2nd annual Universal Open Info + Registration
June 19th-22nd - $100,000 - Dallas / Fort Worth
The event is open to the first 500 players registered! Be sure to register to reserve your spot, we do anticipate this event selling out.
The tournament is 7 Rounds, G/90+30, Swiss non-elimination.
7 sections, Championship, 2000-2199 USCF, 1800-1999 USCF, 1600-1799 USCF, 1400-1599 USCF, 1200-1399 USCF, U1200 USCF.
Every section is USCF Rated. Championship, 2000-2199, and 1800-1999 sections are FIDE Rated. June USCF Ratings will be used, and USCF Rules for prizes.
Location: Location coming soon, to be either in North Richland Hills or Hurst TX
Entry list is available HERE
Schedule:
4 day schedule round times: 6/19: 6:00pm. 6/20: 2:00pm, 7:00pm. 6/21: 10:00am, 3:00pm. 6/22: 10:00am, 3:00pm.
3 day schedule round times: 6/20: 9:00am, 2:00pm, 7:00pm. 6/21: 10:00am. 6/22: 10:00am, 3:00pm.
After the last Saturday round the Super GM & Celebrity match will begin at 8pm.
Prizes:
80% guaranteed in the main event, 20% added at 500 fully paid entries. 100% guaranteed prizes for the scholastic & blitz.
Championship: $10000-4000-2000-1200-1000-800, top FIDE Under 2300: $2000-1000
2000-2199: $7000-3000-2000-1200-800-500
1800-1999: $6000-2500-2000-1200-800-500
1600-1799: $6000-2500-2000-1200-800-500
1400-1599: $6000-2500-2000-1200-800-500
1200-1399: $5000-2000-1500-1200-800-500
U1200: $5000-2000-1200-800-500
Blitz event: $1000 - $500, Top U2000 - $250, Top U1600 - $250.
Super GM Match: $3000-$2000
Scholarship Scholastic: $10,000 (Prize distribution available HERE)
Registration:
There are two types of registration, normal tournament entry and VIP entry. The VIP registration is a bundle deal that will save you money if you were to buy the side events separately. However, both registration options still include a play up fee of $100 if a player enters in a section above their rating class.
Normal Tournament Registration: $275 to play in any section. After May 14th entry will increase to $305, after June 14th entry will increase to $325. After June 17th entry will increase to $365 and will be the same for on-site registration. Each player will also receive 1 stadium seat to watch the Celebrity tournament & Super GM Match on Saturday after the round (this does not conflict with any other rounds since there is just 1 round Saturday morning). To register with this option, click HERE.
(RECOMMENDED) VIP Registration: $375 to play in any section. Comes with a memorable shirt, free blitz entry, a signed board of both of our Super GM’s to register with this option, click HERE.
Hotel:
All hotels listed are around 5 minutes from the playing venue, more hotels are making chess rates and will be available below. Some hotels will fill up and others may have their booking links taken down as the event gets closer, if you are having trouble the best thing to do is to call the hotel. There are many other hotels than the ones below, there are around 10 hotels within ten minutes from the playing venue.
The Hyatt Place in Hurst has offered a chess rate of $139 for a king room, $144 for a queen. This rate ends May 24th, To book this option click HERE
The Hampton Inn & Suites in Hurst has offered a chess rate of $123 for a king room, $133 for a queen. This rate ends May 20th, To book this option click HERE
Side Events:
Annual Luis Salinas Blitz: Blitz event will be held Friday at midnight, 5 double rounds G/3;d1. Registration will be on-site and will cost $50, must register with the TD table before 11PM Friday. Player who registered with the VIP Package will already be entered in the blitz, failure to attend the first round will result in elimination.
Celebrity Chess Tournament + Super Grandmaster Match: Saturday from 4:30pm - 10:00pm. This does not conflict with any round times so all of our players can sit in the stadium and watch this event live! The only round Saturday is 10am, so it will finish before this event begins. Tickets to watch this event are available HERE. However, if a player registered with the VIP Package they get 2 tickets for free! Players who registered with regular registration get 1 free ticket. Tickets will be given during round 1.
Universal Open Scholastic: Saturday 9:00am - 3:00pm , players must be in K-12th grade (class of 2024 may play). All players get a free ticket to watch the stadium events right after (celebrity chess tournament + super grandmaster match). To register for this event click HERE
Celebrity Signing: During the stadium event, the celebrities will make a few rounds to sign / take photos
Extra Information
USA Players without a FIDE ID that are playing in a FIDE Rated section (check if your section is FIDE Rated) must email us their full name, USCF ID, email, DOB, email address, and agree to receive a USA FIDE ID Number.
All GM’s receive free entry, few IM’s that registered very early receive free entry. All players who receive free entry will have regular entry deducted from prizes.
Because this is a limited capacity event, closed to the first 1,000 players, entry is refundable by 75%. There are no refunds within two weeks of the event start date.
Players should bring clocks, boards are provided.
The blitz is part of the open event prize fund and is attached to the 75% guarantee. The blitz is not uscf rated.
Prize limits for special cases:
Unrated players can win 50% of a prize in the U1200, and no more than $1,000 in any other section. If player has FIDE Rating but not USCF (mostly foreign players), they should play in a section comparable to their FIDE, and the unrated prize restrictions will not apply, must email us to use this option. Foreign players must disclose their FIDE ID before round 1 with us to ensure they are in the correct section. Players with less than 10 registered regular rated games on USCF will be held to the same prize restrictions as Unrated players. The TD may withdraw prize limits from players if they deem it necessary, a common example is if someone has a FIDE but not a USCF rating. These exceptions can be made when the player is in contact with the director/organizer.
If a player goes through the registration process and selects “not playing up”, but does select a section higher than their rating, they will be adequately placed in the section of their rating. It will say “Relocated” next to their name on the entry list. We will not change their section unless we are emailed and the playup fee is paid.
Players that have been over 50 points (rating) the section maximum at any time in 2024 may only win $800. Balance of any limited prize goes to the next eligible player(s) in line.