Emerald Hills Chess and the Tri-Valley Chess League present the Tri-Valley August Open, for K-12 players of all levels as well as adults!

Beat the summer heat with our low-cost monthly tournaments, which attract 70-140 players, from after-school chess club members trying out their first tournament to high-performance and nationally-age-ranked competitors.

Flex your chess skills over-the-board, boost your rating, win trophies and have fun!

Thanks to our generous host, Mathnasium of Pleasanton, we are offering $100 cash first prizes in both the Championship and Premier sections in addition to trophies! More details below.

Date: Sat Aug 10th, 2024 

Location: Mathnasium Pleasanton, 915 Main St., #D (see map)

Morning Sections (9-12 Noon)

1) K-12 Rated Challenger - for unrated and U400 players; $15 by Tu Aug 6th, $20 afterward ($20 US Chess Federation junior membership required)  

2) K-12 Non-Rated Novices - for unrated first-time tournament players only; $10 by Aug 6th, $15 afterward (NO USCF membership required)

3) Unrated Adults Section - for all players over-21 (Adults may also enter the rated afternoon Championship and Premier sections) NOW FREE, AND NO USCF membership required

Rated Afternoon Open (all ages) Sections (12-4 PM) Check current USCF rating and membership status

1) Championship - 800+ rating, open to youth AND adults - $25 by Tu Aug 6th, $30 afterward (USCF membership required) 

2) Premier - Under 800 rating, also open to ALL ages - $25 by Tu Aug 6th, $30 afterward (USCF membership required)

Wells Middle School and Valley View Elementary tournament players in any section will automatically receive new or renewed USCF memberships. 

Formats:

Rated sections (Championship/Premier/Challenger) - 4 round Swiss using time control of Game in 25 minutes with 5 second delay. 

Unrated sections (Novices and Morning Adults) - 5-round round-robin using time control of Game in 15 min with 3 second delay

Prizes:

Championship/Premier/Challenger - Top 5 in each section, plus top U1000, U600, and U200/Unrated, respectively, plus Outstanding Performance for any others scoring 3 or more. 

$100 cash first prizes to winners of the Championship and Premier sections! Cash is split evenly in case of ties.

Novices and Unrated Adults - Top two players in each round robin plus all other players scoring 3.5 or more.

Questions: Admin@EmeraldHillsChess.com

More Info

All sections are non-elimination. Players will be paired against players of similar scores each round. They should expect to play ALL 4 or 5 games.

If you have a schedule conflict, you may request up to one half-point bye when registering or by contacting the TD before the start of round 2; additional byes will be zero points. Byes do NOT affect a player's USCF rating.

Players may bring smartphones and tablets, but they must be hidden inside a closed bag and turned off during their games.

US Chess Federation tournament rules around touch move, announcing check, talking with opponents, etc. will apply to rated and unrated sections.

These rules will be shared in the emailed orientation a day before the tournament and also by the Tournament Director before the first round.

Organizers

Emerald Hills Chess provides professionally-led classes and after-school chess clubs serving 250+ kids in seven locations around the Tri-Valley, including five Pleasanton elementary schools (Valley View, Hearst, Mohr, Fairlands, and Donlon).

Learn more and register.

The Tri-Valley Chess League is a student-led non-profit that also holds free chess classes in Pleasanton.

(Host) Mathnasium’s enrichment programs will elevate your child's learning beyond traditional school curriculum, helping them achieve their greatest potential and reach new heights. Contact them today to get started!

Mention Emerald Hills Chess and Receive $300 Off Your Enrollment.

Mathnasium of San Ramon - (925) 806-0600

Mathnasium of Pleasanton - (925) 462-8411