Mechanics' Institute Quads

Open to Everyone!
 

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

Registration fees -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules -- FAQ -- Final Results -- Prize-Winners

Check out List of Registered Players!

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

NEW -- Effective Immediately (From Dec 2024)
Online registration is closing at 1:00pm. Onsite registration is closing at 2:30pm. No exceptions.
 

1. Dates & Location

• One Saturday every month at 3:00 pm

Onsite registration ends at 2:30 pm

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

Date	Day	Start time	Time Control	Link to Register
12/21	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2024Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsDec2024
1/11	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsJan2025
2/8	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsFeb2025
3/8	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsMar2025
4/12	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsApr2025
5/10	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsMay2025
6/14	Saturday	3:00 pm	G/30;d5	Register until 1pm: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2025Tournaments/MechanicsInstituteQuadsJun2025

List of registered players for the 1/11 .. coming as we get closer to the event.
 

 

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Round-Robin

• Total Rounds: 3

• Round Times: 3:00 pm and Rounds 2 & 3 on a rolling schedule

• Time Control: G/30;d5  (Game in 30 minutes with a 5-second delay at each move.)

• Games will be US Chess regular- & quick-rated (so-called dual rated). Tournament RESULTS will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.

• Players will be split into groups of four (quads) based on their ratings, from the highest-rated to the lowest-rated.

• In case the last quad is not an even four players, they will play a mini-Swiss tournament.

• Monthly supplemental OTB rating will be used. The Chief TD has discretion to use a player's USCF online rating (ONL) or live rating for pairing purposes in extreme cases where fairness will be preserved by doing so.
 

3. Byes

• No byes are available!
 

4. Prize Fund --  $60 for each quad

	Quad
1st Place	$60 -- Winner takes it ALL!

• 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; the Mechanics' Institute will also provide a 1099 form. 
 

5. Registration fees:

• Mechanics' Institute Member: $30

• Non-Member: $40

• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.
 

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 membership? Visit: https://new.uschess.org/player-search

• Become a member or renew your membership: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
 

7. Tournament Rules

• Standard US Chess rules apply.

• Forfeit time is 30 minutes.

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
The time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
G30;d5: Game in 30 minutes with a 5-second delay at each move. This means you get 30 minutes, your opponent gets 30 minutes, and at each move the clock counts down from 5 to 0 before the player's time starts. If the player doesn't use up the whole 5 seconds, the remainder of that time is lost.

• How many games/rounds?
This is a round-robin tournament. Every player in each quad will play against all the other players in the quad for a total of 3 games.

• Player Database
For players who are interested in playing in our tournaments, please make an entry in our database: https://forms.gle/X3hChCWbusHp4Ze56.