Upcoming Tournament

2026 Summer Tuesday Night Marathon

Welcome to our new website!
If you notice anything missing or in need of an update, feel free to let us know at chessroom@milibrary.org. We appreciate your feedback!

Top games are broadcasted on Chess.com with a 15-min delay:
 

Pre-TNM lecture schedule:

 


Register or Join Wait List Change Request Form

Info

  • Date: Tue, Jul 7 - Tue, Aug 18, 2026
  • Eligibility: Open to Everyone!
  • Rating: USCF & FIDE
  • Location: Mechanics' Institute, 4th Floor, 57 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94104
  • Capacity: 120

Registration

  • Online Registration Open Until: Tuesday, August 18: 6:30 pm
  • Entry fee for Mechanics' Institute Members: $70
    • Play-up fee: $15
  • Entry fee for Non-Members: $100
    • Play-up fee: $20
  • Late fee: $10
  • $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.

Two ways to check your entries:

  • Check the live entries on the Jumbula site by clicking on the View Entries button.
  • Check the processed entries here a day before the event.

 

Tournament Format

  • Tournament Format: Swiss System
  • Total Rounds: 7
  • Time control: 90 min basetime + 30 sec increment
  • Round Times: 7/7 6:30pm 7/14 6:30pm 7/21 6:30pm 7/28 6:30pm 8/4 6:30pm 8/11 6:30pm 8/18 6:30pm
  • Sections: 2000+ 1600-1999 Under1600

Play-up "200-rating point rule":

  • Players must have an 1800 USCF regular supplemental or actual regular rating 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. 

Pairings are based on the July 2026 regular supplemental regular US Chess rating.

 

Prize Fund

Total Prize Fund: $2,400

  • Prize explanations are coming after the event.
  • Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing prize checks.
  • Per IRS regulations, anyone who receives $2000 or more in cumulative prizes during a calendar year must complete a W-9, and Mechanics’ Institute will issue a 1099-MISC form for tax reporting purposes.

 

  • Prize Fund:

    • $2400 based on 80 paid entries
    • Actual Payout: coming after the tournament finished.
  2000+ 1600-1999 u1600
  Projected Actual Projected Actual Projected Actual
1st Place $500   $300   $200  
2nd Place $300   $200   $100  
3rd Place $200   $100   $50  
Best under2200 $100          
Best under2000 $100          
Best under1800     $75      
Best under1600     $75      
Best under1400         $50  
Best under1200         $50  

 

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 pairings will be done on Tuesday at 6:20 pm onsite. If you need a Round 1 bye, please email us by 4:00 pm.

  • Round 2-6 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 three rounds.
     

Eligibility

Tournament Rules

  • Forfeit time:
    • 30 minutes without prior notice
    • 60 minutes with prior notice. Please email to chessroom@milibrary.org or call us to request this!
      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.
  • We provide clocks and set it up for players.
  • Games will be US Chess and FIDE regular rated. Modified FIDE rules apply.
     
  • What do the time controls mean?
    Time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
    G90+30 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 with each move players get 30 seconds added to their clock.

Sick Policy:
The Mechanics' Institute Chess Club asks that any player who is feeling unwell withdraw from the tournament to help protect the health of others. The club reserves the right to deny entry to players who appear visibly ill. Players who withdraw due to illness before the start of the tournament will receive a full refund as a credit to their Jumbula account.


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.

Standings

Standings are updated after each round.

 

Pairings

Round 2-7 pairings are posted on Monday by 8pm.  Turn in Bye request by Monday at 6:00 PM!