Tarrant County resident. Must provide a valid photo ID with Tarrant County address to qualify.

FORT WORTH CHAMPION plaque to the highest finishing Fort Worth resident plus free entry to next year's tournament. Must provide a recent Fort Worth water bill (or other official city document) and valid photo ID with matching address to qualify.

Intermediate (U1800)

$750 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section

$300-$200-$100, 1st Class C $150

Reserve (U1400)

$580 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section

$230-$160-$90, 1st Class E $100

Novice (U1000 & unrated)

$470 prize fund based on 20 paid entries in this section

$180-$130-$80, 1st U600 $80

Mixed Doubles

$200 1st place male and female team. Prize based on overall expected attendance of 80 paid entries. A team can consist of any male and female team with players from any section provided that teams sign up before both players have begun round 2. The average rating of the team must be under 2200 US Chess rating. Signing up to compete for this prize is free. Note that this is a special prize and can be won in addition to any other prize that the players may already be entitled to. Note: Entries will be accepted from female players only!

Additional Prizes

If attendance exceeds 80 paid entries, additional prizes may be added at the organizer's discretion. Evaluations will be based on the attendance of a given section.

International Chess Day Prizes

In celebration of International Chess Day, some chess gifts will be randomly given away before the start of round 3. One gift per section; must be present to win.

Entry Fees

All entry fees shown below are the discounted early rate if paid by 11:59 PM on June 20, 2024. Add $10 to all entry fees paid after 11:59 PM on June 20, 2024. Add $20 to all entry fees paid after 11:59 PM on July 4, 2024. Add $30 for entries after 11:59 PM on July 18, 2024 including onsite registration. Registration closes 30 minutes prior to round 1 of the applicable schedule.

Foreign players in the Open and Intermediate sections are required to disclose their FIDE ID Number before round 1. USA players in the Open and Intermediate sections without a FIDE ID Number must disclose their email address, birthdate and agree to be assigned a USA FIDE ID Number.

Open - $128

Intermediate (U1800) - $98

Reserve (U1400) - $88

Novice (U1000 & unrated) - $78

$20 discount for veterans, seniors 60+ or players with a disability.

$10 discount for an additional family member in the tournament or player birthday during the tournament.

Discounts cannot be combined and will be applied as a partial refund.

Hotel Rate & Information

Radisson is offering a special tournament rate of $119 until July 1, 2024. This rate includes a hot breakfast buffet for two people (a $23.90 value).

Book your room online at bit.ly/ChessHotel7 or phone 800-333-3333 and use group code ET54S3 for the Alliance Chess Club tournament rate.

Online Wall Charts / Pairings / Standings

We will be using SwissSys.com for online wall charts, pairings and standings.

Schedules

The default forfeiture time is 60 minutes.

Please do not drop out of a round or the tournament without first notifying a tournament director!

Three Day Schedule

  • Round 1 - 7/19 Friday 7:00 PM
  • Round 2 - 7/20 Saturday 1:30 PM (schedules merge)
  • Round 3 - 7/20 Saturday 5:30 PM
  • Round 4 - 7/21 Sunday 10:00 AM
  • Round 5 - 7/21 Sunday 2:00 PM

Two Day Schedule

  • Round 1 - 7/20 Saturday 9:30 AM
  • Round 2 - 7/20 Saturday 1:30 PM (schedules merge)
  • Round 3 - 7/20 Saturday 5:30 PM
  • Round 4 - 7/21 Sunday 10:00 AM
  • Round 5 - 7/21 Sunday 2:00 PM

Bye Requests

Up to two half point byes are available for rounds 1-4 and must be requested before the end of round 2 and before a full point bye has been assigned. All byes must be requested at least one hour before the start of the next round.

Please do not drop out of a round or the tournament without first notifying a tournament director!

Registration

Online registration at KingRegistration.com

Section Changes

Section changes to a lower rated or unrated section of the same schedule are allowed prior to the end of round 2 for $10. 1/2 point byes will be given for already played rounds in the new section.

Re-entry

Have a slow start? Start over with a re-entry! Re-entries from the three day schedule to the two day schedule are allowed for Open $58/Intermediate $44/Reserve $40/Novice $35.

Side Event

Saturday Night Blitz! - $20 cash only (no discounts) - 65% of Blitz entry fees will be returned in cash prizes. Five (5) double round (you play both white and black pieces against each opponent) Swiss; 10 games total. Time control will be G/3;+2. Registration is onsite only and closes about 20 minutes after the end of round 3. Tournament should start around 10:00 PM and finish before midnight.

Note: You do not have to play in the main event to play in our blitz event. Valid US Chess membership required; can be purchased or renewed onsite.

Equipment

Sets provided; please bring clocks.

Restrictions

A valid US Chess membership is required; membership can be purchased or renewed onsite.

Checks not accepted for onsite registration; cash or credit card only.

Duplicate scoresheets will be provided and are required for play. Personal scorebooks are not allowed. The signed white copy of the game must be left at the board and is the property of the Alliance Chess Club. A copy of each game played MUST be submitted to claim any prize.

More Information

Alliance Chess Club
Email: AllianceChess@gmail.com
Text only: 817-752-4788

Official Website

https://bit.ly/AllianceChess7

Event Limitations and Site Conditions

No Smoking. Wheelchair Accessible.

Chief Tournament Director / Chief Arbiter

Louis Reed - NTD / FIDE Arbiter (FA-D)

Email: louis.reed.chess@gmail.com