2023 Fast Fall Blitz

USCF- & FIDE-rated 3+2 BLITZ event

Open for everyone!
 

Final Results -- Prize Winners

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

Registration -- Eligibility -- Tournament Rules -- FAQ
 

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

 

1. Date & Location

• Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023 at 7pm (please note that it's 30 minutes later than our usual start time!)
• Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
  57 Post Street, 4th Floor
  San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)

​​Special Event at 6:00 pm on Tuesday, October 24: Author Talk with International Master Ladia Jirasek
Do you know the basics but struggle to win chess games? Well, look no further! How to Chess illustrates numerous strategies in an easy-to-explain manner that will be essential to your improvement. Aided with puzzles and quizzes to test what you learned, it won’t be long before you feel like a king of the game! This book is geared towards novice chess players and accessible for all.​This event will be held in the Chess Room before the Fast Fall Blitz.
Joining the Author Talk with IM Ladia Jirasek is free.

2. Tournament Format:

• Tournament Format: Swiss System
• Total Rounds: 5 rounds of double games (5DSS)
• Players will play TWO games in one round: against the same opponent with alternating colors.
• Total of 2 points for every round. Maximum score for the tournament is 10.
• First Round: 7:00pm and consecutive rounds are on a rolling schedule. Estimated endgame: 9pm.
• Time Control: G/3+2  (Game in 3 minutes with a 2-second increment with each move.)
• Games will be US Chess blitz rated and FIDE blitz rated. Tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.
• Sections: One Open section.
• Pairings are based on the higher of Oct 2023 OTB supplemental regular US Chess rating. 
   

3. Byes

• Byes are available for players in case they can't participate but would like to stay in the tournament.
• Byes can be requested for a maximum of 2 rounds, with receiving one point for each round (half point for each game in a round).
• Late registrations will receive two half-point byes for any missed round, up to a total of 2 rounds.
   

4. Prize Fund --  $540 based on 60 paid entries 

	Open
1st Place	$200
2nd Place	$125
3rd Place	$90
Best Under 1800	$75
Best Under 1300	$50

• 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 W9 and Mechanics' Institute will be providing a 1099 form. 

 

5. Registration:

• MI library member: $20
• Non-MI library member: $30
• $5 admin fee for all cancellations & refunds.
• Click HERE to Register: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2023Tournaments/2023FastFallBlitz
   

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/join-us-chess
   

7. Tournament Rules

• FIDE blitz rules apply.
• Forfeit time is 3 minutes.

8. FAQ

• What do the time controls mean?
  Time controls tell you how much time you have for each game.
  G3+2 means game in 3 minutes with a 2 second increment with each move from move 1. This means you get 3 minutes, your opponent gets 3 minutes, and at each move the clock adds 2 seconds to the player's time. 
• How many games/rounds?
  The 5DSS before the time control means it is a Swiss System tournament with five rounds, with two games in each round games. This makes it a total of 10 games played in this tournament. The tournaments are never elimination, so win or lose, you can stay in the tournament.