Houston, TX
**$11,550 (75% Guaranteed b/o 225 full paid ENTRIES)**
U1300 entries count as 70% of full-paid entries.
5SS - US Chess Rated - GPP: 50
OPEN & U2000 SECTIONS are FIDE RATED using FIDE Rules - 5SS, G/90, i30 (US Chess Regular Ratings used for pairings and prizes)
ALL OTHER SECTIONS - 5SS, G/120, d5
Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule, All Sections - G/60, d5 (Not FIDE Rated)
Free entry for GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs
3-Day or 2-Day Schedules Available
CHESS SET AND CLOCK ARE NOT PROVIDED.
A CHESS STORE WILL BE ON LOCATION SELLING CHESS-RELATED ITEMS.
SPECTATOR POLICY
Spectators will not be allowed in tournament area during play!
DETAILS & REGISTRATION
LOCATION
DoubleTree by Hilton
15747 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Houston, TX 77032
(take the JFK exit off of Beltway 8 in north Houston near IAH Airport)
- Complimentary Hotel Self-Parking;
- Free Shuttle Service from Bush Int'l (IAH) Airport to/from Hotel - please call hotel for pick-up service (281-848-4000);
- Basic Internet in Each Room!
SPECIAL HOTEL CHESS RATE: $92 & tax
NOTE: RESERVE BY JUNE 20, 2025, TO GET THE GROUP RATE.
To make your reservation, you can click here: Hotel Reservation Link for the 2025 Houston Chess Festival
To make your reservation by phone, please call
(855) 610-8733
and mention 2025 Houston Chess Festival (Group code - CDTHSC)
All sections will use US Chess July 2025 Rating Supplement (Regular Ratings) for pairings and prizes.
SECTIONS & PRIZES
OPEN & U2000 Sections are FIDE Rated using FIDE Rules, except for Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule.
All sections will use US Chess Rules and Raitings for Pairings and Prizes.
OPEN: $1700 - $900 - $600 - $400 - $200
(U2200): $700 - $400
U2000: $800 - $400 - $300 - $150 - $100
U1800: $800 - $400 - $300 - $150 - $100
U1600: $800 - $400 - $300 - $150 - $100
U1300: $550 - $350 - $250 - $150 - $100
Commemorative Chess Clock for the oldest and furthest from home to site players.
* Unrated players may play in any section however, in the U1300 they may only win 50% of the prizes awarded. In other sections, unrated players are eligible for the full prize awarded and they pay the full entry fee. If a player who does not have a US Chess rating has a FIDE or CFC rating, the player will be assigned a US Chess rating IAW Sections 2.1 or 2.2 of The US Chess Rating System and may not play in sections below allowable for their assigned rating.
"Champion's Plaque" awarded to the 1st Place finisher in each section. In the event of ties, plaque and trophy winners will be determined by US Chess tiebreaks (MSCO). Official July 2025 US Chess Rating Supplement used.
SCHEDULES & ROUND TIMES
3-Day Schedule
On-site Registration: Friday (7/11) from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
3-Day Round Times:
Friday, July 11: 7:30pm
Saturday, July 12: 1pm & 6pm
Sunday, July 13: 9:30am & 3pm
* * * * * * * *
2-Day Schedule
On-site Registration: Saturday (7/12) from 8:00-8:30 a.m.
2-Day Round Times:
Saturday, July 12: Round 1 at 9:30am then merge with 3-Day Schedule for Round 2 at 1pm.
Once the two schedules merge, all players will comptete as one group, within their section, according to the round times for the 3-Day Schedule. Therefore, Round 3 is Saturday at 6pm for all, Round 4 is on Sunday at 9:30am, followed by Round 5 on Sunday at 3pm.
BYES
Two 1/2-point byes are available. You must advise the Chief Tournament Director or Organizer and commit to any byes prior to the start of Round 3. After the start of Round 3, no voluntary byes may be added, changed or rescinded.
ENTRY FEES
Titled Players: GMs, IMs, WGMs, and WIMs pay no Entry Fee. IF YOU ARE A TITLED PLAYER, register online. The entry fee amount is adjusted with the title.
- GM, IM, WGM, WIM) - $0 TO REGISTER
- OPEN, U2000, U1800 & U1600, including Unrated Players in any of these sections: $99 by 6/23/2025; $115 by 7/7/2025; $125 thereafter and on-site.
- U1300: $79 by 6/23/2025; $89 by 7/7/2023; $99 by 7/10; $125 on-site.
- Re-Entry Fee: $40. Available before the start of Round 3, EXCEPT in FIDE-rated Sections (Open & U2000). Re-entries = 34% of full entry.
Withdrawals are subject to deduction of PayPal plus $1 Kingregistration fee per entry.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION
(Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
On-line: You may register with a credit card on-line by clicking on "Register" button on top or the bottom of this page.
By mail: You may send a check, payable to "Cypress Chess,” with registration info (Name, US Chess ID, Section, Schedule, Byes if any, Address, Email Address, and Telephone Number) to:
Peter Craney
11906 Wynmar Ln
Cypress, TX 77429
ON-SITE REGISTRATION
Friday, July 11: 5:30pm - 6:45pm
Saturday, July 12: 8:00am - 8:30am
No checks accepted at site (cash or credit cards only).
On-line registration will close at 4:00pm on Friday, July 11 (for 3-Day Schedule), and at 7am Saturday, July 22 (for 2-Day Schedule).
OTHER CHESS FESTIVAL EVENTS!
Houston Chess Festival Scholastic
BUGHOUSE TOURNAMENT - Saturday 9:30 P.M.
BLITZ TOURNAMENT - Saturday 10:30
- Bughouse & Blitz Tournaments - Onsite Registration Only:
- Blitz entry $20 each. 75% of entry fees Returned in Prizes.
- Bughouse entry $30 per team. 75% of entry fees Returned in Prizes.
- The Blitz Tournament is G5, not rated, with no delay or increment.
FOR INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO SET THE MOST COMMONLY USED CHESS CLOCKS, PLEASE SEE How to Set Chess Clocks
There will be a chess store selling clocks, pieces, boards, some books and other chess items onsite.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
email
peter.craney@gmail.com
**FACE MASKS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED.**
Masks will not be required but their use is encouraged. Your attendance at this event signifies your acceptance of the risks involved and willing to play other players with or without a masks. If you are unable or unwilling to comply, do not attend.
Any harassment of other participants who may or may not be wearing a mask will not be tolerated.