$2,500 MARCH CHAMPIONSHIP 2025
A US CHESS GRAND PRIX EVENT
Open to Poison Pawn members AND non-members*
US CHESS RATED - MUST BE A US CHESS MEMBER TO PARTICIPATE
WHEN: Mar 7-9 or Mar 8-9 Three-day or two-day schedule, take your pick.
WHERE: Houston Chess Studio, 250 Patton St. Suite H, Houston TX 77009
FORMAT: 5 round Swiss, G/90, +30. (round 1 of 2 day schedule is G/60,d5)
3 day schedule: Round 1 at 6:30pm Friday night. Round 2 at 1pm Saturday and Round 3 at 6pm. Round 4 at 9:30 am Sunday and Round 5 at 2:00 pm.
2 day schedule: Round 1 is at 9:30am Saturday morning and is G/60, d5. Then merges with the 3 day schedule for rounds 2-5.
ENTRY FEE: Poison Pawns club members $80 anytime. Non-members $105 thru Friday Feb 28th; then $125 thru Wednesday Mar. 5th; $145 thereafter. For membership info contact Edgar at: PoisonPawnsChessClub@gmail.com GMs and IMs may enter free, their entry fee will be deducted from winnings.
2 SECTIONS: Championship (1800 and up); Challengers (U1800).
PLAYING UP: If you are rated U1800 but are at least 1600 you may play up into the Championship section for $35.
PRIZE FUND $2,500 - 1st place in each section is guaranteed. 2nd place and 3rd place based on 50 paid entries in all sections combined. Championship 1st $800; 2nd $400, 3rd $250. Challengers 1st $550; 2nd $300, 3rd $200. Unrateds may play in any section but are limited to winning $150 except in the top section where they are eligible for all prizes. DRAWS BY AGREEMENT PRIOR TO 30 MOVES AND BOTH PLAYERS ARE INELIGIBLE FOR ANY PRIZE MONEY!
*NON-MEMBERS ARE ONLY ELIGIBLE FOR 75% OF THE CASH PRIZES! (So isn't it time you joined!)
CANCELLATION: You may cancel up to 24 hours before the beginning of round 1 and get a refund of what you paid minus $15, or you may apply the entire amount towards a future entry fee.
BYES: One ½ point bye available, must be declared before the beginning of round 2. No last round byes except for zero point byes.
RE-ENTRY: If you are in the 3-day schedule, after round 1, you may re-enter immediately for $35 and be given a choice of a ½ point bye for round 1 OR you may choose to play in round 1 of the 2-day schedule. If you are in the 2-day schedule you may re-enter immediately after round 1 and take a ½ point bye for round 1.
HOTEL INFO: Holiday Inn Express, 3401 N. Main St., is less than a mile from The Studio. Phone 832-834-6197 and ask for The Houston Chess Studio discount, or if booking online use code ALDR9. Also within a mile is the Heights House Hotel, an America’s Best Value, and a Luxury Inn. Google them for info.
THE HOUSTON CHESS STUDIO: Houston’s only ‘brick and mortar’ chess venue is dedicated to providing a quality, high tech, chess playing experience for players of all levels. Centrally and conveniently located at 250 Patton St., Suite H, Houston TX 77009. Just inside North Loop 610 and just 2 blocks off North I-45. There are 3 restaurants in the same strip center as The Studio: The Red Hot Noodle (Asian), Subway, and Patron Pizza. Several others are within walking distance. Plenty of FREE parking.
SCANNING All players are subject to being scanned (“wanded”) in order to help prevent cheating.
UPCOMING EVENTS https://www.kingregistration.com/affiliate/poisonpawns
QUESTIONS? Contact Edgar at poisonpawnschessclub@gmail.com