2020 Mechanics' Institute Rapid & Blitz Online

BLITZ Championship

Format: One open section

Prize fund: $800 total prize fund b/50 paid entries

1st Place: $250
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
u2000: $100
u1800: $75
u1600: $75
* Class prize are based on OTB standard USCF rating. Unrated (OTB,
chess.com) players are not eligible for class prizes. Organizers reserve
the right to determine class prize eligibility based on OTB and online
activity in certain cases.

Time Control:  12SS G/3+2inc

Start time: 5PM PT

• First round is paired at 5PM sharp by chess.com.
• Consecutive rounds are paired as soon as all games are finished in previous rounds.
• No bye requests are possible.
• Late joins are okay, they will be added by the system with 0 point for each missed round.

RAPID Championship

Format: One open section

Prize fund: $800 total prize fund b/50 paid entries

1st Place: $250
2nd Place: $200
3rd Place: $100
u2000: $100
u1800: $75
u1600: $75

*
Class prize are based on OTB standard USCF rating. Unrated (OTB,
chess.com) players are not eligible for class prizes. Organizers reserve
the right to determine class prize eligibility based on OTB and online
activity in certain cases.

Time Control:  6SS G/15+2inc

Start time: 3PM PT

• First round is paired at 3PM sharp by chess.com.
• Consecutive rounds are paired as soon as all games are finished in previous rounds.
• No bye requests are possible.
• Late joins are okay, they will be added by the system with 0 point for each missed round.
  

USCF Online Rated - Tournament will affect both chess.com and USCF online ratings.

USCF online rated - current USCF membership is required.
Tournaments will be submitted to US chess for rating 4-7 days after the tournament to allow time for fair play screening.

Registration Fee: $20 for MI members, $25 for non-members

10% discount if registering for both tournaments.

GM's free, first 10 IM's free by 5/27.

Rules:  standard USCF rules apply. Pairings are based on chess.com rapid/blitz rating.

• Mouse slips count, no take-backs.
• No rejoin: once a player withdraws/withdrawn from the tournament, no rejoin is possible.
• if player is not logged in to live chess when pairings occur, the system will assign a 0-point bye for that round.
• Section prizes will be awarded based on USCF standard rating

Fair
play screening: all games will be screened by both Chess.com and by Dr.
Kenneth W. Regan, Department of Computer Science and Engineering,
University at Buffalo. 

Prize distributions and rating submission will take place AFTER all games have been screened.

How to join?

1. Register online via jumbula: https://mechanics-institute.jumbula.com/2020OnlineTournament/2020MechanicsInstituteRapidBlitzOnline

2. Join the specific Mechanics' club on Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/club/mechanics-chess-club-uscf-online-rated
Note that only those, who registered at least for one tournament through
jumbula, and provided their full name, chess.com user ID (handle) and
their USCF ID will be accepted to the club. Please, allow us time for
this process to take place, 24 hours at least a day ahead of the
tournament, and min 2 hours on the same day of the tournament. Tentative
registration close time is 1PM PT on 5/30 and 5/31, respectively.

3. Join the tournament an hour prior to the start (4PM PT on Saturday and 2PM PT on Sunday).

Note on prizes:
1. Prizes are paid via US checks, mailed within 2 weeks after fair play screening is confirmed.
2. IRS requires anyone who wins over $600 in any given calendar year to
show proof of their Social Security number and provide valid mailing
address. Prizes will not be paid out until this is done by the player.
3. Foreign players or players without a SSN - the organizers are required to withhold 30% of the prizes and send it to the IRS.