Neil volunteered countless hours to chess, including running hundreds of tournaments over many decades. See more about Neil here and here. Neil started and ran the Gresham Open on the first weekend (or second weekend if New Year’s Day landed on the first weekend) in January many times. We now run a tournament on the first or second weekend in January each year at the Portland Chess Center in a format similar to the Gresham Open in his honor. We hope everyone can stop by before the start of round one to pay their respects and share some memories for those who knew him.
Format: 5-round Swiss in one section. The official US Chess OTB regular ratings are generally used. One half point bye is available if requested before round one.
Time Control: Round 1: G/60;d10, rounds 2-5: G/120;d10. Bring a delay capable digital clock. Some digital clocks are provided at this tournament but please do not always rely on the club to provide a digital clock (boards, pieces, notation sheets, and pens/pencils are provided).
Schedule: On-site registration runs from 9-9:45am. The rounds are at 10am, 12:45pm, and 5:30pm on Saturday and 10am and 2:45pm on Sunday. Rounds 2, 3 and 5 can be started earlier if both players agree. Players who have a game go long can request extra time off before the next round.
Entry Fee: $45, $30 for Portland Chess Club members. Pay during on-site registration with cash, check payable to the Portland Chess Club, or PayPal at email@pdxchess.org.
Rated: US Chess regular rated. US Chess membership is required and can be purchased during registration. US Chess membership rates/information/benefits. Rose City Chess is currently offering discounted memberships for any player under age 21 at the time of redemption here.
Oregon Chess Federation Membership: Players from Oregon are required to have state membership and this can be purchased during registration. OCF membership rates/information/benefits
Prizes: Regular prizes: $1000 based on 40 paid entries (adjusted proportionally if there are a different number of players except $500 is guaranteed). 1st-$225, 2nd-$175, 1st U2100-$140, 1st U1900-$130, 1st U1700-$120, 1st U1500-$110, 1st U1300-$100, Unrated players are eligible for all of the regular prizes. Upset bonus prize (the player with an established rating who beats a higher rated player by the largest rating difference)-$50 guaranteed. Prizes are combined and split if there is a tie.
Qualifiers: This tournament is a qualifier for the Challengers section of the following year’s Oregon Closed and qualifier for the annual Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation State Championship.
Location: Portland Chess Center, 2025 Lloyd Center, Portland, OR 97232. For driving directions to the club, parking information, and important information on how to get to the club facility in the morning before the mall is open, click here.
Notes: 1) While this tournament is open to scholastic players, it’s only recommended for mature scholastic players who are capable of playing in a serious tournament and against adults. 2) This tournament uses the rules from the 7th edition of the US Chess rulebook.