2025 Lone Star Open Chess Championships
March 14 - 16, 2025
Lone Star Open
Chess Championships
March 14 - 16, 2025
Houston, TX
***$11,500, b/225; 75% Guaranteed***
5SS - US Chess Rated - GPP: 60
3-Day (starts Friday at 7:30 pm) or 2-Day (starts Saturday at 9:30 am)
"OPEN" & "U2000" SECTIONS are FIDE RATED using FIDE Rules
5SS, G/90, i30 for Open and U2000
5SS, G/120, d5 for all other sections
Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule, All Sections - G/60, d5 (Not FIDE Rated)
US Chess Regular Ratings, March 2025 US Chess Rating Supplement, used for section eligibility. US Chess rules used for pairing all sections.
PLEASE BRING YOUR CHESS SET AND CLOCK. THOSE ARE NOT PROVIDED BY THE TOURNAMENT ORGANIZERS. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, THERE WILL BE A CHESS STORE ON LOCATION SELLING CHESS RELATED ITEMS, INCLUDING THESE.
* * * * * * * *
SPECTATOR POLICY
SPECTATORS (NON-PLAYING INDIVIDUALS) WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IN THE TOURNAMENT ROOM DURING TOURNAMENT 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 FEBRUARY 28, 2025 TO GET GROUP RATE.
To Reserve your Hotel Room by Phone, please call 855-610-8733 and mention 2025 Lone Star Open or make reservations online at TO BE ANNOUNCED SOON
SECTIONS & PRIZES
$11,500 Prize Fund, based on 225, 75% Guaranteed In All Sections!
OPEN & U2000 Sections are FIDE Rated using FIDE Rules, except for Game 1 of 2-Day Schedule.
OPEN: $1500 + plaque - $800 - $600 - $400 - $200; $250 Special Prize to Top Female (Eligible for other prizes also)
(U2200): $700-400
U2000: $800 + plaque - $400 - $300 - $150 - $100
U1800: $800 + plaque - $400 - $300 - $150 - $100
U1600: $800 + plaque - $400 - $300 - $150 - $100
U1300: $600 + plaque - $350 - $200 - $150 - $100
Commemorative Chess Clock for oldest and for player whose home is the farthest from site (among all sections).
In the event of ties, plaque winners will be determined by US Chess tiebreaks (MSCO).
SCHEDULES & ROUND TIMES
3-Day Schedule
On-site Registration: Friday (3/14) from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
3-Day Round Times:
Friday, March 14: 7:30pm
Saturday, March 15: 1pm & 6pm
Sunday, March 16: 9:30am & 3pm
* * * * * * * *
2-Day Schedule
On-site Registration: Saturday (3/15) from 8:00-8:30 a.m.
2-Day Round Times:
Saturday, March 15: Round 1 at 9:30am then merge with 3-Day Schedule for Round 2 at 1pm.
BYES
Two 1/2-point byes are available for any round. You must advise the Chief Tournament Director and commit to any byes prior to the pairings of Round 3 are posted. After that, 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.OPEN, U2000, U1800 & U1600, including Unrated Players in the OPEN Section): $109 by 3/3/2025; $119 by 3/10/2025; $125 thereafter and on site.
U1300: $79 by 3/3/2025; $89 by 3/10/2025; $99 thereafter and on site.
Re-Entry Fee: $40. Available prior to the start of Round 3, EXCEPT in FIDE-rated Sections (Open & U2000). Re-entries = 40% of full entry.
Withdrawals: Withdrawal refunds will be made for 80% of the entry fee paid. No withdrawal refunds after March 12, 2025.
Unrated players may play in any section.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION
(Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express)
Online: You may register with a credit card or PayPal account on-line by clicking on "Register" button on top or the bottom of this page.
By Mail: You may send a check, payable to "F&B TROPHIES," postmarked NLT March 3, 2025 with registration info (Name, US Chess ID, Section, Schedule, Byes if any, Address, Email Address, and Telephone Number) to:
Francisco Guadalupe
305 Willow Pointe Dr.
League City, TX 77573
ON-SITE REGISTRATION
Friday, March 14: 5:30pm - 6:45pm (for 3-Day Schedule)
Saturday, March 15: 8:00am - 8:30am (for 2-Day Schedule)
No checks accepted at site (cash or credit cards only).
On-line registration will close at 4:30pm on Friday, March 14, 2025 (for 3-Day Schedule), and at 7:30am Saturday, March 15, 2025 (for 2-Day Schedule).
BLITZ TOURNAMENT
Not US Chess-Rated
Saturday, March 15, 2025 at approximately 10:15 pm
Format: G/5 d0 (unrated games with each opponent having 5 minutes to complete his/her game). Number of sections will be determined on site by number of participants.
Pairings: Usually there are two sections, Upper and Lower, if there are enough players to make two separate sections. Regular US Chess ratings are used for pairings/prizes.
Entry Fee: $20 per player.
Prizes: 70% of Entry Fees returned as cash prizes.
Registration: Onsite only. Register anytime by 10 pm, Saturday, March 15, 2025.