Virginia Chess Federation

2021 (84th) Virginia Closed Chess Championship

TWO TOURNAMENTS -- Friday Night Blitz on Sept 3rd
and the Main Event on Sept. 4th-6th (Saturday - Monday)
Note:  The Main Event has 2 playing schedules and 3 Sections

 

VCF Annual Membership / Business Meeting is Saturday, Sept. 4th from 9-11AM

See Who's Playing  Pairings & Standings

COVID-19 Policy for the Tournament

  • All participants and attendees are required to wear face masks.

  • NO SPECTATORS are allowed during games, including Players whose games are finished for the round. 
Entry Fee Entry Fees & Deadlines: Entry Fee is $110 at the Tournament. 
Location

Hilton Garden Inn Innsbrook, 4050 Cox Rd, Glen Allen,

If you need a room, we strongly recommend you try other hotel reservation sites such as choicehotels.com, Marriott, Holiday Inn, etc., depending on your preferences.

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

US Chess Federation and VA Chess Federation membership are required for all players.
Schedule Overview

  • Blitz: Friday, Sept 3rd.  Round 1 at 7PM.  4 Rounds.  Blitz should be finished by 9:30 at the latest.

  • MAIN EVENT:
    • Championship Section and Amateur Sections: 6 Rounds using the Swiss System of pairings. Games are on Saturday through Monday. Amateur Section limited to players rated under 1800.
    • Novice Section (Players rated under 1200): 5 Rounds using the Swiss System of pairings. Games are on Saturday and Sunday only.

  • See "Detailed Tournament Schedule" below for the start times for each Round of the tournament.
Who can Play?

Event Format?

PRIZES?

Eligibility:  The Main Event is open to all Virginia residents, military stationed in Virginia, VA residents attending school out-of-state, and students attending any Virginia school or college (must be able to show student ID or other proof of Fall 2021 school enrollment).

The Main Event on Saturday - Monday has 3 Sections:  $5,565 in Cash Prizes based on 90 paid players.

Ratings Used:  All Players will be Paired and Sectioned using the higher of their Over-the-Board and Online Regular Ratings as shown in the Sept. 2021 US Chess Rating Supplement.  That Supplement will be made public by US Chess on/about Aug 19-20.  We will use those ratings to update the ratings for all players shown on the Advance Registration list. The Chief TD will use the Official Rules of Chess to determine ratings for players who lack a US Chess rating, but who have a rating in another well-established rating system.

Choose from the Sections below based on your playing strength and competitive desires.  Play in all 3 sections is USCF rated, so a current US Chess Federation membership is required for all players.

  1) Championship: 1st-$900+Champion's Plaque;   2nd-$600;   3rd-$400;  Top Expert-$225, Top Class A-$200.  Unrated player winning a cash prize is limited to $300.  Top Upsets on Day 1 and Day 2, $50 each. Two Half-point Byes allowed, must declare at least 30 min before Round 2.

  2) Amateur (Under 1800): 1st-$600+Champion's Plaque;  2nd-$400;  3rd-$250;  Top Class C-$160, Top Class D-$150. Unrated player winning a cash prize is limited to $250.  Top Upsets on Day 1 and Day 2, $50 each.  Two Half-point Byes allowed, must declare at least 30 min before Round 2.

  3) Novice (Under-1200): Games are Sat & Sun only. 1st-$450+Trophy;  2nd-$300 3rd-$200;  Top U1000-$140, TopU800-$135, TopU600-$130, Top Unrated-$125. Unrated player winning a cash prize is limited to $200.. ONE Half-point Byes allowed, must declare at least 30 min before Round 2.
How to ENTER How to Enter ...
 On-Site.  At the Hotel on Friday evening (Sept 3rd, 5-9PM) or Saturday Sept. 4th from 8AM - 12 Noon for the Long Schedule.  Registration for the Short Schedule continues until 4PM. On-site Entry Fee is $110 for the Main Event, $45 for the Blitz tournament.
Detailed Tournament Schedule
&
Entry Fees

Friday Night Blitz on September 3rd

  • 4 Double-Rounds, depending on the number of players who enter. 

  • Play is in 2 Sections -- OPEN and Under 1600.

  • ANYONE can play Blitz.  You DO NOT need to be a Virginia Resident to play Blitz.

  • Pairings & Section Eligibility:  All players will be paired and sectioned using the HIGHER of their Over-the-Board and Online Blitz and Regular US Chess Ratings from the US Chess September 2021 Rating Supplement.  That supplement will be posted online by US Chess on/about Thursday or Friday, Aug 19-20.

  • 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:  $35 by Friday Aug 27th, $45 starting Saturday Aug 28th and onsite

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

THE MAIN EVENT on Sat through Mon (Sept 4th - 6th) HAS TWO SCHEDULE OPTIONS

Long Schedule (Open & Amateur Sections):  Time Control is 30/90, SD/30, inc 30 (e.g. 30 moves in the first 90 minutes per player, then complete the game in 1 hour per player, with 30-seconds of time increment from move 1)
-- 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
-- Two Half-point Byes allowed, must declare at least 30 min before Round 2.
-- Notation required throughout the entire game

Short Schedule (Open & Amateur Sections):  Time Control is G/60, inc +10 (e.g. 60 minues per player, with 10-seconds of time increment from move 1)
-- Saturday:  Rd 1 at 5PM;  Rd 2 at 8PM.  Optional 1 or 2 Half-point Byes must be "locked in" by 7:30 PM. Chess Notation required until either player has 5 or less minutes remaining on their clock
-- Sunday and Monday ... All Short Schedule players are merged into the Long Schedule as listed above

Novice (Under 1200) Section: All Games on Saturday and Sunday; Time Control is G/60+10 for Rounds 1 through 4, G/90+10 for Round 5.
-- Saturday: Round 1 at 1 PM;  Round 2 at 4PM
-- Sunday, Round 3 at 10AM, Round 4 at 1PM, Round 5 at 5PM
-- One Half-point Bye allowed, must declare at least 30 min before start of Round 2.
-- Chess Notation required until either player has 5 or less minutes remaining on their clock

"Re-Entry":  In the Championship and Amateur sections, a player who loses in Round 1 can "re-enter" the tournament by paying the $40 Re-Entry Fee ($25 in the Novice section).  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 Fee:  $110, plus current US Chess and VCF memberships.  

FREE ENTRY to any person who has won the Open Section 3 or more times--Contact Mike Hoffpauir by email to enter.
What to Bring Please bring your Chess Set, Chess Clock (increment capable), your favorite score book, and something to write with.  The only electronic notation devices authorized are the ChessNoteR, PlyCount and Monroi (the eNotate is no longer authorized).

We will have a Chess Vendor onsite selling chess books and equipment.
Cell Phones & Electronic Devices Policy






QUESTIONS?		 Cell Phones:  If you bring one in the Playing Hall, it must be TURNED OFF and you must leave it ON YOUR TABLE IN PLAIN VIEW at all times during your game. 
-- Phone rings is a 10-min penalty. 
-- If you use your phone to text, or you talk on it during your game without the TD's permission, you most likely will forfeit your game and you may be removed from the tournament.

Headphones, iWatches, iPads, Ear-Buds ... any device capable of transmitting or receiving communications:  NOT ALLOWED !!

Electronic Notation Devices:  The Monrois, PlyCount and ChessNoteR are the only authorized Electronic Notation Devices allowed.  If you use these, be sure you know how to put it in "notation" mode if your opponent asks to borrow your score book.  ALSO, if your battery dies on your device, you must take manual notation.

Click Here to see the VA Chess Federation's complete policy on Electronic Devices

Questions:  Click here to ask a Question to the Organizer, Mike Hoffpauir, or contact Mike at 757-846-4805 (Cell or Text)