FORMAT: The tournament is a 5-round Swiss paired event with three rounds on Saturday and two rounds on Sunday and is open to everyone, regardless of residency or age. Up to two half point byes are available if requested before round one.
SECTIONS: There are seven sections, Master/Expert (2000+), Class A (1800-1999), Class B (1600-1799), Class C (1400-1599), Class D (1200-1399), Class E (1000-1199), and Class F and below (U1000). Players may play up one section for a $35 play-up fee (can’t play up more than one section). The official November US Chess over-the-board regular ratings are generally used for section eligibility and pairings. An unofficial US Chess over-the-board regular rating based on at least four games, US Chess online regular rating, or converted foreign rating is used for players with no official US Chess over-the-board regular rating.
TIME CONTROL: G/90;+10 (ninety minutes per player with ten seconds added for each move). PLAYERS MUST SUPPLY THEIR OWN BOARD, SET, AND INCREMENT CAPABLE DIGITAL CLOCK FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY. A limited number of sets and boards will be available to purchase at the tournament. Players are responsible for knowing how to set their clock.
SCHEDULE: A players meeting is at 9:45am on Saturday (there is no need for registered players to “check-in” prior to round 1). The rounds start at 10am, 2:15pm, and 6:30pm on Saturday and 10am and 2:15pm on Sunday. Remember to set your clocks back an hour on Sunday morning for the end of daylight saving time.
RATED: All sections are US Chess regular rated.
ENTRY FEE: $80 if registered by Friday, October 13; $90 from October 14 until Friday, November 3 at noon. Free entry for GMs and IMs with up to $80 deducted from a prize won. US Chess membership is required for all players. Oregon Chess Federation membership is required for Oregon residents.
PRIZES: $5600 total prize fund based on 100 players. The prize fund is adjusted proportionally if there are a different number of players except $2800 is guaranteed. Each section has the following overall prizes: 1ST-$400, 2ND-$250, 3rd-$150. Unrated players are eligible for all the prizes in their section. Prizes are combined and/or split if there is a tie. Prizes are paid via check or PayPal.
LOCATION: Lloyd Center DoubleTree Hotel, 1000 NE Multnomah St, Portland, OR 97232. The tournament this year is in the Sisters/Bachelor rooms in the upstairs ballroom, which is a different part of the hotel from where the tournament has taken place in previous years.
QUESTIONS: Email support@oregonchessfed.org. During the tournament, if you decide to withdraw or skip a round and are not on-site, send us an email via this address letting us know.