Play 7 rounds at pre-inflation prices made possible by gift from the Azhar Family Office!
Note: We are reversing the trend of robbing the poor (lower-rated) players to feed the rich (higher-rated) players. So the fees and prizes are the same for all sections. Please support us by recruiting your friends and family to join you in this event. Don’t be an anti-hero.

2023 CalChess Open, Class, and Rapid
STATE Championship
Official CalChess State Championship Events!
on Sep 1/2/3 to 4 for all levels (and ages) with free parking!
Play and Stay at Sonesta Silicon Valley on 1800 Barber Ln, (South) Milpitas

    • CalChess Open
      & Class

      CalChess Rapid
      Fri 6:30p /
      Sat 9a /
      Sun 9a to
      Mon 5:45p
      7SS G90 +30
      (2-day Rounds 1-5: G60 d5)      		 Mon (1000+)
      6:15 to 9p
      5SS G10 d2
      Sat (Scholastic)
      9:15a to 4:10p
      5SS G25 d5      		 Sat (u1000)
      4:45 to 7:30p
      5SS G10 d2
    • ↓ Scholastic u1400 Side Events ↓

      Signature

      Quads      		 Sun 9 to 11:30a
      3RR x G25 d5

      Signature

      Swiss      		 Sun 12:30 - 4p
      and
      Mon 9a - 12:30p
      4SS x G25 d5

      Chess4Less

      Quads      		 Mon 1:30 to 4p
      3RR x G25 d5

    • Register
      Now
      Request
      Change
      or Correction
      Book Sonesta Silicon Valley at pre-inflation rates ($99)
      1. GM dN means each players gets M minutes/game and N seconds/move (before their clock starts ticking).
      2. XRR means X round-robin games.
      3. YSS means Y Swiss-system games.

  • CalChess Open & Class STATE Championship Prizes and Awards

    Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!

    For Sections MX A B C D E
    $18,000 b/208 ($12,600 guaranteed • GPP 30) + trophy to the top player in each section.

    Section 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th
    MX 2000 & higher (FIDE) $1,500 $700 $300 $300 $200
    A 1800-1999 (FIDE) $1,500 $700 $300 $300 $200
    B 1600-1799 (FIDE) $1,500 $700 $300 $300 $200
    C 1400-1599 $1,500 $700 $300 $300 $200
    D 1200-1399 $1,500 $700 $300 $300 $200
    Eu u1200 $1,500 $700 $300 $300 $200
    Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!

    For Scholastic Sections F G H I
    Lots of trophies and medals!

    Section Awards
    F 800-999
    1. Trophies to
      all players with a winning record
      in each section;
      medals to others.
    2. Trophies to
      all schools with two or more players
      in all sections combined2
    3. Trophies to
      all clubs with two or more players
      in all sections combined2.
    G 600-799
    H 400-599
    I u400


    2 Top 4 players’ scores count to their club/school total.

      • CalChess Rapid STATE Championship Prizes and Awards

        Cash Prize Fund for All!
        $3,010 b/66

        Section Eligibility 1st 2nd 3rd
        MXA 1800+ All $200 $100 $66
        u2000 $100 $70 $66
        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
        BC 1400-1799 All $200 $100 $66
        u1600 $100 $70 $66
        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
        DE 1000-1399 All $200 $100 $66
        u1200 $100 $70 $66
        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
        FG 600-999 All $200 $100 $66
        u800 $100 $70 $66
        - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
        HIJ u600 All $200 $100 $66
        u400 $100 $70 $66

    • For Scholastic Players Rated under 1400

      Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!

      Signature Swiss for Scholastic players

      Sections: u500 | 500-799 | 800-1199
      Awards: 6 BA€oins/point (min 3 BA€oins/tourney)


      Signature Quads for Scholastic players

      Sections: groups of 4 players based on rating
      Awards: 6 BA€oins/point (min 3 BA€oins/tourney)


      Chess4Less Quads for Scholastic players

      Sections: groups of 4 players based on rating
      Awards: None (to offset low fee)
Register Now to Join


Schedule Details Click here to expand/contract
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Register Change

    • Online Registration closes at 11:59p on the day before the first game.

      Onsite Registration closes at 20 minutes before the first game.

  • ½-point Byes

    ½-point Byes are available with the following conditions:
    CalChess Open & Class Scholastic u1000 CalChess Rapid
    &
    Signature Swiss    		 Signature Quads
    &
    Chess4Less Quads

    Maximum Byes Allowed
    3 2 2 0

    Latest time to request a bye (in minutes before a round start)
    30 30 30 N/A

    After this round starts, changes to last two rounds' byes
    implies the player donating any earned prize money to BAC.
    3 2 2 N/A

Fees & Discounts Click here to expand/contract
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Register Change Book hotel

    • Please register early to save your money and our time!

    • CalChess Open & Class STATE Championship Fees

      Entry Type BAC-Member Non-member
      Regular 4-day 134 178
      3-day 125 167
      2-day 117 156
      Re-entry 42 56
      Econ 4-day 101 134
      3-day 94 125
      2-day 88 117
      Re-entry 32 42
      Scholastic u1000 1-day 52 69

      1. CalChess Open & Class Sections
        1. Play-up Fee: +39 (double play-up is not allowed)
        2. Players must be at least 1000 to play up in section D
        3. Late Fees: +0 Until 8/23 | +10 8/24-26 | +20 8/27-29 | +30 8/30-9/1 | +40 onsite
      2. Scholastic u1000 Sections
        1. Play-up Fee: +29 (double play-up is not allowed)
        2. Late Fees: +0 Until 8/23 | +7 8/24-26 | +15 8/27-29 | +22 8/30-9/1 | +30 onsite

    • CalChess Rapid STATE Championship Fees

      Entry Type BAC-Member Non-member
      Regular 50 66
      Econ 37 50

      1. Play-up Fee: +29 (double play-up is not allowed)
      2. Late Fees: +0 Until 8/23 | +5 8/24-26 | +10 8/27-29 | +15 8/30-9/1 | +20 onsite

    • Schiolastic Side Event Fees

      Entry Type BAC-Member Non-member
      Signature
      Swiss      		 37 49
      Signature
      Quads      		 29 39
      Chess4Less
      Quads      		 21 28

      1. Play-up Fee: +19 (for Signature Swiss; double play-up is not allowed)
      2. Late Fees: +0 Until 8/23 | +5 8/24-26 | +10 8/27-29 | +15 8/30-9/1 | +20 onsite
    • Cancel/Change Fee: Same as the late fee; No refunds after 8/29.
    • Econ entry offers a lower entry fee in exchange for 50% of the calculated prize. (Tip: Econ entry suits players who are not motivated by prize money.)

Post-Registration Info Click here to expand/contract
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Register Change Book hotel

What to expect after registering

        • After Registering

          1. Check Processed Entries to confirm registration (available one week before the tournament).
          2. Use this form for changes/corrections.
          3. Add @bayareachess.com to safe senders to receive emails with orientation and other notifications.
          4. Reconfirm the email address and other information in your profile.
          5. Check this page the day before the tournament for orientation information.
          6. Contact us for any questions or suggestions.

      • Financial Transparency

        1. The entry fees for members are slightly lower based on a donation by the Azhar Family Office.
        2. The entry fees for non-members are slightly higher due to inflation and the extra costs.

        • What’s New?

          1. The 2023 CalChess Open will offer 7 (not 6) rounds with 3 (not 2) schedules. There's a new 4 day schedule.
          2. The 4-day and 3-day schedules will merge in Round 2.
          3. The 2-day schedule’s first 5 rounds will be G60 d5. All schedules will merge in Round 6.
          4. Prizes can be paid out by check, PayPal or Zelle through bayareachess.com/prizeform

      • What’s Expected?

        1. Come as you are! We welcome all players regardless of their rating and playing level.
        2. US Chess membership (USCF) is required; if you're not a current member, you must renew/signup with your tournament registration at BayAreaChess.com so we can process and reconcile your entry.
        3. We will use September 2023 Supplement to place players accurately.
        4. Unrated winners: Max $300 (Open) / $100 (Rapid) except in the top section
        5. We may adjust round times if needed (but it is unlikely).
        6. Be nice to everyone!