5th annual
NIAGARA FALLS OPEN
May 2-4 or 3-4, 2025
Sheraton Niagara Falls Hotel, Niagara Falls, NY

$10,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES

US Chess Grand Prix Points: 80 (enhanced)

5th annual Niagara Falls Open. 5SS, 40/80, SD/30, d30. (2-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60 d10). Sheraton Niagara Falls Hotel, 300 3^rd St, Niagara Falls, NY 14303 (25 miles from Buffalo Airport).  Free parking.

In 4 sections:

· Major Section (FIDE rated): Open to 1900/over (see peakrating.us). Prizes: $1600-800-500-300, clear win or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top USCF U2200 $500-250.

· Under 2000 Section (FIDE rated): $800-400-200-100, top U1800/unr $400-200.

· Under 1600 Section: $700-400-200-100, top U1400 $300-150.

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

Prize limits:

1) Unrated limit; U1200 $150, U1600 $300.

2) Cannot play below Online Regular rating minus 100 points.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male/female 2-player team combined score among all sections: $400-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat; prize limits do not apply to mixed doubles.

3-day schedule: Rounds: Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Fri 6 pm
2-day schedule: Rounds: Sat. 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun. 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Sat. 10 am

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

Prizes not claimed at tournament are usually paid by PayPal (may take over a week).

Top 3 sections entry fee: $113 online at chessaction.com by 4/30, $130 online until 1 hour before round 1. GMs free with $100 from prize. 

Under 1200 Section entry fees: all $20 less than above.

No checks at site, credit cards OK. No mailed entries.

Re-entry (no Major to Major) $50.  

Online entry fee $5 less to NYSCA members (dues $12/year with 2 issues of Empire Chess, $20/year with 4 issues, may join online with entry fee).

All: Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with online entry: Adult $43, Young Adult $26, Youth $19

Foreign player rating info Prizewinner tax info CCA electronic devices policies

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, 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: May official US Chess ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to qualify for Major; (see www.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.

Hotel rates: $129-129-139-149, reservation link is posted at chesstour.com or call 716-285-3361, request chess rate, reserve by 4/18 or rate may increase, rooms may sell out earlier. Resort fee benefits (normally $29.95 extra per day) reduced to $9.95 extra per day include parking privileges, wifi, access to Reef Beach Club & Pool and Fitness Center and special offers for casino and other local attractions.

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

Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied!

Entry: chessaction.com. No mailed entries. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: Director@chess.us, chesstour.com, chesstour.info. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering). 

BLITZ TOURNAMENT SATURDAY NIGHT 9:30 pm, enter by 9:10 pm.