General Information

  • What's New

    1. The 2021 National US Chess Amateur Championship will be online at lichess.org on:
      1. August 28 (North)
      2. September 11 (West)
      3. September 25 (South)
    2. You may play in any or all of these tournament regardless of where you live.
    3. The Scholastic sections are based on the grade PK-12 in academic year 2020-21

  • What's Expected

    1. USCF membership is required; You must renew/signup with your tournament registration so we can process and confirm all memberships.
    2. These tournaments will award/update official USCF national online rating.

Awards

    • Non-Scholastic Sections Awards

      1. Chess clocks customized with the winner's name for:
        1. The top three players in each section (3 sections x 3 tourneys = Total 27 customized clocks)
        2. The top two players under 2000, under 1600, and under 1200 in 1800-2199, 1400-1799, Under 1400 sections, respectively (3 sections x 3 tourneys = Total 18 customized clocks)
      2. $30 Gift certificates to 4th – 5th place players each section (3 sections x 3 tourneys = $540)
      3. $20 Gift certificates to 3rd – 4th place under 2000, under 1600, and under 1200 players in 1800-2199, 1400-1799, Under 1400 sections, respectively (3 sections x 3 tourneys = $360)
      4. Blitz: 70% of entry fees returned as online gift certificates.

    • Scholastic Sections

      1. Chess clocks customized with the winner's name for:
        1. The top two players in each scholastic section (4 sections x 3 tourneys = Total 24 customized clocks) (4 sections | Total 36)
        2. The top player under 1200, under 800, and under 400 in 1000-2199, 600-999, Under 600 sections, respectively (3 sections x 3 tourneys = Total 9 customized clocks)
      2. $30 Gift certificates to 3rd – 5th place players each section (4 sections x 3 tourneys = $1,080)
      3. $20 Gift certificates to 2nd – 3rd place under 1200, under 800, and under 400 players in 1000-2199, 600-999, Under 600 sections, respectively (4 sections x 3 tourneys = $480)
      4. Blitz: 70% of entry fees returned as online gift certificates.

  • Award Ceremony

    We will mail all awards to the participants at our cost after fairplay checking (and that can take 1-3 weeks)

Registration

    • Discounts for all Players
      tl;dr = Register ASAP for multiple tourneys to secure a spot and save money!

      1. $10 off for Double Play: All players who register for two non-blitz tournaments on two separate dates.
      2. $20 off for Triple Play: All players who register for three non-blitz tournaments on three separate dates.
      3. Register ASAP: Late fees apply 7-8 days before the tournament date.

    • Non-scholastic Main Event Entry Fees

      Tourney Date Entry Fees
      53
      65
      70
      75
      Aug. 28 until Aug. 20 Aug. 21-24 Aug. 25-26 Aug. 27 (5pm)
      Sep. 11 until Sep. 3 Sep. 4-7 Sep. 8-9 Sep. 10 (5pm)
      Sep. 25 until Sep. 17 Sep. 18-21 Sep. 22-23 Sep. 24 (5pm)

    • Non-scholastic Blitz Event Entry Fees

      Tourney Date Entry Fees
      = 10
      until 5pm on
      Aug. 28 Aug. 27
      Sep. 11 Sep. 10
      Sep. 25 Sep. 24

    • Scholastic Entry Fees

      Tourney Date Entry Fees
      43
      55
      60
      65
      Aug. 28 until Aug. 20 Aug. 21-24 Aug. 25-26 Aug. 27 (5pm)
      Sep. 11 until Sep. 3 Sep. 4-7 Sep. 8-9 Sep. 10 (5pm)
      Sep. 25 until Sep. 17 Sep. 18-21 Sep. 22-23 Sep. 24 (5pm)

    • Non-scholastic Blitz Event Entry Fees

      Tourney Date Entry Fees
      = 10
      until 5pm on
      Aug. 28 until Aug. 27 (5pm)
      Sep. 11 until Sep. 10 (5pm)
      Sep. 25 until Sep. 24 (5pm)

  • Cancelation Fees

    Tourney Date Cancelation Fees
    10
    15
    20
    25
    Aug. 28 until Aug. 20 Aug. 21-24 Aug. 25-26 Aug. 27 (5pm)
    Sep. 11 until Sep. 3 Sep. 4-7 Sep. 8-9 Sep. 10 (5pm)
    Sep. 25 until Sep. 17 Sep. 18-21 Sep. 22-23 Sep. 24 (5pm)

  • After Registering

    1. Authenticate your account on lichess.org
    2. Check entries to confirm registration; Contact us to report any errors
    3. Add @bayareachess.com to safe senders to receive orientation emails.
    4. Reconfirm the email address and other information in your profile.
    5. Attend townhall meeting(s) on Thursdays at 7pm PDT on one or more of the following dates:
      1. August 26
      2. September 9
      3. September 23
      (We email the meeting zoom link to registered attendees and share the meeting here.)

Sections

  • General Information

    1. All sections in all tournaments are based on rating published here. for the month of the tournament.
    2. We will use online or OTB ratings, as appropriate.
    3. Scholastic sections are open only to players rated under 2200 who were in grade PK-12 during academic year 2020-21.
    4. Non-scholastic sections are open to all players rated under 2200, regardless of age.
    5. Players may play in a higher section section (based on their rating/grade), but may not player a lower section.

  • Non-scholastic Main Event Sections (5 games)

    Rating Time Control
    1800-2199 G/45 +5
    1400-1799 G/45 +5
    Under 1400 G/30 +5

    Non-scholastic Blitz Event Sections (10 games))

    Rating Time Control
    1500-2199 G/5 +1
    Under 1500 G/5 +1

  • Scholastic Main Event Sections (5 games)

    Rating Time Control
    1000-2199 G/25 +5
    600-999 G/20 +2
    Under 600 G/15 +1
    Unrated G/10 +1

    Scholastic Blitz Event Sections (10 games)

    Rating Time Control
    700-2199 G/5 +1
    Under 700 G/5 +1

Schedule

    1. The main event is 5 rounds based on the round times below (based on the section).
      1. Each round will start at (or around) the scheduled start time.
      2. You are free to do what you wish until the start of the next round as long as you are back a few minutes before the next round's scheduled start time.
      3. We will use SwissSys with USChess pairing rules to pair and start each round manually.
      2. The Blitz is 10 rounds.
      1. The expected start and end times for the blitz tournament are listed below.
      2. The first round starts at (or around) the start time of the tournament.
      3. Round 2 and later will start as soon as all the previous round's games in each section are completed.
    • We will use lichess pairing system to start each round automatically. Please keep that in mind if you step away from your playing device.
  • The schedule below is subject to changes if advised by US Chess Federation (but it is unlikely). Please check this page and orientation emails to plan your day smartly.
Terms and Conditions - Refund policy