Round 1 - April 16
Round 2 - April 23*
Round 3 - April 30
Round 4 - May 7
Round 5 (final round) - May 14
*All rounds are set to start at 8:00 PM with the exception of Round 2 on April 23rd which will be starting at 8:30 PM as the club won't be opening till 8:00 PM due to a late running event at the Toby Katz Center where the club meets.
Note the tournament runs for five consecutive weeks with no off week for the Garden State Chess League.
Entry Fee: $25.00 (yearly West Orange Chess Club (WOCC) membership also required: $10.00 ages 18-65 and non West Orange resident, $5.00 over 65 or under 18, $5.00 West Orange resident). Those who have already paid club membership dues for 2019 only have to pay the entry fee. Advance entries accepted by emailing Chief Tournament Director (TD) John Hagerty at buickchess@gmail.com or by calling him at 973-736-3433 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. On site registration: 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM on Tuesday April 16 (as well as the following Tuesday for late entries). For anyone entering at the start of Round 2 (April 23), in order to be paired for Round 2 entry must be made via email or phone no later than 4:30 PM on Tuesday April 23. One can enter as late as the start of Round 3 (April 30) but Round 3 entry must be made via email or phone no later than 4:30 PM on Tuesday April 30. Official pairings for Rounds 2 through 5 to be made at 4:30 PM on the night of the round. United States Chess Federation (USCF) membership must be paid up through to the last day of the tournament.
Time Control: Game 100 minutes with 5 second delay before every move. If no digital clock is available then the time control is Game 105 minutes. There is no increment time control for this tournament.
Two 1/2 point byes allowed in any round but we must be informed of any bye requests before Round 3 is paired. For any late entrant, one of their available 1/2 point byes must be used for each missed round. Zero point byes will be given out if necessary if one's two 1/2 point byes have already been taken or if it is too late to request a 1/2 point bye. Forfeits may be awarded if necessary but the tournament committee will do its best to make "off site" playing arrangements that would have to be agreeable to both parties.
If one can't make it to the club for a round and would like to receive one of their allotted 1/2 point byes rather than be paired and receive a forfeit loss please either let Chief TD John Hagerty know at the club ahead of time, email him at buickchess@gmail.com or give him a call at 973-736-3433 between the hours of 10:00 AM and 10:00 PM. He must be informed by 4:30 PM on the night of the round in order not to be paired.
And even if one has already used their two allotted 1/2 point byes or it is too late to request a 1/2 point bye (remember all 1/2 point bye requests must be made before Round 3 is paired, which is by 4:30 PM on Tuesday April 30) please let us know by 4:30 PM on the night of the round if you can't make it so we don't pair you, causing you to lose by forfeit and your opponent to not have a game as well as come to the club for nothing. In this case one will receive a zero point bye without the penalty of being withdrawn from the tournament. We appreciate everyone's cooperation. Thank you.
Prizes: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and various Best Under based on rating distribution. Money values of prizes also based on total number of players. Prizes will be awarded based on USCF guidelines. Tiebreakers will not be used in the awarding of prize money. In the event of two or more players being tied for 1st place after the final round, a playoff (method and dates to be determined at the end of the tournament based on the number of participants in the playoff) will be used to determine the Club Champion.
The Tournament Committee, as allowed by USCF affiliate rules, reserves the right to make changes and modifications to the above specifications for the proper governance of the tournament.
Chief TD - John Hagerty
Assistant TD - Doran Race
