66TH ANNUAL U.S. ARMED FORCES OPEN CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

A Heritage Event, A National Championship Event

At the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York

On Saturday, October 11 - Monday, October 13, 2025

 

FREE ENTRY: There is no entry fee, but all players must be current U.S. Chess Federation members. Join or renew your membership at www.uschess.org.

Lodging information:

• Cadets/Midshipmen: Contact Dr. Kimani Stancil, USMMA Chess Club Sponsor at stancilk@usmma.edu. Must have all cadet/mid lodging requests by 9/26/2025.
• For all other participants, we are making lodging arrangements with local hotels. All hotels are at least 30 minutes away from the playing site. Hotel information is being posted at www.vachess.org.

Tournament Info: Go to www.vachess.org and select the link for the US Armed Forces Open. A map to the playing site will be posted there along with parking instructions, etc.

Registration: Two ways to enter ...

• ONLINE: Highly encouraged! Go to www.vachess.org. No entries by email, phone or text.
• ONSITE: We will accept walk-in entries on Saturday, Oct 11, 0900-0945 at the tournament site. Check-in is MANDATORY to confirm your online registration at least 15 minutes before the start of the tournament, failure to check-in will result in you not being paired for Round 1. Players arriving after the entry cut-off at 0945 will be paired for Round 2.

Player Eligibility: All players must meet at least one of the entry criteria below and shall be prepared to prove their eligibility:

• Current, retired, and former members of the U.S. Military, Coast Guard, and other uniformed federal services including the Defense Health Administration and the U.S. Merchant Marines.
• Midshipmen/Cadets attending one of the nation's military academies.
• ROTC Cadets/Midshipmen attending a college or university where they are enrolled in the ROTC program.

Two Sections: 5 Rounds, Swiss System, FIDE rated, FIDE rules. Time control is G/90 +30, which means each player has 90 minutes of thinking time plus 30 seconds additional per move completed. There is a one-hour forfeit/no-show policy. You can register to compete in one of the following two sections:

• The Armed Forces Open: Active Duty, Military Retirees, Midshipmen/Cadets, College ROTC, and National Guard/Reserve. Bring your Military ID card for access to the Merchant Marine Academy and to demonstrate your eligibility to play.
• The Veterans Open: Honorably Discharged Veterans / former military. Bring DD 214, VA Card, or other appropriate proof of your military service to demonstrate eligibility. A valid, unexpired REAL ID compliant government issued identification card will be required to access the Merchant Marine Academy.

Round times:

• Saturday, Oct 11: Rounds 1 and 2 @ 1000 and 1500
• Sunday, Oct 12: Rounds 3 and 4 @ 1200 and 1800
• Monday, Oct 13: Round 5 @ 0900.
• BYE REQUESTS: One half-point bye is available for the tournament; please declare during Registration or up to 1 hour before the start of Round 2 on Saturday. Bye requests after this cutoff are zero-point byes.

Prizes: See the website (www.vachess.org) for the complete list. All prizes are trophies, plaques, and other gifts. There are no cash prizes.

Side event:

• Blitz Championship: Saturday Oct 11 at 1930. FREE FOOD. All Blitz Games are US Chess rated (G5/d0).

 Group Photo: Monday Oct 13 at 0845, just before we start Round 5. Everyone is strongly requested to wear their Class A uniform or business attire*.*

 Awards Ceremony: As soon as possible after the end of Round 5.

 Prohibited Items: The following items are prohibited from being brought through the gates of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:

• Weapons/Knives; Bags larger than a typical purse (e.g., duffle bags, backpacks, large camera bags); Anything considered a threat by a screener

Tournament Information: International Arbiter Mike Hoffpauir, mhoffpauir@aol.com, 757-846-4805 (cell or text).

Information for Cadets/Midshipmen from the Service Academies: Please Contact Dr. Kimani Stancil (stancilk@usmma.edu). Need service academy housing requests by 9/26/2025; Food purchases available for service academy personnel through the Academy Food Service Contractor.

Playing Site: Schuyler Otis Bland Memorial Library, 2nd floor at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 300 Steamboat Road, Kings Point, NY 11024

Sections: 2 Grand Prix Points: 0 Prize Fund: Trophies & Other Prizes FIDE Rated: Yes Handicap Accessible: Yes Residency Restriction: No Online Event: No

Organizer: Mike Hoffpauir, NTD/IA Email: mhoffpauir@aol.com Phone: 757-846-4805 Website: https://www.vachess.org