2024 Tournament FAQ

• Can I register for the Scholastic Rated section without a USCF rating?

Yes, you can. The first step is to obtain a USCF membership. Once you have that, you can begin to obtain a rating by playing games in a USCF-rated tournament. The Orlando Chess Open is USCF-rated, which means that the tournament director will submit the games played in the tournament to the USCF and those games will become a part of each player's USCF record of rated games. A player will be given a provisional rating while he or she plays their first 25 games. After 25 games, their rating is official and no longer provisional. You may play a rated tournament even with a provisional rating. You can play a rated tournament even if you have zero rated games as long as you have a USCF membership and want to begin developing a rating record. 

• Can I register for the Open Rated section without a USCF rating?

Yes. Just as with the Scholastic Rated section, as long as you have a USCF membership, you can play in the Open Rated section. It is not necessary to have a USCF rating before signing up for Open Rated. The games played in the Orlando Chess Open tournament will count toward your USCF record of rated games.

• Will there be prizes?

Yes, there will be trophies for first, second and third place in each of the Open Rated and Scholastic Rated sections. In addition, there will be a minimum of $500 in total prizes for the rated sections. The prize money will be distributed as follows: 1st place scholastic rated: $70; 2nd place scholastic rated: $50; 3rd place scholastic rated: $30; 1st place open rated: $200; 2nd place open rated: $100; 3rd place open rated: $50. For the Open Unrated section, there will be no cash prizes, but there will be trophies for first, second, and third place. 

• How many people are you expecting? Will there be a cap on the number of entrants?

We have invited chess players from all over Central Florida to participate, and we have spread the word through over a dozen chess clubs in the area. We are targeting a total of around 84 participants. However, if we start to see entries toward the upper end of that range, we may have to cap the total number of entrants due to space constraints. Regardless, pre-registrations done through chessregister.com will be honored, and those entrants will be guaranteed a spot in the tournament.

• Is this for charity?

Yes! Net proceeds will go to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida. The tournament organizers will use a portion of the entry fees to cover tournament expenses like trophies, prizes, and essential facility costs, but the goal is to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs, which provide safe clubs for kids in disadvantaged areas of the greater Orlando area. We have already secured a commitment that will allow us to donate at least $1,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs. In addition to the net proceeds from the tournament, we would like to secure additional donations and sponsors.

• Can I pledge an additional donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs?

Yes, please email us at fljchessinfo@gmail.com to let us if you are interested in donating. We can help coordinate this with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida. We would also love to include your name on the Benefactors section of the website that is in the works, though you may also choose to be listed anonymously if you wish.

• May I become a sponsor or advertiser?

Certainly! Please email us at fljchessinfo@gmail.com. We would like to include the name of your company or organization on a Sponsors section of the website and on our flyers. In addition to the participants and parents at the tournament, our audience includes over a dozen chess clubs in the area and hundreds of chess players throughout Orlando. This is a good way to reach members of the chess community as we publicize the tournament over the next two months. In addition, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida and the University Club, a nonprofit organization composed of former educators and professionals, will be publicizing the event through their networks. We have also reached out to a couple journalists to invite them to cover the First Annual Orlando Chess Open.

• Who has signed up so far?

You can use this link to see who has registered already through chessregister.com. We expect the number of entrants to grow as the date approaches. In addition, there will be entrants who sign up in person on the day of the tournament instead of through chessregister.com.

• Do I need to input my FIDE ID if I have one?

You do not need a FIDE ID to participate in this tournament, so you do not need to input it into the "FIDE ID" prompt.

• Will be there refreshments?

Yes, snacks and drinks will be available for a cash donation (credit cards not accepted so please bring cash).