Official Chess Fall Showdown Season Series

Week 2 – Sunday, October 11, 2026

East Side Community High School
420 East 11th Street (Between 1st Avenue and Avenue A)
(N.B. Make sure to use 11th Street entrance)
New York, NY 10009

Please arrive at the school no later than 30 minutes before your section’s Round 1 start time so your child has time to get situated and become familiar with the building layout.

The general event time may appear as 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM because it covers all sections. Please use the table above for your specific Round 1 start time. All players should be prepared to stay until the end.

Parking Options

Street parking is relatively plentiful for Manhattan. The links below offer nearby garage options for as low as $15 from 7:30am-7:30pm (Last verified on 9/21/26)

Four Independent Tournaments. One Exciting Season.

Every Fall Showdown weekend is a complete standalone US Chess-rated Swiss tournament.

Compete for individual and team trophies, enjoy four exciting rounds of chess (three rounds in the 1900+ section), and earn points toward the Fall Showdown Season Championship individual and team trophies.

You can play just this event or compete in all four weekends. The choice is completely yours.

Register for the Sunday, October 11, 2026 event at the bottom of the page and compete for trophies in every section, plus cash prizes in the top two sections. It is time to go for the gold.

Fall Showdown Season Schedule

Each tournament requires a separate registration. Registration links for Weeks 3 and 4 will be posted as they become available.

Fall Showdown Season

This tournament is one of four weekends that make up the Official Chess Fall Showdown Season.

Players who compete in multiple weekends earn points toward our Season Championships while still competing for a complete set of awards every single weekend.

Every weekend has:

• Its own Swiss pairings
• Individual standings
• Team standings
• Top 5 individual trophies
• Top 3 team trophies

Players also earn Season Championship points that accumulate throughout the fall.

Build Any Team You Want

We considered this policy carefully and believe it provides a more rewarding experience for participants while preserving the integrity and fairness of the tournament.

Create a team with your:

• School
• Chess club
• Chess academy
• Coach
• Family
• Friends
• Summer camp
• Neighborhood
• Condo building
• Any organization

There are no rosters to submit.

Simply register under the exact same team name and everyone will automatically be placed on the same team.

If you do not enter a team name during registration, your school will automatically be used as your team.

To avoid confusion, choose a unique team name whenever possible. Before registering, check the Advanced Listings to see whether another team is already using your desired name unless you intend to join that team.

A simple way to make your team name unique is to add a number, such as Brooklyn Knights 67.

Players may switch teams between tournament weekends. Previous scores remain with the previous team, while future scores count toward the new team.

A minimum of 2 players is required to qualify as a team. Teams may have up to 25 players each weekend.

Adults Can Play Too!

Parents, coaches, and other adults are welcome to compete in the 900–1300 section and above.

Families can compete together on the same team.

1900+ Section Adjustment for Overall Team Scoring

This tournament uses standard Swiss scoring: 1 point for a win, 0.5 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss.

Because the 1900+ section plays three rounds instead of four, its scores are adjusted for team trophy purposes:

• Win: 1 ⅓ points
• Draw: ⅔ point
• Loss: 0 points

Section Time Controls and Start Times

PLEASE NOTE THE STAGGERED ROUND 1 START TIMES.

All sections use Swiss pairings.

Round start times are fixed. Please look for pairing announcements and postings approximately 10 minutes before each round. Clocks will start at the listed time. Games may begin earlier if both opponents are present at the board and agree to begin.

Official October 2026 US Chess Published Ratings will be used.

A player may choose a higher section only if the player’s Live US Chess Rating exceeds that section’s minimum rating, even if the player’s published rating does not.

Two byes are permitted. Each bye earns the same number of tournament points as a draw and does not affect the player’s US Chess rating.

Awards

Every tournament weekend awards:

• Cash prizes for the top two sections:
  • 1900+ Section: $1,250 total – $600 for 1st, $300 for 2nd, $150 for 3rd, $100 for 4th, and $100 for 5th
  • 1600–2000 Section: $750 total – $350 for 1st, $150 for 2nd, $100 for 3rd, $100 for 4th, and $50 for 5th
  • Cash prizes will be split in the event of ties. For example, if two players tie for first in the 1900+ section, each will receive $450, an equal share of the combined first- and second-place prizes.
• Individual trophies: The top 5 players in each section receive a trophy.
• Team trophies: The top 3 teams in each section receive a trophy. A team must have at least 2 players to qualify.
• Overall Team Championship trophies across all sections

Team Scoring

• The top three scores from a team within each section count toward that section’s Team Championship.
• The top six scores from any combination of sections count toward the Overall Team Championship.

Players also earn Season Championship points, including bonus points for every additional tournament weekend they play.

Coaches Corner

An Entry PLUS ticket is required for Coaches Corner access.

No personal coach to review your games and no team room? We have you covered! Select Entry PLUS at checkout.

• Upgrade your experience and improve your chances of winning trophies.
• Master-level players and professional coaches will be onsite in the Coaches Corner, offering real-time game reviews, tips, and personalized advice between rounds.
• Gain insights while your moves and reasoning are still fresh.
• Quickly uncover critical mistakes and missed opportunities to strengthen your play before the next round.
• Build both short-term results and long-term chess skills through focused feedback between rounds.
• The Week 2 coaching lineup will be posted and continuously updated on this page.

Entry Fee

Players who compete in multiple 2026 Fall Showdown weekends will receive a 5% refund on all tournament entry fees after the completion of the Fall Showdown Season.

Other Important Information

• Chess sets, pencils, and score sheets are provided.
• Please bring a chess clock. Players are responsible for knowing how to set and operate their clock.
• US Chess membership through October 2026 is required.
• Notation books are permitted, but cell phones must remain turned off and out of sight during tournament play.
• Notation is required in every section except Unrated–600.
• Artificial intelligence devices and electronic eyeglasses are strictly prohibited in the tournament rooms.
• Parents are not permitted in the tournament rooms during games.
• Parents must chaperone children at all times between games.
• By registering your child, you acknowledge and agree that photographs and/or video footage may be taken during the event by authorized staff, media representatives, or partners for promotional and educational purposes.
• Images and video may be used without compensation in publications, promotional materials, websites, and social media associated with Official Chess, its organizers, and affiliated partners.
• Player names will appear in tournament results and reports, as is standard for US Chess-rated events.
• Official Chess reserves the right to refuse entry or revoke a registration at its sole discretion or in accordance with US Chess rules, including the US Chess Safe Play Policies and Sanction List.

View the US Chess Safe Play Guidelines
View the US Chess Sanctioned Members List

Event details are subject to change. Any material changes will be communicated to registered participants in advance.

Warriors Registered