21st Donnelly Memorial Championship (FIDE-rated)

5-Round Swiss -- Full Weekend, FIDE-Rated Tournament

Open to Everyone!

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

Registration -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules  -- FAQ

Final Standings -- Prize Winners
 

1. Dates & Location

• Saturday, Sept 17 - Sunday, Sept 18

• Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
  57 Post Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Individual Swiss

• Total Rounds: 5

• Round Times: Saturday 9am, lunch break, 1:30pm, 5:30pm; Sunday 10am, 2:30pm

• Time Control: G/90+30s inc  (Game in 90 minutes with a 30-second increment after each move.)

• Games will be US Chess regular-rated and FIDE-rated. Tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.

• UPDATED: Three sections based on USCF ratings: 2000+, 1500-1999, and under1500.

• Pairings are based on the Sept 2022 supplemental regular US Chess ratings.

• Play-up: Players must have an 1800 USCF supplemental rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 2000+ section, and a 1300 USCF supplemental or actual rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1500-1999 section. 

• Unrateds can only play in the u1500 section.

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in any round in case they can't participate but would like to stay in the tournament.

• A maximum of 2 half-point byes can be requested in this tournament.

• Round 1-3 byes must be requested 15 minutes prior to the round start time.

• Round 4-5 byes must be requested before the start of Round 1. Round 5 bye is irrevocable to prevent prize-fund manipulations.

• Late registrations will receive a half-point bye for any missed round, up to a total of 2 rounds.

4. Prize Fund

• $2800 based on 80 paid entries. 
 

	2000+ (FIDE-rated)	1500-1999 (FIDE-rated)	under1500 (FIDE-rated)
1st Place	$500	$350	$200
2nd Place	$400	$200	$150
3rd Place	$300	$100	$100
Best Under2200	$150
Best Under2000	$125
Best Under1800		$125
Best Under1600		$100
Best Under1400			$50
Best Under1200			$50

 

• Under prizes are based on USCF OTB rating.

• 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 W-9 form and Mechanics' Institute will be providing a 1099 form at the end of the calendar year.
 

5. Registration

• Onsite Registration: Saturday, 9/17: 8:30-8:45AM

• MI library member: $70

• Non-MI library member: $100

• Play-up for MI member: $15

• Play-up for non-MI member: $20

• Late fee on the day of the tournament: $20

• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.

• Entry to GM/IM/WGM/WIMs by 9/10. Prize minus entry fee applies.

• Click here to register: Registration is closed due to reaching capacity. Please email us with any questions.
 

6. Eligibility

• Players must have current US Chess Federation membership. Expiration date of their US Chess membership must be later than the last day of the tournament.

• Not sure if you have a membership? Need to check the expiration date of your members? Visit: https://new.uschess.org/player-search

• Become a member or renew your membership: https://new.uschess.org/player-search
 

7. Tournament Rules

• Standard US Chess and modified FIDE rules apply.

• Forfeit time is 60 minutes. Please be considerate of your opponent, and don't be late! Let us know if you can't make it to a particular round!

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
The time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
For example, G90+30s inc means game in 90 minutes with a 30-second increment with each move. This means you get 90 minutes, your opponent gets 90 minutes, and at each move 30 seconds are added to your clock.

• How many games/rounds?
The 5SS before the time control means there are five rounds or five games a player can play in the tournament. The tournaments are never elimination, so win or lose you can stay in the tournament.

• Players Database
For players who are interested in playing in our tournaments, please fill out our Players database: https://forms.gle/X3hChCWbusHp4Ze56 to get email notifications about last-minute changes and invitational opportunities.