81st Virginia Closed Chess Championship

TWO TOURNAMENTS -- Friday Night Blitz, and the Main Event on 2-4 Sept
Note:  The Main Event has 2 playing schedules and 3 Sections

Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, 4050 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA.  Call the hotel at (804)521-2900 by Friday Aug 11th for reservations, ask for the "Virginia Closed Chess Rate" of $94 per night plus taxes

Questions:  Click here to ask a Question to the Chief TD & Organizer, Mike Hoffpauir

Eligibility:  The Main Event is open to all Virginia residents, military stationed in Virginia, and students attending any Virginia school or college (must show student ID or other proof of Fall 2017 school enrollment).

The Main Event on Saturday - Monday has 3 Sections:  $3,500 in Cash Prizes based on 90 paid players.  Choose from these Sections based on your playing strength and competitive desires:

  1) Championship:  1st-$700+Champion's Plaque;   2nd-$400;   3rd-$250;  Top Expert and Top Class A, $120 each + Trophy. 

  2) Amateur (Under 1800):  1st-$525+Champion's Plaque;  2nd-$300;  3rd-$200;  Top Class C & Class D, $95 each + Trophy. 

  3) Under-1200 & Unrated:  1st-$300+Trophy;  2nd-$200;  3rd-$110;  Top Unrated-$85;  Trophies to Top U-1000, U-800, and U600.  Unrated winning a place prize is limited to $200.

-- Up to two (2) Half-Point byes are available, but they must be "locked in" no later than 30 minutes before the start of Round 2.  See Tournament Schedule below for the cut-off times for your optional half-point byes.
 

Friday Night Blitz on Sept 1st

• 4 or 5 Rounds, depending on the number of players who enter.

• Registration:  Closes at 6:30PM; Round 1 is at 7PM sharp!! 

• Time Control:  Game in 5 minutes, no time delay.  You play 2 games each Round, one game as Black and one as White. 

• Entry Fee:  $25 by Aug 28th, $35 starting Aug 29th and on-site.

• How to Enter:  See "Tournament Registration" below.

THE MAIN EVENT on Sat through Mon (Sept 2nd - 4th) HAS TWO SCHEDULE OPTIONS

Long Schedule:  Time Control is 30/90, SD/1, d5 (e.g. 30 moves in the first 90 minutes per player, then complete the game in 1 hour per player, with a 5-second time delay throughout the game)
-- Saturday:  Rd 1 at 1PM;   Rd 2 at 7PM.  Your optional 1 or 2 Half-point Byes must be "locked in" by 6:30 PM
-- Sunday:  Rd 3 at 11AM;  Rd 4 at 5PM
-- Monday;  Rd 5 at 9:30AM,  Rd 6 at 3:30PM

Short Schedule:  Time Control is G/60, d5 (e.g. 60 minues per player, with 5-second time delay)
-- Saturday:  Rd 1 at 5PM;  Rd 2 at 8PM.  Your optional 1 or 2 Half-point Byes must be "locked in" by 7:30 PM
-- Sunday and Monday ... All Short Schedule players are merged into the Long Schedule

"Re-Entry":  A player who loses in Round 1 can "re-enter" the tournament by paying the $30 Re-Entry Fee.  In other words:
-- If you lose your Rd 1 game, you can re-enter the tournament in the Short Schedule, or you can re-enter the tournament by taking a 1/2-point bye in Rd 1 and playing in Rd 2 of the Long Schedule.
-- If you re-enter into the Short Schedule, you will play a new Rd 1 game at 5PM.  Your previous Rd 1 game only counts for "rating points."  So if you lose in your "new" Round 1 game, you get 0 points for Round 1, and if you win you get a full point for Round 1.
-- If you decide to Re-enter into Round 2 of the Long Schedule, you receive a 1/2-Point Bye for Rd 1 and then play Rd 2 with the Long Schedule at 7PM.

Entry Fees & Deadlines:  Main Event is $75 if paid on line or post-marked by Sunday Aug 27th; increases to $90 starting Monday Aug 28th and at the Tournament Site.  

UPDATE:  According to an official VCF Motion passed 10 years ago, FREE ENTRY is available only to 3-time or more Champions of the Open Section.  We apologize for this confusion.  (Mike Hoffpauir, VCF Chairman of the Board)