2nd Silman Memorial Tuesday Night Marathon

2nd Jeremy Silman Memorial Tuesday Night Marathon
May - Jun 2025

US Chess & FIDE-rated event
 

Standings -- Pairings -- Complete list of games (pdf&pgn)

Dates -- Tournament Format -- Byes -- Prize Fund

Registration -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules -- FAQ
 

Max capacity: 80
 

Pre-TNM Lectures are back! Arrive at 5:45 pm and listen to a guest speaker covering some exciting news from the chess world and interesting games from our tournaments! Please see our current lecture schedule below.

 

Do you happen to have any change/update requests? Please use our Change Request Form.
 

1. Dates & Location

• Seven Tuesdays in May - Jun 2025: 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27, 6/3, 6/10, 6/17
• 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: 7 (1 round each Tuesday night: 1/7, 1/14, 1/21, 1/28, 2/4, 2/11, 2/18)
• Round Times: Tuesday at 6:30 pm Pacific Time (GMT+8)
• Time Control: G/90;+30  (Game in 90 minutes with 30-second increment on each move.)
• The games will be US Chess regular-rated and FIDE-rated. The tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.
• Three Sections: 2000+, 1600-1999, and under1600
• Pairings are based on the May 2025 regular supplemental regular US Chess rating.
• Play-up "200-rating point rule":
  Players must have an 1800 USCF regular supplemental or actual regular rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 2000+ section.
  Players must have a 1400 USCF regular supplemental or actual regular rating to be eligible to play up to the 1600-1999 section.
  US Chess rating will be used for section determination and pairings.  FIDE or other ratings are only used if no US Chess rating is available. 

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in any rounds if they can't participate that evening but would like to stay in the tournament.
• A maximum of three half-point byes can be requested in this tournament.
• Round 1-6 byes must be requested before the pairing of the round by Monday 6 pm. Pairings usually are posted shortly after 8 pm on Monday, the day before the round.
• Round 7 bye must be requested before the start of Round 5. Round 7 bye is irrevocable to prevent possible prize-fund manipulations.
• Late registrations will receive a half-point bye for any missed round, up to a total of three rounds.
   

4. Prize Fund --  $2400 based on 80 paid entries  + a very special donation of $3000 to the top section courtesy of the Silman-James Press!
 

	2000+	1600-1999	u1600
1st Place		$300	$200
2nd Place		$200	$100
3rd Place		$100	$50
Best under2200
Best under2000
Best under1800		$75
Best under1600		$75
Best under1400			$50
Best under1200			$50

Special Prize Fund for the 2000+ section:

	Original	Donation	Total Prize Fund
1st Place	$500	$1250	$1750
2nd Place	$300	$750	$1050
3rd Place	$200	$500	$700
Best under2200	$100	$250	$350
Best under2000	$100	$250	$350

 

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

5. Registration

• Mechanics' Institute Member: $70
• Non-Member: $100
• Play-up: $15 for members, $20 for non-members.
• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.
• Click here to register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/2ndSilmanMemorialTuesdayNightMarathon

6. Eligibility

• Players must have a current US Chess Federation membership. The expiration date of their US Chess membership must be later than the last day of the tournament.
• Not sure if you have a membership or need to check its expiration date? Visit: https://new.uschess.org/player-search
• Become a member or renew your membership: https://new.uschess.org/player-search
   

7. Tournament Rules

• Modified FIDE rules apply.
• Forfeit time is 30 minutes without prior notice and 60 minutes if we are notified.
  A player will be awarded a forfeit win against any opponent who doesn't show up according to the prescribed rules, and every effort will be made to find that player an extra game.

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
  Time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
  G90;+30 means a game in 90 minutes (aka 1.5 hours) with a 30-second increment on each move. This means you get 90 minutes, your opponent gets 90 minutes, and after each move, the clock adds 30 seconds to the player's remaining time.
   
• How many games/rounds?
  The 7SS before the time control means it is a Swiss System tournament with seven rounds, or seven games, that a player can play in the tournament. The tournaments are never elimination, so win or lose, you can stay in the tournament.

​

• Complete list of games
  We will publish the complete list of games after they have been processed.
  Check back each Monday to see any new uploads:

  TNM	PDF file	PGN file
  Round 1
  Round 2
  Round 3
  Round 4
  Round 5
  Round 6
  Round 7

  
   

Mechanics' Institute Chess Club reserves the right to update any details of this event (including but not limited to sections, time control, round times, prize fund, etc.) as we get closer to the event date to ensure an excellent tournament experience for players.