19th Annual Steve Brandwein / Ray Schutt / Jay Whitehead Memorial Blitz

Open for everyone!
2:00 pm-5:00 pm
 

List of registered oplayers

Date & Location -- Tournament Format -- Byes -- Prize Fund

Registration -- Tournament Rules -- FAQ
 

Tournament capacity: 80 players.

 

1. Date & Location

• Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm
• Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
  57 Post Street, 4th Floor
  San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)
   

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Swiss System
• Total Rounds: 6 rounds of double games
• Players will play TWO games in one round against the same opponent with alternating colors.
• Total of 2 points for every round. The maximum score for the tournament is 12.
• First Round: 2:00 pm, and consecutive rounds are on a rolling schedule. Estimated endgame: 5:00 pm.
• Time Control: G/4+2  (Game in 4 minutes with a 2-second increment with each move.)
• Games will NOT be US Chess rated. 
• Sections: One Open section.
• Pairings are based on the higher of the May 2025 OTB supplemental regular or blitz US Chess rating. 
   

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in case they can't participate but would like to stay in the tournament.
• Byes can be requested for a maximum of 2 rounds, with receiving one point for each round (half point for each game in a round).
• Late registrations will receive two half-point byes for any missed round, up to a total of 2 rounds.
   

4. Prize Fund --  $400 based on 60 paid entries 

	Open
1st Place	$130
2nd Place	$105
3rd Place	$80
Best Under 1800	$55
Best Under 1300	$30

• Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing prize checks.
• Per IRS rules anyone with a cumulative $600+ prizes in any calendar year will need to fill out a W9 and Mechanics' Institute will be providing a 1099 form. 

5. Registration:

• Entry fee for all: $15
• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.
• Click HERE to Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/19thAnnualBrandweinSchuttWhiteheadMemorialBlitz

7. Tournament Rules

• Standard US Chess rules apply even though the tournament will not be rated by US Chess.
• Forfeit time is 4 minutes.

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
  Time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
  G4+2 means a game in 4 minutes with a 2-second increment with each move from move 1. This means you get 4 minutes, your opponent gets 4 minutes, and the clock adds 2 seconds to the player's time at each move. 
• How many games/rounds?
  The 6DSS before the time control means it is a Swiss System tournament with six rounds, with two games in each round games. This makes it a total of 12 games played in this tournament. The tournaments are never elimination, so win or lose, you can stay in the tournament.