test Fall Showdown Season Week 1 – Sunday, September 20, 2026
Official Chess Fall Showdown Season
Week 1 – Sunday, September 20, 2026
East Side Community High School
420 East 12th Street
New York, NY 10009
The general event time may appear as 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM because it covers all sections. Please use the table above for your specific Round 1 start time.
Parking Options
Discounted parking may be available near the school. Prices and availability are controlled by the parking providers.
Five 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 in most sections, and earn points toward the Fall Showdown Season Championship individual and team trophies.
You can play just this event or compete throughout all five weekends. The choice is completely yours.
Register for the Sunday, September 20 event below and compete for trophies in the lower sections or cash in the top two sections. Either way, it is time to go for the gold.
Complete Fall Showdown Season Schedule
Each tournament requires a separate registration. Registration links for the remaining Fall Showdown weekends will be posted as they become available.
Fall Showdown Season
This tournament is one of five 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
- Individual trophies or cash prizes
- Team trophies
Players also earn Season Championship points that accumulate throughout the fall.
Build Any Team You Want
Team Pairing Policy: In the top two cash-prize sections, teammates may be paired against one another whenever required by the Swiss pairing system. This prevents the stacking of teams.
In the remaining sections, we will make every effort to avoid pairing teammates against one another except when no other pairing is reasonably possible.
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
- Family
- Friends
- Neighborhood
- Condo or apartment 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.
To avoid confusion, choose a unique team name whenever possible. Before registering, check the Advance Entries list 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.
Maximum 25 players per team 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 Overall Team Championship purposes:
- Win: 1 1/3 points
- Draw: 2/3 point
- Loss: 0 points
Section Time Controls and Round Times
PLEASE NOTE THE STAGGERED ROUND 1 START TIMES.
All sections use Swiss pairings.
Scholastic Only
G/30 d5
Scholastic Only
G/40 d5
G/50 d5
G/50 d5
G/50 d5
G/70 d5
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 September 2026 US Chess Published Regular 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, they will divide the combined first- and second-place prize money equally.
- Individual trophies in the lower sections
- Team trophies in every section
- 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 available to review your games and no team room? We have you covered.
- 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.
- The Week 1 coaching lineup will be announced and updated on this page.
Entry Fee
Early registration starts at $59. Entry fees will increase as the tournament approaches.
Players who compete in multiple Fall Showdown weekends will receive a 10% refund on all tournament entry fees after the completion of the Fall Showdown Season.
Other Important Information
This is not a drop-off event. Parents or guardians may leave and re-enter the building, but they must remain reachable at all times at the cell phone number provided during registration.
One responsible adult may chaperone multiple children. If another adult will be responsible for your child, please indicate this during registration and provide that adult’s name and cell phone number.
- 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.
- An active US Chess membership through September 20, 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.
- By registering, participants acknowledge and agree that photographs and video may be taken by authorized staff, media representatives, or partners for promotional and educational purposes.
- Images and video may be used without compensation in Official Chess publications, promotional materials, websites, and social media.
- 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.
Register Today!
Whether this is your first rated tournament or your hundredth, the Official Chess Fall Showdown offers a fun, exciting, and family-friendly way to compete against players from throughout the New York metropolitan area.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, September 20!