Format: 5-Round Swiss in 2 Sections- Crown and U1700
Round Dates and Times:
Round 1: Friday, August 1, 2025 @ 6:30 PM PDT
Round 2: Saturday, August 2, 2025 @ 9:00 AM PDT
Round 3: Saturday, August 2, 2025 @ 2:00 PM PDT
Round 4: Sunday, August 3, 2025 @ 9:30 AM PDT
Round 5: Sunday, August 3, 2025 @ 2:30 PM PDT
Location: University of British Columbia, 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1 Canada, Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, Room IBLC 261 (Get Directions)
Time Control: 90 Minutes Plus 30 Seconds’ Increment Per Player Per Game
Default Times: Players who do not show up within 60 minutes of the start of the first round, or 30 minutes of the start of each subsequent round will forfeit their games, unless the arbiter decides otherwise. Unexplained absences will also lead to automatic withdrawal from all subsequent rounds of the tournament
Byes: Maximum of 2 half-point BYEs available during rounds 1-4. BYEs must be requested before the start of the previous round (e.g. A Round 4 BYE must be requested BEFORE the start of Round 3)
Ratings: The Crown Section will be both FIDE- and CFC-rated; the U1700 Section will be CFC-rated only. All rankings and pairings will be based on CFC Standard ratings with USCF Ratings taken at par with CFC Ratings. Estimates will be used for unrated players
Play-ups: No play-ups in this tournament; participants will be assigned to sections based on their final pre-tournament CFC standard rating after the last CFC rating update before the tournament
Posting of Pairings: Pairings will be posted on chess-results (see links below) approximately one hour prior to the start of a round, or shortly after the conclusion of the final game in the previous round, whichever comes later
Prizes (Based on 100 Players Total in All Sections):
Tie-Break Procedure: Monetary prizes will be shared and split evenly among eligible participants tied in the final standings
Registration: Please email daniel.rokhvarger@yahoo.ca with your full name and CFC and/or FIDE ID Number. For new CFC Players, please provide the following: City/Town, Date of Birth, and Email address. Payments of registration fees are accepted by e-transfer to this same address Registration is complete when payment is received
Registration Fees (See Above For Payment Method):
All Sections: $110 regular entry fee; $10 discount applied if registered by July 1, 2025; $10 late entry fee applied if registered after July 20, 2025; $20 fee applied to on-site registrants and may result in a first-round 0-Pt. BYE.
Free entry for GMs/IMs/FMs/WGMs/WIMs/WFMs
Refund Policy: 100% refund available if requested by July 1, 2025; 50% refund available if requested between July 2, 2025- July 20, 2025; no refunds thereafter
CFC Membership Requirements: Registrants in all sections of this tournament need to have a valid CFC membership or pay a one-time CFC tournament fee to participate. For more information on fees, please see this link. To purchase your CFC membership online, or to pay a one-time tournament fee, please visit this link and register. CFC membership rates for residents of British Columbia are: $38 for adults and $25 for juniors. Single-tournament fees for this tournament for British Columbia residents are: $16 for adults and $8 for juniors
Registration List: Link (You can check the registration list for any of the festival events by clicking on the tabs at the bottom of this page)
Special Promos: UBC Students Save $10 Off The Entry Fee!
Register For All 3 Main Festival Events And Save An Extra $20!!!
Tournament Director: Daniel Rokhvarger, FA (FIDE ID = 2655900)
Chief Arbiter: Stephen Wright, IA (FIDE ID = 2602369)
Policy for Electronic Devices: The use of electronic devices is prohibited by participants during their games. Phones are to be turned off during rounds of play. They are to be left either face-down beside players’ boards, or stowed away in their backpacks. If a player’s phone rings/vibrates during a round, they will either be penalized or forfeited at the arbiter’s discretion. If a player is found to have a phone on their person during the round, they will automatically forfeit their game and their opponent shall win. Spectators (friends, family, players whose games have ended) are prohibited from the use of electronic devices in the playing area during rounds
Appeals Procedure: Any player participating in this tournament has the right to appeal any decision made by the arbiter(s). Any appeals made must be done so in writing and accompanied by a $100 deposit. This deposit is fully refundable upon a successful appeal; it may also be refundable upon an unsuccessful appeal if the appeal is found to have been reasonable and based on sound merit. If an appeal is found to be unreasonable and baseless, the deposit will not be returned. The deadline to file an appeal concerning an arbiter’s ruling in any game played at this tournament is 1 hour after the conclusion of the game. Appeals filed will be forwarded to the appeals committee for this tournament. The appeals committee for this tournament is composed of the following members: 1. IA Arvin Abrishami (FIDE ID = 12508616); 2. FA Abdul Rahman El Habboub (FIDE ID = 5311195); and 3. NA Chris Felix (FIDE ID = 2618613)
Contact for Inquiries: daniel.rokhvarger@yahoo.ca