16th annual
GOLDEN STATE OPEN

Berkeley, California

Martin Luther King weekend, Jan 17-20, 18-10 or 19-20, 2025

$25,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 150 (ENHANCED)

7 rounds at DoubleTree Berkeley Marina Hotel, 300 Marina Blvd., Berkeley, CA 94710. Self parking $20, Valet $42. Room rates $169-169.

40/80, SD/30; d30 (3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60;d10, 2-day option except in Major Section, rounds 1-4 G/30;d10.)

In 5 sections:

·       Major (FIDE rated) (open to 1900/over): $3000-1500-700-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100, top USCF U2300: $1000 500. FIDE rated. See peakrating.us for qualification through peak rating.

·       Under 2100 (FIDE rated): $1700-900-500-300-200, top U1900: $800-400.

·       Under 1800: $1700-900-500-300-200, top U1600: $600-300.

·       Under 1500: $1400-700-400-300-200, top U1300: $400-200.

·       Under 1200: $1000-500-400-300-200, top U1000: $200-100.

Unrated (0-3 lifetime games rated) may enter U1200 to U2100, with maximum prize U1200: $200, U1500: $300, U1800: $400.

Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female 2-player combined score among all sections: $1000-500-300. Team must average under 2200; may play different sections; register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; prize limits do not apply to mixed doubles.

Top 4 sections entry fee: $138 online at chessaction.com by 1/15, all $160 (no check, credit card OK) at site or online until 1 hour before round 1. GMs $130 from prize.

Under 1200 Section entry fee: All $30 less than top 4 sections.

US Chess membership required. Special 1 year US Chess dues with magazine if paid online with entry: Adult $43, Young Adult $26, Youth $19.

Re-entry (no Major to major): $60. Online EF $5 less to CalChess members.

4-day schedule: Rounds: Fri 7 pm, Sat 12 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Fri 6 pm.
3-day schedule: Rounds: Sat 12, 3 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Sat 11 am.
2-day schedule: Rounds: Sun 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 3:45 pm & 6 pm, Mon 10 am & 3:30 pm. Registration ends Sun 9 am. No 2-day Major Section.

Half point byes:
OK all, limit 2; must commit before round 3.

Foreign player ratings             Prizewinner tax info          CCA electronic devices rules

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, or in your hotel room or car, or in a bag at your table. 

For all tournaments, adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled. Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used at our discretion if above USCF.  No rating below the latest official USCF rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, FIDE ratings are used. Click here for further details.

Ratings: January official US Chess ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to qualify for Major (see peakrating.us). Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted, if necessary, may be used, if higher than USCF. See also above. Players cannot play below their Online Regular rating minus 100 points.

Hotel rates: $169-169, reservation link is posted below and at chessevents.us or call 415-499-9222, reserve by 12/20 or rate may increase. Hotel Reservations Link TBA.

Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.

Entry: Chessaction.com. No mailed entries. Questions: Director@Chess.US, chesstour.com, chesstour.info. Refunds, $15 service charge. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering). Bring set, board, clock if possible; none supplied.

Blitz tournament:  Sunday 10:30 pm, enter by 10:10 pm.

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