COMPLETED EVENT: 25th Space Coast Open Chess Festival

About the 25^th Space Coast Open Chess Festival

An event created by chess players for chess players! 

This page last updated April 24, 2018. Breaking News! GM Ruifeng Li (#1 US player age 16, #14 overall in USA) will play a Simultaneous Exhibition on Friday afternoon before the start of round 1. See Side Events below for additional information and links to register.

Dates: April 27-29, 2018 or April 28-29, 2018

Confirmed Titled Players:

GM Fidel Corrales

GM Alexey Dreev

GM Ruifeng Li

GM Yuniesky Quesada

GM Hedinn Steingrimsson

IM Nelson Pinal Borges

IM Orlen Ruiz Sanchez

IM Yunier Leyva

Past Space Coast Open Champions:

2017 – GM GM Timur Gareyev

2016 – GM Andrey Stukopin, GM Julio Becerra (tie)

2015 – GM Julio Becerra

2014 – GM Mikheil Kekelidze, IM Alex Reprintsev, IM Javad Maharramzade (tie)

2013 – IM Nikolay Andrianov, GM Alex Yermolinsky (tie)

2012 – IM Javad Maharramzade

2011 – GM Julio Becerra

2010 – NM Eric Rodriguez

2009 – NM Jeffrey Haskel

2008 – IM Javad Maharramzade

2007 (Wojtkiewicz Memorial) – GM Alex Stripunsky

2006 – GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz

2005 – GM Julio Becerra

2004 – GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz

2003 – GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz

2002 – GM Aleks Wojtkiewicz

2001 – GM Sergey Kudrin

2000 – IM Virgil Grabliauskes, IM Blas Lugo, NM Marcel Martinez, GM Gennady Sagalchik (tie)

1999 – IM Rashid Ziatdinov

1998 – NM Fabio La Rota

1997 – GM Sergey Kudrin

1995 – GM Gabriel Schwartzman

1992 – NM Mikhail Braude

1991 – Bruce Koopmans

USCF Grand Prix Points: 80

Master Section FIDE Rated (USCF ratings used for pairings and prizes)

5 round Swiss System, Top section FIDE rated at G/90+30 seconds increment. All other sections but Class E/U1200 G/120 d5, Class E/U1200 G/90 d5 (2-day Rd. 1 for all sections G/60 d5).

International Palms Resort, 1300 North Atlantic Avenue. (Hwy A1A), Cocoa Beach, FL 32931. 

$$20,000 b/240 paid, $15,000 Guaranteed     

6 Sections:

1. Master/Expert (open to rated 2000 and higher) $$2000+trophy-1000-500-400, U2400 $1500+trophy-750, U2200 $1400+trophy-700-400.
2. Class A (open to 1600-1999) $$1200+trophy-600-300-200.
3. Class B (open to 1400-1799) $$1100+trophy-500-300-200.
4. Class C (open to 1200-1599) $$1000+trophy-500-300-200.
5. Class D (open to 800-1399) $$900+trophy-450-200-100, Top Senior (55+) $250+trophy.
6. Class E/U1200 (open to under 1200) $$800+trophy-400-200. U1000 $500+trophy-300.  U800 $400+trophy-200, Top Senior (55+) $250+trophy. Trophies to top Brevard County scholastic players in grades K-3, K-5, K-8, K-12.

Special Prizes.

Top Senior Prizes: Among all sections, must be at least 55 on Apr. 27. $250+trophy-150-100.

Top Upsets: Rds 1-4: Book Prize

Wojtkiewicz Brilliancy Prizes: 1^st $200, 2^nd $100, 3rd $50 (Judge: IM Javad Maharramzade)

Master/Expert Section Modified Sofia Rule: No draw offers permitted prior to move 30.

All, Fine Print:

Players in Master section are required to turn in completed scoresheets at completion of each round (Reference USCF Rule 15G). Rated players may play in eligible sections as show in above Section prize details. Unrated may play in any section but may not win over $300 prize or trophy unless place prize (1st-4th overall) in Master/Expert section.
½-point Bye available any round if requested in advance and before round 2 (limit 2).  No Smoking. No computers. Wheelchair accessible.

Players may not use or watch cellphones during play. Continental Chess Association rules and penalties will apply. See http://www.chesstour.com/devices.htm.

Entry Fee:

$114 by 4/22, $20 more later or on-site. $20 discount if unrated or under age 18.

Special EF for Brevard County students in K-12 playing in any section: $25 on-line by 4/22, $5 more later or at site (counts as ¼ entry for based on prize fund).

GMs and IMs free entry available on-line until 3/31, else $114 from prize.  Free entry to past Master Section winners listed above (GM/IMs enter on-line; Other past Champions e-mail your name, playing schedule & Byes requested to jon@bocachess.com)

Re-entries $50 by round 3 (½ point Byes for missed rounds).

Indicate 2-day or 3-day when mailing entry. Entries not indicating which schedule is desired will be placed in the 2-day schedule.

Registration ends ½ hr before 1st round (ends 7 p.m. Friday or 9:30 a.m. Saturday).

Rounds:          Rd. 1 7:30 p.m. Fri (2-day: 10a.m. Sat at G/60, d5),

Rd. 2 1:15 p.m. Sat.

Rd. 3 6:30 p.m. Sat. (except for Class E/U1200 which is at 5:45 p.m.)

Rd. 4 9:30 a.m. Sunday

Rd. 5 2:30 p.m. Sunday (except for Class E/U1200 which is at 1:45 p.m.)

Hotel Rate: $109, Oceanside $129, Loft $149 (corrected). Resort fee waived. Reservations: Hotel phone number 800-206-2747 or 321-392-1647. Restaurants, bar & grill, pool, beach, beach volleyball, beach rentals.  Plus many other restaurants nearby. Group code SCC18. Group rate is available for 3 days before and after the tournament. VERY IMPORTANT: Reserve early. Group rate available until April 6 or until Group rooms are sold out, whichever comes first.  The group rate is *unlikely* to be available after the cut-off date.  RESERVE EARLY.

Side events:

Grandmaster Simultaneous Exhibit by GM Ruifeng Li (#1 US player age 16, #14 overall in USA) assisted by his little sister, Rachael. GM Li will take on up to 30 boards, or you can try your luck against his sister Rachael. She may be small in size but she is a monster at the chess board.  

- Friday: 4:15 pm: Registration and Check-in (Dolphin Ballroom on first floor next to gift shop)

- Friday: 4:30pm: Simul begins (Dolphin Ballroom)

Note: simul is estimated to take 2 hours

Click here for Simul Registration.

Click here for Simul Registration for Brevard County students (special price sponsored by the supporters of the Space Coast Chess Foundation).

Space Coast Open Blitz (USCF rated). G/5 d0. Prizes: Cash prizes based on entries. EF $20 (enter and pay at tournament site). Blitz starts at 10:15 pm Saturday.

Worldwide Broadcast: the top 5 boards will be broadcast on Follow Chess.

Free Master and GM lectures:

- Saturday: 10am: SM John Ludwig
- Saturday: 11am: GM Fidel Corrales

- Sunday: 1:30pm (approx.): GM Fidel Corrales

Books and Equipment by Orlando Chess & Games. Friday – Sunday

Free Grandmaster Game Analysis with GM Ruifeng Li (#1 US player age 16, #14 overall in USA). After round 5, GM Li will conduct a game analysis clinic. Open to all. Bring your game, first come first served for game selection.

- Sunday: 6-8pm (time approximate – may start earlier or later depending on when GM Li finishes his 5^th round game)

Send Entries payable to: “Space Coast Chess Foundation, Inc.”, c/o Jon Haskel, 2385 NW Executive Center Dr., #100, Boca Raton, FL 33431. PLEASE: no phone or e-mail entries. Credit Card entry available via this web site only (www.spacecoastchessfoundation.org/).  ADVANCE ON-LINE REGISTRATION ENDS April 20, LATE ON-LINE REGISTRATION ENDS 5 PM APRIL 26. Otherwise, you may enter at the site.