Cincinnati Open
The 55th Cincinnati Open was played on March 29-31, 2019 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Blue Ash. A record 140 players participated. Click here to open the Event Summary or Final Standings.
The information below pertains to the 2019 tournament and is retained here so that interested players can get an understanding of the tournament format. When plans for the 2020 Cincinnati Open have been completed, we will update this page accordingly.
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.
Championship Section
U2100, U1700 and U1300 Sections
Entry
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.
More Information
Email questions to info@chesscincinnati.com, or text/call Alan Hodge 513-600-9915.
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