Maryland Chess Association
SCHEDULE
30 MINUTES UP THE ROAD FROM HAGERSTOWN
$685 GUARANTEED PRIZES
NEW: THREE SECTIONS + $200 increase in total prize fund.
Why play in Shippensburg?
- CLOCKS AND SET PROVIDED (Triple-weighted)! No more scrambling for your chess set
- Chick-fil-A IN BUILDING! No more scrambling for food during the lunch break.
- Rounds start on time! Arrive on time and enjoy your rounds on time.
- PRIZES are ALWAYS guaranteed. We also have a history of high attendance (see event links at the bottom of this page)
Premiere Section Prizes (Minimum 1500 rating or unrated)
- 1st Place: $120
- 2nd Place: $80
- Top U1850: $60
- Top U1700: $40
U1600 Section Prizes (Min. 1000 rating or Unrated)
- 1st Place: $90 (Unrateds not eligible for this prize)
- 2nd Place: $75
- Top U1400: $50
- Top U1250: $25
U1100 Section Prizes (Players rated below 1100 and unrated players. Discount entry for new/unrated players)
- 1st: $65 (Unrated players not eligible for this prize)
- 2nd: $50
- 3rd: $35
- Top K-12 player (U1100 section only)
ENTRY FEE:
- Online Registration Page: https://chessnut.club/e/shippensburg-fall-open-2026
- Players may use their live rating or published rating to qualify for the Premiere section or the U1600 section
- Early bird prices: $15 for U1100, $20 for U1600, $25 for Open section. $5 for NEW PLAYERS playing in the U1100 section.
- (Email shippensburgchess@gmail.com for 1/2-point bye requests or text 619-748-1751)
- (Need to pay cash? Email tournament director at shippensburgchess@gmail.com for address to mail cash/checks. Other payment options: Paypal the tournament director at nathzeig@gmail.com or Venmo @nathzeig the entry fee amount along with player details (name, email address, US Chess ID)
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Location Info:
- 408 Lancaster Dr, Shippensburg, PA 17257
- Room: MPR-A in the Ceddia Union Building in Shippensburg University.
- Same floor as our previous playing hall Room 119.
- If you enter from the side with UPS, you will have to take the stairs/elevator one floor up
- Free parking: Park in the C-7 parking lot (link to parking map: https://www.ship.edu/globalassets/visit/parkingmap.pdf)
- C-7 is the lot opposing Luhrs Performing Arts Center. That will provide a good landmark.
New to Shippensburg?
Click this link to view more info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1slLL0W9Mz0_qVg_mswh83nYQ0CMvGsSOPRXx62VYVPo/edit?usp=sharing
UNRATED PLAYER POLICY (NEW PLAYER POLICY)
Firstly, thank you for playing your first chess tournament with us! Unrated players are not eligible for the 1st place prize in the U1600 section, nor the U1100 section. Unrated players are not eligible for any "Top Uxxxx" prizes. For example, they are not eligible for the Top U800 prize, nor the Top U1400 prize.
ADDITIONAL INFONeed a 1/2-point bye? Email shippensburgchess@gmail.com to request one after registering.
US Chess Membership is required for this tournament. Don't want to pay for annual membership? Adults may opt to pay $20 for a 2-month US Chess membership. Email us at shippensburgchess@gmail.com if you want us to process your membership. Price depends on age
What if attendance is low and we have to merge sections? See this document
US Chess Membership:
- ALL players are required to have a US Chess membership to play in the event. Find the rates here: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
- Don't want to pay for an annual membership? Players may opt to pay a one-time $10 fee to play in the tournament.
- Questions? Email the tournament director at shippensburgchess@gmail.com. If you want, we can process your membership for you if you email us about it and you will receive a $3 discount.
PAST SHIPPENSBURG TOURNAMENTS:- June 20, 2026: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202606200313
- April 12, 2026: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202604110453
- Jan 31, 2026: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202601310533
- PA Team Championship (Nov. 1-2, 2025): https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202511020463
- Sept. 13, 2025: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202509139642
- March 1, 2025: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202503011512
- PA Team Championship (Nov. 16-17, 2024): https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202411179582
- Sept. 21, 2024: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202409213942
- April 6, 2024: https://ratings.uschess.org/event/202404062522
are not eligible for the 1st place prize in the U1200 section and are not allowed to play the U1700 section. Unrated players must play in either the U1200 section or the Open section.