32nd annual
WESTERN
CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 7-9 or 8-9, 2025 (Corrected Dates) in Southern California
$20,000 PRIZE FUND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED
5-round Swiss-System, Hilton
Orange County Airport, Irvine, CA
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (enhanced)
5-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60, d10),
Hilton Orange County Airport, 18800 Macarthur Blvd, Irvine, CA 92612. Parking: $18 chess rate. Free wireless,
pool, airport shuttle, fitness center.
PRIZES $20,000 GUARANTEED. In 7 sections.
Master Section (2100/up):
$2000-1000-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100 bonus, top USCF U2300
$800-400. FIDE rated.
Expert Section (1900-2199): $1500-700-400-200. FIDE rated.
Class A Section (1700-1999):
$1500-700-400-200. FIDE rated
Class B Section (1500-1799/Unr):
$1500-700-400-200.
Class C Section (1300-1599/Unr):
$1200-600-300-200.
Class D Section (1100-1399/Unr):
$1000-500-300-200.
Class E Section (Under 1200/Unr):
$600-300-200-100.
These
unusual class rating boundaries already include players rated in
the top half of the traditional USCF Class one section below.
Mixed Doubles Team bonus prizes: best
male+female 2-player combined score among all sections: $500-300-200. Must
average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register at
site (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat; prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles
team prizes.
Foreign
player rating info
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: March official
USCF ratings used. USCF Online Regular ratings or unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated,
or to play up (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.
Prize Limits: Unrated may
not win over $100 in E, $200 D, $300 C, $400 B. Cannot play
below USCF Online Regular minus 100 points. Balance of
any limited prize goes to next eligible
player(s) in line.
Top 6 sections entry fee: $128 online at chessaction.com by 3/5, $150 online or at site
until 1 hour before round 1. No checks at site; credit cards OK. GMs
free, $120 deducted from prize.
Class E Section entry fee: all $40 less than top 6 sections entry fee.
USCF
membership required. Special 1
year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: online at chessaction.com (USCF dues increase 1/1/2025). Re-entry (no
Master to Master) $60. Online entry fee $5 less to SCCF members;
join/renew at scchess.com.
3-day schedule: Reg.
Fri to 6 pm, rounds begin Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30
pm.
2-day schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rounds begin Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm,
Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.
Both schedules: Half point byes OK all rounds, limit 2, must commit
before round 2.
Prizes not claimed at
site usually sent by PayPal (may take over a week).
Hotel rates: $172.71-$172.71, use
link below (also posted at chessevents.us ) or call 949-833-9999 (mention Chess rate);
reserve by 2/15 or rate may increase. Chess block could sell out before 2/15.
HILTON
HOTEL RESERVATIONS LINK
Car rental: Avis,
800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.US
Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. US Chess
Junior Grand Prix points available.
Entry: chessaction.com, No mail entries. Refunds: $15 service
charge. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after
entering).
BLITZ TOURNAMENT Saturday 9:30 pm,
enter by 9:10 pm.