Tuesday Night Marathon (TNM)
The Tuesday Night Marathon (TNM) is the flagship weekly tournament of the historic Mechanics’ Institute Chess Club in San Francisco and one of the longest-running weeknight chess events in the U.S., with a tradition going back over 50 years.
Held Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM, the TNM typically spans seven weeks, with one rated game per night. It offers strong, consistent competition for players of all levels—from Masters to casual club players—in a format that fits easily into a busy schedule.
Once known for its 12-round format and use of adjourned games (long abandoned by most of the chess world), the TNM has adapted with the times and now features modern sudden death time controls. Yet its legacy remains strong, with hundreds of sealed adjournment envelopes still in the club’s archives—a nod to its storied past.
Whether you're a seasoned competitor or just looking to sharpen your game, the TNM offers a welcoming and challenging experience each week.
Upcoming Events and Links to Register
2025 Summer Tuesday Night Marathon (Jul 7 - Aug 17) Register
- Dates: July 7, 14, 21, 28, August 3, 10, 17
2025 Fall Tuesday Night Marathon (Sep 2 - Oct 14) Register
- Dates: Sep 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct 7, 14
2025 Winter Tuesday Night Marathon (Nov 4 - Dec 16) Register
- Dates: Nov 4, 11, 18, 25, Dec 2, 9, 16
Location: Mechanics' Institute Chess Room
57 Post Street, 4th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94104 (click here to map)
Tournament Format
Tournament Format
- Individual Swiss
- 7 Rounds: one round each Tuesday
- 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.)
- Three Sections: 2000+, 1600-1999, and under1600
- The games will be US Chess regular-rated and FIDE-rated. The tournament results will be submitted immediately after the last round is finished.
Pairings & Section determination:
- Based on the starting month's US Chess monthly regular supplemental regular US Chess rating.
- FIDE or other foreign ratings are only used if no US Chess rating is available.
- 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.
Byes
- 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.
- Rounds 1-6 byes must be requested by Monday at 6 p.m. before the round pairing. Pairings are usually posted shortly after 8 p.m. 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 registrationrins will receive a half-point bye for any missed round, up to three rounds.
Pairings, Forfeits and Noshows
- Round 1 pairings are done on the first day of the tournament, onsite around 6pm.
- Round 2 through Round 7 pairings are done on Mondays, the day before the round, shortly after 6pm.
- Pairings are posted online by Mondays at 8pm.
- Pairings are final and will not be changed once they are posted.
- If a player notifies us after after Monday at 8:00 pm: Due to FIDE rules, that player will receive a forfeit loss.
- Forfeit loss do NOT affect the player's rating.
- We'll make every effort to find an extra game for the opponent of the forfeitted player.
- Forfeit time is 30 minutes without prior notice and 60 minutes if we are notified.
Prize Fund
The total Prize Fund is $2400 based on 80 fully paid paid entries.
Distribution among sections is the following:
- 2000+:
- 1st Place: $500
- 2nd Place: $300
- 3rd Place: $200
- Best u2200: $100
- Best u2000: $100
- 1600-1999:
1st Place: $300
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
Best u1800: $75
Best u1600: $75
- Under1600:
1st Place: $200
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Best u1400: $50
Best u1200: $50
General information about prizes and payout process
- Players have a choice to get their prizes via check or as credit on their Jumbula account.
- Please incidate your preference when registering or email us with your choice once the tournament is over.
- Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing prizes.
- Per IRS rules, anyone with a cumulative $600+ prize in any calendar year must fill out a W9, and Mechanics' Institute will provide a 1099 form. Prizes will only be paid out after W9 received.
Registration and Other Fees
Registraiton Fee
- Mechanics' Institute Member: $70
- Non-Member: $100
Play-up Fee
- Mechanics' Institute Member: $15
- Non-Member: $20
Other Fees
- $5 admin fee for all credit card refunds.
- No cancellation fee for Jumbula credit refunds if cancelled before the tournament starts.
Eligibility, Tournament Rules and FAQ
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.
- Do 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
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.
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 tournaments are never elimination, so win or lose, you can stay in the tournament.