🌺 Rochester Chess Festival 🎪
July 18-20, 2025 🗓️
Featuring 1st Ever Midwest Regional Championship for Women & Girls
3 Events! 🤹♀️
Simultaneous Chess Exhibition
7pm Fri, July 18
Rochester Open
Sat-Sun, July 19-20
5 Rounds, G60 +30s
MSCA & Rochester Chess are partnering to produce this Chess Festival. 🍿
Midwest Regional Championship for Women & Girls
Sat-Sun, July 19-20
5 Rounds, G60 +30s
Tournament Director 🎬️
Sarah Wahl
♟️ Winner of Midwest Regional Championship for Women & Girls receives free entry for All Girls Nationals, US Women’s Open or US Open (champion’s choice).
♟️ Rochester Open runs concurrently at venue and is open to all chess players.
♟️ Commentary and game review by popular MN chess streaming personality and ChessGoals founder Matt Jensen.
♟️ Online pairings & standings will be used.
🏁 Rochester Open is part of the 2025 MSCA Summer Grand Prix series! 🏎️
📽️ Projected Prizes!
Rochester Open: $5,000 💰️
(based on 150 players)
Midwest Women & Girls: $2,000 💰️
(based on 60 players)
Directions 🗺️ Parking is free in the Civic Center ramp, 100 1st Ave SE, 5pm-2:30am Friday and all day Saturday/Sunday until 2:30am. (No overnight parking.) Cross the skyway on the second level to enter the Civic Center.
Lodging 🏨 Many great hotel options in Rochester!
Simultaneous Chess Exhibition 🔄
7pm Friday, July 18 🗓️
♟️ Featuring Minnesota International Masters Sean Nagle and John Bartholomew.
♟️ First 50 participants get in FREE, thanks to ChessGoals sponsorship! 🎉
♟️ $10 entry fee, paid onsite. 🎟️ All players should bring their own chess sets & clocks.
📌 Open & Women and Girls
July 19-20 🗓️
5 Round Swiss
US Chess rated (USCF membership required; see below to learn more)
Rochester Open
🟠 Premier 🟣 U1900 🔵 U1500 🟢 U1100 🔴 U700
Women & Girls
🟠 Premier 🟢 U1100 🔴 U700
⌛️ Time Control
G/60 +30s increment per move
Byes
max two ½ pt byes, any rounds, declared before round 3
Rounds ⚪️
Saturday 10am • 2pm • 6pm 🕕️
Sunday 10am • 2pm 🕙️
⏱️ Forfeit time is 30 minutes after round start time
🟫♟️⏰ Players should bring chess boards, pieces, and clocks.
Entry Fees 🎟️
by ➡️
🟠 Premier
🟣 U1900*
🔵 U1500*
🟢 U1100
🔴 U700
🌝
5/1
$80
$80
$60
$60
$50
🌔
6/1
$90
$90
$70
$70
$60
🌓
7/1
$100
$100
$80
$80
$70
🌒
7/18
$110
$110
$90
$90
$80
⏰
Onsite
$120
$120
$100
$100
$90
⬅️ by
🟠 Premier
🟣 U1900*
🔵 U1500*
🟢 U1100
🔴 U700
* U1900 & U1500 are Open only
🖊️ Register online by Fri 7/18 7pm 🕖️
🖊️ Register onsite Sat 7/19 8:30 - 9:30am 🕗️
💵 Cash/check only onsite! 💵
🥷 Free entry for Masters if registered by July 3. All Masters, including those whose current rating is < 2200, can register by sending an email to Sarah Wahl semmons2848@gmail.com with your USCF ID and noting any bye requests.
📬️ Mail-in entries, received by Tues 7/15:
Rochester Chess, c/o Dennis Mays
2202 Ponderosa Drive SW
Rochester MN 55902
Send check made payable to Rochester Chess. Please include the section you want to play in and any bye requests. Please email dennismays101@gmail.com to let us know a check is coming. 📧
Projected Prizes 💵 Open
🟠 Premier
1st $750 2nd $500
Top U2100 $250
🟣 U1900
1st $600 2nd $400
Top U1600 $200
🔵 U1500
1st $500 2nd $250
Top U1300 $150
🟢 U1100
1st $400 2nd $250
Top U800 $150
🔴 U700
1st $250 2nd $150
Top U500 $100 UNR $100
(based on 30 players per section x 5 sections = 150 players)
Unrated players can only win unrated prize in 🔴 U700 section or 1st/2nd place overall in the 🟠 Premier section.
Projected Prizes 💵 Women & Girls
🟠 Premier
1st $600 2nd $400
Top U1500 $200
🟢 U1100
1st $300 2nd $200
Top U800 $100
🔴 U700
Trophies for Top 10 finishers 🏆️
(based on 20 players per section x 3 sections = 60 players)
Unrated players can only win a trophy in 🔴 U700 section or 1st/2nd place overall in the 🟠 Premier section.
Questions? Contact Dennis Mays:
📧 dennismays101@gmail.com or 507-254-6809 ☎️
🌺 This is an MSCA and MSCA affiliate event. 🤝
Additional Details
🏞️ The MSCA strives to have all of our facilities and events available to as many community members as possible. We will attempt to accommodate access requests to the best of our abilities. Please let us know how we can help improve your chess experience!
🏁 This tournament is part of the MSCA’s Summer Grand Prix Series. The winners of this multi-event points race will claim $2,500 in guaranteed prize money and 4 State Championship Playoff Qualification spots! 🏆️ (2025 Grand Prix details TBD.)
🧮 Please see the MSCA Unrated Policy to learn how rating may be determined from USCF live/online or FIDE ratings.
🚨 Published unrated players who possess FIDE ratings MUST disclose their FIDE rating. See the MSCA Unrated Policy.
🛡️ The MSCA recognizes the importance of a safe and hospitable environment at our chess events. To promote this type of environment, the MSCA has developed a Policy on Safe Play & Conduct. The MSCA also follows US Chess guidelines for training TDs with materials developed by the US Center for SafeSport. To support a safe and hospitable environment, the MSCA reminds all chess participants and attendees that they are responsible for their actions, and that parents/guardians of minors are responsible at all times for the welfare and safety of their children/dependents.
🎟️ You can pay for a new US Chess membership or renewal during registration, but note that this payment won't be applied until event time. It may be best to sign up directly with US Chess today. There are options for new members (get a new USCF ID and pay) and for existing members (already have an ID) to create a website login. If you already have a login/ID, you can use it to pay for a renewal.
