Cincinnati Open
The 2019 Cincinnati Open will be played on March 29-31, 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Blue Ash. This is a 5-round Swiss in four sections: Championship (FIDE rated), U2100, U1700 and U1300. The total tournament prize pool is $6,700, based on 120 paid entries, otherwise proportional. Prizes will be split among tied players. Use the navigation links below to find detailed information. Note that the schedules and time controls are different for the Championship section, on the one hand, and the under sections, on the other hand. Please be sure that you are looking at the correct information for the section you are interested in.
The Cincinnati Chess Club is holding a Cincinnati Open Warm-Up Blitz Tournament on Thursday, March 28. See details on the Other Opportunities page under “Cincinnati Chess Club”.
Correction: Please note that this is the 55th Cincinnati Open. The TLA and our original flyer erroneously identified it as the 56th Cincinnati Open.
Championship Section
U2100, U1700 and U1300 Sections
Entry
Venue
More Information
Championship Section
The information below pertains only to the Championship section. Information pertaining to the other sections can be found under the U2100, U1700 and U1300 Sections heading.
Tournament Rules
Play in the Championship section will be governed in accordance with current FIDE rules, except with respect to some points where the application of USCF rules is permitted. Everyone intending to play in the Championship section should be thoroughly familiar with these rules. Click here for a two-page Summary of the differences; for details review the Comparison of FIDE and USCF Rules. Except for the points identified in the Comparison of FIDE and USCF Rules, FIDE and USCF rules are effectively identical, and USCF rules will apply.
The mobile phone policy and other rules and policies explain additions to and clarifications of standard USCF or FIDE rules that will be effect for the Cincinnati Open.
Memberships and Ratings
Players must be current members of the USCF and have a FIDE Identification Number (FIN). With respect to players who (i) do not have a FIN and (ii) qualify for FIDE membership under the US Federation, the information provided on their entry form will be forwarded to the USCF, which will obtain a FIN for them. Players who do not have a FIN and do not qualify for FIDE membership under the US Federation must obtain their FIN through their proper national federation prior to entering the tournament. See the Comparison of FIDE and USCF Rules for details.
Players must be USCF rated 1700 or higher based on March 2019 official ratings. Players who are not rated by the USCF must have a FIDE rating of 1600 or higher; their rating for purposes of this tournament will be their FIDE rating plus 100 points.
Prizes
- $800 – 550 – 400 – 300; top under 2200: $250 – 200
Schedule and Time Control
Players play all of five rounds in either a 3-day or 2-day schedule.
3-Day Schedule
The time control for all rounds is 40/90, SD/30; +30. All rounds are FIDE rated.
- Friday: round 1 7:00 pm
- Saturday: round 2 11:00 am, round 3 6:00 pm
- Sunday: round 4: 9:30 am, round 5 3:00 pm
2-Day Schedule
The time control for rounds 1 and 2 is G/75; d5. The time control for rounds 3, 4 and 5 is 40/90, SD/30; +30. Only rounds 3, 4 and 5 are FIDE rated.
- Saturday: round 1 11:00 am, round 2 2:00 pm, round 3 6:00 pm
- Sunday: round 4: 9:30 am, round 5 3:00 pm
Byes
Players may take one or two optional ½-point byes for any round(s) but must commit to byes by 5:00 pm Saturday. Players may request, change or cancel byes for future rounds until 5:00 pm Saturday.
Other
The organizers will provide all pieces, boards, clocks and scoresheets.
No smoking, no computers.
This is the end of the information pertaining only to the Championship section.
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U2100, U1700, U1300 Sections
The information below pertains only to the U2100, U1700, U1300 sections. Information pertaining to the Championship section can be found under the Championship Section heading.
Tournament Rules
Play in the U2100, U1700 and U1300 sections will be governed in accordance with U.S. Chess Federation’s Official Rules of Chess, 6th Edition, ©2014 as amended. Click here for the mobile phone policy or for other rules and policies that are additions to or clarifications of standard USCF rules that will be effect for the Cincinnati Open.
Memberships and Ratings
US Chess Federation (USCF) membership is required to play in any of these three sections. To purchase or renew a USCF membership, click here.
USCF ratings will be used in these three sections for pairing purposes. Section eligibility and pairings will be based on March 2019 official USCF ratings, except that unofficial ratings, if available, will be used for players who are officially unrated. Players may choose to play up but may not play up more than one section.
Prizes
Unrated players may not win more than the third-place prize amount.
- U2100: $550 – 400 – 300 – 200; top under 1900: $200 – 150
- U1700: $400 – 300 – 200 – 150; top under 1500: $175 – 125
- U1300: $300 – 200 – 150 – 125; top under 1100: $150 – 125
Schedule and Time Control
All players play five rounds out of six rounds that are scheduled.* The time control for all rounds is G/120; d5.
- Friday: round 1 7:00 pm
- Saturday: round 2 9:30 am, round 3 2:00 pm, round 4 7:00 pm
- Sunday: round 5 9:30 am, round 6 2:00 pm
*Six rounds are scheduled. Players must select any one round of the six for a zero-point bye so that all players play a five-round schedule. This schedule provides the flexibility for players to choose a bye round and still play five games all at the regular time control. As best suits their individual circumstances, therefore, players can:
- Skip the Friday night round and play a two-day schedule,
- Sleep in Saturday morning,
- Take Saturday evening off,
- Take a long break between morning and evening rounds on Saturday,
- Skip the Sunday morning round,
- Leave for home earlier on Sunday without giving up a game, or
- By electing a zero-point bye for round 5 and a half-point bye for round 6, play a two-day schedule on Friday and Saturday and still play four games.
Byes
Players must select any one of the six scheduled rounds for a required zero-point bye so that all players play a five-round schedule. In addition players may elect to take one or two optional ½-point byes for any of the remaining five rounds.
Whenever byes are requested for multiple rounds (the required zero-point bye plus one or two optional ½-point byes), the zero point bye will apply to the earliest of the requested bye rounds and the ½-point bye(s) to the later round(s).
Players may request, change or cancel byes for future rounds, provided that they satisfy the requirement for one zero-point bye, until 5:00 pm Saturday. Players are committed to their selected bye rounds as of 5:00 pm Saturday.
Other
Players should being pieces, boards and clocks. Scoresheets will be provided, but players may use their own scoresheets or score books if they choose.
No smoking, no computers.
This is the end of the information pertaining only to the U2100, U1700 and U1300 section.
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Entry
Entry Fees and Discounts
The entry fees for all sections are $109 in advance, $120 onsite, and $50 to re-enter (re-entry counts as ½ paid entry for prizes). For GMs, IMs, WGMs, WIMs there is no entry fee; $109 less any applicable discount will be deducted from any prize won.
Veterans of the Cincinnati Open may take one (but not both) of the following loyalty discounts:
- A List Discount: Those who played in the 2018 Cincinnati Open may take a $10 discount.
- B List Discount: Those who did not play in the Cincinnati Open in 2108 but played in any year from 2012 through 2017 may take a $5 discount.
Click here to see the A & B Lists.
Advance Entry
Entries must be received by 9:00 am, Friday, March 29, 2019.
Click here to enter online; pay the entry fee through PayPal using a PayPal account or credit card.
Click here to download the flyer with entry form. Mail the completed entry form to Cincinnati Open, 9180 Pinewood Drive, Loveland, OH 45140-8234 with your check payable to “Cincinnati Scholastic Chess.”
Onsite entry
Players may enter onsite, paying with cash, credit card, or check payable to “Cincinnati Scholastic Chess”, subject to the following schedule and restrictions:
- Friday, March 29, 5:30–6:30 pm to enter any section and any schedule
- Saturday, March 30, 8:00–10:00 am to enter only the following:
- Championship Section 2-day schedule
- Championship Section 3-day schedule with a half-point bye for round 1 (Friday 7 pm)
- U2100, U1700 or U1300 section with a zero point bye for round 1 (Friday 7 pm) and a half-point bye for Round 2 (Saturday 9:30 am) — Players who register Saturday morning will not be paired in the round at 9:30 am Saturday even if they register before 9:30 am.
Rebate for Recruiting New Players
Any player who plays in the 2019 Cincinnati Open is eligible for a rebate for recruiting a “new player” to play in the Cincinnati Open. Cincinnati Scholastic Chess will pay the player a $15 rebate for each identified “new player” whom he or she recruits. A “new player” is one who (a) did not play in any Cincinnati Open from 2012 through 2018, (b) enters the 2019 Cincinnati Open with the payment of a normal entry fee, and (c) plays at least one round of the tournament. To confirm whether a player is eligible to be recruited as a “new player”, check the A List (2018 players) and the B List (2012-2017 players). Anyone on neither list is eligible to be recruited. Click here to see the A & B Lists.
A player may recruit any number of new players, but the total amount rebated will not exceed the amount of the entry fee actually paid by the recruiting player. To be credited with recruiting a new player, a player must notify the tournament organizers of the name and USCF ID number (“new” for players who have not yet purchased a USCF membership) of each new player he or she recruited. This notification can be provided on the mail-in or online entry form when entering the tournament, or by email to info@chesscincinnati.com. Each recruited new player must likewise indicate on his or her mail-in or online entry form the name and USCF ID number of the player who recruited him or her.
Rebates will be paid to players at the tournament when all criteria have been confirmed. We will pay the rebate for each instance where we can match recruiter and recruit referrals. Only one player will be credited as the recruiter for each new player recruited. No rebates will be paid for recruits who do not enter the tournament or withdraw before playing any rounds.
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Venue
Hilton Garden Inn, 5300 Cornell Road, Blue Ash, OH 45242 (near the intersections of Cornell Road with Kenwood Road and Reed-Hartman Highway). Click here for a map. The room rate is $99 for a king bed, and $110 for two queen beds. These room rates include breakfast for up to two guests in each room. Reserve by Thursday, February 28, 2019 to ensure rate and room. This is an unusually early reservation deadline, so don’t delay! Reservation requests after this date might not get the chess rate. For reservations, call 800-HILTONS (800-445-8667) or 513-469-6900 and ask for the Cincinnati Scholastic Chess rate, or click here to book online.
Directions from north or south: Take I-71 to I-275 (exit 17) and exit onto I-275 east. Go one exit to exit 49, Montgomery Road. Go north on Montgomery Road a quarter mile. Turn left at the first traffic light onto Cornell Road and go 2 miles. The hotel will be on the right.
Directions from east or west: Take I-275 to exit 49, Montgomery Road. Go north on Montgomery Road a quarter mile. Turn left at the first traffic light onto Cornell Road and go 2 miles. The hotel will be on the right.
This contemporary hotel is less than 17 miles from downtown Cincinnati. All rooms offer polished decor and custom-designed beds, plus flat-screen TVs with premium cable, microwaves, minifridges and free wifi. Suites add pull-out sofas and/or whirlpool tubs. The hotel restaurant offers a cooked-to-order breakfast and dinner. There is also a lounge and a 24/7 convenience mart. Guests can use the fitness center as well as the indoor pool and whirlpool (located a suitable distance away from the playing hall). Other amenities include a business center and free parking. For more information, visit the hotel’s website.
Nearby eating options outside the hotel include Arby’s, Skyline Chili, Subway, Ho’s Diner, and Decent Deli, located across Cornell Road from the hotel, between Wood Road and Kenwood Road.
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More Information
Email questions to info@chesscincinnati.com, or text/call Alan Hodge 513-600-9915.
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