15th annual

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA OPEN
August 22-24 or 23-24, 2025
Doubletree Hotel Fresno

$10,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES

US Chess Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced)

15th annual Central California Open. 5SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (2-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60;d10), Doubletree Fresno, 2233 Ventura St, Fresno, CA 93710. Free parking for hotel guests, possibly others. The hotel parking lot might reach capacity during the tournament. If this occurs then those not staying at the hotel may be directed to park at the hotel garage nearby (the entrance is on L Street near Inyo Street) which charges $10 per day (no in-out privileges, however) but they only accept cash.

CLICK HERE FOR TOURNAMENT WEBSITE (Pairings, Results, Standings And Other Important Information)!

In 4 sections:

· Major Section (open to 1900/up; see peakrating.us): $1500-800-400-300, clear/tiebreak 1st $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $600-300. FIDE rated.

· Under 2100 Section: $1000-500-250-150, top Under 1900/Unr $400-200. FIDE rated.

· Under 1700 Section: $700-400-200-150, top Under 1500 (no unr) $300-150.

· Under 1300 Section: $500-250-150-100, top Under 1100 (no unr) $200-100.

Unrated may not win over $200 in Under 1300, $400 in Under 1700. If unrated prize is limited, balance goes to next eligible player(s) in line.

World Open rule: Players who scored 8 or more points in 2025 World Open Under 2200 or below must enter higher section than in World Open.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male+female 2-player combined score among all sections: $200-100. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat.

Cannot play below USCF Online Regular Rating – 100 points.

Top 3 sections entry fee: $98 online at chessaction.com by 8/19, all $120 (no checks, credit cards OK) later online or at site, until 1 hour before round 1. GMs, IMs & WGMs free; $80 deducted from prize. Online entry fee: $15 less to Fresno Chess Club members.

Under 1300 Section entry fee: $20 less.

USCF membership required. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid online with entry: Adult $54, Young Adult $33, Youth $24.

Re-entry $60; no Major to Major.

CCA electronic devices policies Prizewinner tax info Foreign player rating info

For all tournaments, adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled. Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used at our discretion if above USCF.  No rating below the latest official USCF rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, FIDE ratings are used. Click here for further details.

Ratings: August official USCF ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings or USCF Online Regular ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted, if necessary, may be used, if higher than USCF. See also above.

Cannot play below Online Regular rating minus 100 points.

3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rounds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.
2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rounds Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.

All: Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before rd 2.

Hotel Chess rate, use this link (also posted at chessevents.us): $169-169 (or call 559-268-1000, request Chess rate); reserve by 8/7 or rate may increase.

Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.

Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied.

Prizes not claimed at site are usually paid through PayPal (may take over a week).

Room or travel sharing: Post a request to share on the USCF "All Things Chess" Forum.
If you have trouble posting, email your request to Continental Chess and we will post it for you.

Entry: chessaction.com. No mailed entry. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: https://chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.US. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering). 

BLITZ TOURNAMENT Saturday 9:30 pm, enter at site Saturday by 9:10 pm.

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