Kick off the new year with new chances to win!

2023 New Year Festival
Non-scholastic (Championship & Blitz) and Scholastic (Championship & Signature [Quads & Swiss])

on January 6-8 for all levels (and ages) with free parking!
Play and Stay at Sonesta Silicon Valley on 1820 Barber Ln, Milpitas

Register Change Book Sonesta
for $99 (+ tax)
Non-Scholastic Scholastic
New Year Open
on Sat 9a to Sun 6:30p or Fri 1:15p to Sun 6:30p
New Year Blitz
on Sat 7:15 to 9:15p		 New Year Scholastic Championship on Fri 9:40a-4p
New Year Scholastic Blitz Championship on Fri 4:45-6:45p
Quads on Sun 10a
Swiss on Sun 2p
Live Entries:
Processed Entries:
Orientation:
  •     Available on Jan 5
Please read on for a detailed schedule.
Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!
Please register ASAP to save your money (and our time) before late fees start. Also, the registration may close anytime if we reach maximum capacity under health and safety protocols!

Prize Fund and Awards Click here to expand/contract
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Cash Prizes for Non-scholastic Sections | BA€oins for Scholastic Sections

      • Note:
        • G/M dS means each player gets M minutes/game and S seconds/move (before the clock starts running).
        • G/M +S means each player gets M minutes/game and a bonus of S seconds after every move.

    • Non-scholastic Events
      Cash prize as specified below

        • Championship Event
          Prize Fund: $12,100 b/143 fully paid entries

          Time control:
          1. MX, AB, CD: G/90 +30 (Rds 1-3 of 2-day: G/45 d5)
          2. EF: G/75 d5 (2-day only on Sat & Sun)

          Section Eligibility 1st 2nd 3rd
          MX
          (2000+)
          FIDE-rated           		All $1,500 $700 $300
          u2100 $1000 $500 $200
          AB
          (1600 - 1999)
          FIDE-rated           		All $1,000 $500 $200
          u1800 $700 $300 $200
          CD
          (1200 - 1599)          		 All $1,000 $500 $200
          u1400 $700 $300 $200
          EF
          (800 - 1199)          		 All $700 $300 $200
          u1000 $500 $200 $200

          1. New & Unrated players: Max prize $400 (except in the Open Section).
          2. All sections are USCF-rated.
          3. Non-K12 players rated under 800 may play in the 800-1199 section without play-up (but may not play in the 1200-1599 section).

      • Blitz (G/5 d1) Prize Fund (Non-scholastic):
        $100 b/ 6 players

        We will group players in Hexes (6 players). For each hex:
        • 1st Place = $60
        • Top in the bottom 1/2 = $40

    • Scholastic Events
      Prizes: 6 BA€oins/point (min 3 BA€oins/tourney)

        • Scholastic Championship

          [Fri 9:40a-4p | G/25 d5]
          3 Sections based on rating:
          FG (700-999), GH (400-699),
          IJu (unrated & under 400)

        • Blitz

          [Fri 4:45-6:45p | G/5 d1]
          Sections: groups of 6 players based on rating

        • Signature Quads

          [Sunday 10a-12:30p | G/25 d5]
          Sections: groups of 4 players based on rating

      • Signature Swiss

        [Sunday 2-5:30p | G/25 d5]
        Sections based on rating:
        Champ (800-999),
        Premier (500-799),
        Booster (unrated & under 500)

Schedule Click here to expand/contract
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All Schedules

    • Non-scholastic Events Schedule

      • Championship (Fri 1:15p to Sun 6:30p [2-day Sat 9a to Sun 6:30p])
        • Online Registration: Until Thu, Jan 5 11:59p
        • Onsite Registration: Until 30 minutes before Round 1's scheduled start
        • ½-point Byes are available for any round (no maximum; Rounds 1-4 byes must be requested at least 1 hour before that round's scheduled start; Rounds 5-6 byes are final after Round 3 starts unless the player donates any earned prize money to BAC)
        • Round Times: [2-day schedule in brackets] {800-1199 schedule in parentheses}
          1. Fri 1:15p [Sat 9a] {Sat 9a}
          2. Fri 5:35p [Sat 11a] {Sat 12:45p}
          3. Sat 10:30a [Sat 1p] {Sat 4p}
          4. Sat 3:15p [Sat 3:15p; 2-day merged with 3-day schedule] {Sun 9:30a}
          5. Sun 10a [Sun 10a] {Sun 12:45}
          6. Sun 2:30p [Sun 2:30p] {Sun 4p}
        • Time Control: G/90 +30
          [2-day Rds 1-3 G/45 d5]

      • Blitz (Saturday 7:15 to 9:15p)
        • Online Registration: Until Fri, Jan 6 11:59p
        • Onsite Registration: Until Sat, Jan 7 7p
        • Round Times: Sat, Jan 7 from 7:15 to 9:15p (5 double rounds = 10 games on a rolling schedule)
        • Time Control: G/5 d1

    • Kids Events Schedule

      • Scholastic Championship (Fri 9:40-4p | 5 games)
        • Online Registration: Until Thu, Jan 5 11:59p
        • Onsite Registration: Fri, Jan 6 from 9-9:20a
        • Round Times: Fri 9:40, 10:55a, Lunch Break, 12:30p, 1:45p, 3:00p
        • Time Control: G/25 d5

      • Blitz (Friday 4:45-6:45p | 8-10 games to accelerate earning BA€oins)
        • Online Registration: Until Thu, Jan 5 11:59p
        • Onsite Registration: Until Fri, Jan 6 4:30p
        • Round Times: Fri, Jan 6 from 4:45-6:30p (4-5 double rounds = 8-10 games on a rolling schedule)
        • Time Control: G/5 d1

      • Signature Quads (Sunday 10a-12:30p | 3 games)
        • Online Registration: Until Sat, Jan 7 11:59p
        • Onsite Registration: Until Sun, Jan 8 9:30a
        • Time Control: G/25 d5

      • Signature Swiss (Sunday 2-5:30p | 4 games)
        • Online Registration: Until Sat, Jan 7 11:59p
        • Onsite Registration Until Sun, Jan 8 1:45p
        • Time Control: G/25 d5

Fees & Discounts Click here to expand/contract
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Please register early to save your money and our time!


      • Entry Fees
        for Non-scholastic sections

        Entry Type Non-member BAC-Member
        Regular
        2-day
        or 3-day        		 156 117
        Econ
        2-day
        or 3-day        		 117 88
        Blitz 33 25

        • 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.)
        • The above entry fees are for both 3-day and 2-day options.



        Entry Fees
        for Scholastic sections

        Entry Type Non-member BAC-Member
        Scholastic
        Championship        		 59 44
        Blitz 33 25
        Quads 39 29
        Swiss 49 37

      • Buy More and Save with All-Access and
        Day-Access Passes (limited quantity available)

        All-Access Passes

        Events Entry Type Non-member BAC-Member
        Scholastic All-Access Pass includes:
        1. Scholastic Championship
        2. Scholastic Blitz on Friday (free!)
        3. 2-day Championship (free play-up!)
        4. Non-scholastic Blitz on Saturday (half price!)
        		 Regular 233 175
        Econ 194 146
        Non-scholastic All-Access Pass includes:
        1. Non-scholastic Championship (3-day or 2-day)
        2. Non-scholastic Blitz on Monday (half price!)
        		 Regular 173 130
        Econ 134 101


        Day-Access Passes for Scholastic

        Events Non-
        member        		 BAC-
        Member
        Friday Day-Access Pass Scholastic includes:
        1. Scholastic Championship
        2. Scholastic Blitz on Friday (half price!)
        		 77 58
        Sunday Day-Access Pass
        includes:
        1. Signature Quads (at half price!)
        2. Signature Swiss
        		 69 51

    • Optional/Other Fees

      1. Play-up Fee: +39 for Non-scholastic Sections & +28 for Under Non-scholastic Sections (double play-up is not allowed; minimum rating of 1801 to play up in the 2000+ section; minimum rating of 801 to play up in the 1200-1599 section)
      2. Registration Fees: +0 Until 12/30 | +10 12/30-31 | +20 1/1-3 | +30 1/4-5 | +40 onsite
      3. Cancel/Change Fee: Same as the late fee; No refunds after 1/3.
      4. Blitz Registration Fees: +0 1/6 | +7 onsite

Post-Registration Information Click here to expand/contract
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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.
        2. The entry fees for non-members are slightly higher due to inflation and the extra cost of COVID prevention protocols.

        • What's New?

          1. The 2023 New Year Festival is January 6-8, 2023.
          2. The first three rounds of the 2-day schedule will be G/45 +5.

      • 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 January 2023 Supplement to place players accurately.
        4. We may adjust round times if needed (but it is unlikely).
        5. Be nice to everyone!