5th Annual Donaldson Tournament (FIDE-rated)

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

Open to Everyone!

 

Final Standings -- Prize winners

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

Registration -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules  -- Change Request Form -- FAQ
 

Masks are optional in the chess room.
Tournament capacity: 80 players

 

1. Dates & Location

• Saturday, Dec 16 - Sunday, Dec 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: 4

• Round Times: Saturday 10am, 2pm and Sunday 10am, 2pm

• 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.

• Sections: 2000+, 1600-1999 and under1600.

• Pairings are based on the Dec 2023 supplemental regular US Chess ratings.

• Play-up: Players must have a 1800 USCF OTB or ONL supplemental or actual rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 2000+ section, and similarly, players must have a 1400 USCF OTB or ONL supplemental or actual rating in order to be eligible to play up to the 1600-1999 section.

• Unrated players can only play in the u1600 section.

• To request any change, please use the Change Request Form.

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 byes must be requested before the start of Round 1. Round 4 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.

• To request a bye after registration, please use the Change Request Form.

4. Prize Fund

• $2600 based on 80 paid entries. ​

	2000+	1600-1999	u1600
1st Place	$425	$325	$250
2nd Place	$325	$225	$150
3rd Place	$225	$125	$100
Best under2200	$100
Best under2000	$100
Best under1800		$75
Best under1600		$75
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, June 10: 9:30-9:45am

• MI library member: $65

• Non-MI library member: $95

• 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.

• Free entry for GM/IM/WGM/WIMs by Dec 10. 

• Click here to register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2023Tournaments/5thAnnualDonaldsonTournament

• To request any change, please use the Change Request Form.
 

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 one round!

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
The time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
For example, G/90+30inc means game in 90 minutes with a 90-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 4SS before the time control means there are four rounds or four 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.