In Bay Area Chess’s egalitarian spirit, the fees and prizes are identical for all sections. Please recruit your friends and family to join you and support your chess community. Don’t be that anti-hero.

2023 Class Warfare
Open, Class, and Blitz Championship
on November 24/25/26 for all levels (and ages) with free parking!
Play and Stay at Sonesta San Jose on 777 Bellew Dr in North Milpitas

    • For Players of All Ages
      $$ 10,000 Guaranteed
      (GPP 40 Enhanced)

      Open & Class
      7SS G90 +30
      2-day Rounds 1-4: G50 d5
      Fri 1:30 - 10p
      Sat 9a - 10p
      Sun 9:30a - 6p
      Blitz
      G5 d1
      Sun 6:30 - 8:30p
      (7-10 rounds)
    • For All Scholastic Players
      Lots of Trophies & Medals

      u1000
      5SS G25 d5
      Fri
      9:15a - 4:10p
      Blitz
      G5 d1
      Fri
      4:30 - 6:30p
      (7-10 rounds)
    • Scholastic u1400 Events
      Collect BAoins!

      Signature
      Quads
      Sat 9 - 11:30a
      3RR x G25 d5
      Signature
      Swiss
      Sat 12:30 - 4p &
      Sun 9a - 12:30p
      4SS x G25 d5
      Chess4Less
      Quads
      Sun 1:30 - 4p
      3RR x G25 d5
    • Register Now Quicklinks

      Use Quicklinks for changes, orientation, etc.
      1. GM dN means each players gets M minutes/game and N seconds/move (before their clock starts ticking).
      2. XRR means X round-robin games.
      3. YSS means Y Swiss-system games.
      • $$ 10,000 Guaranteed
        (GPP 40 Enhanced)
        for Main Event 1000+ Sections

        Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!

        $$ 10,000 Guaranteed (GPP 40 Enhanced)

        Section Rated Eligibility 1st 2nd 3rd
        MX
        2000+
        FIDE & USCF All $1,000 $500 $300
        u2100 $400 $200 $200
        AB
        1700-1999
        FIDE & USCF All $1,000 $500 $300
        u1800 $400 $200 $200
        BC
        1400-1699
        FIDE & USCF All $1,000 $500 $300
        u1500 $400 $200 $200
        DE
        <1400
        USCF All $1,000 $500 $300
        u1200 $400 $200 $200
    • Cash Prizes for Open Blitz

      Mandatory Check-in Sunday by 6:30pm
      We will assign players to Hexes (groups of 6) based on rating.
      We will award the following cash prizes
      for each group:
      1. Top Overall = $60
      2. Top in bottom-half = $40
      • Lots of Trophies & Medals Scholastic Sections u1000

        Welcome to the Chessiest Place on Earth!
        Section Awards
        FG
        700-999
        1. Trophies to all players with a winning record in each section; medals to others.
        2. Trophies to all schools with two or more players in all sections combined1.
        3. Trophies to all clubs with two or more players in all sections combined1.
        GH
        400-699
        IJ <400
        1 Top 4 players’ scores count to their club/school total.
      • Blitz Trophies & Medals for Scholastic Players

        We will assign players to Hexes (groups of 6) based on rating. All Players with a Winning Record earn a trophy; others earn a medal.
    • More Awards for Scholastic Players Rated under 1400

      Awards: 6 BA€oins/point (min 3 BA€oins/tourney); no awards for Chess4Less (to offset low fee)

      Signature Swiss (Scholastic)

      Sections: u500 | 500-799 | 800-1199

      Signature Quads (Scholastic)

      Sections: groups of 4 players based on rating

      Chess4Less Quads (Scholastic)

      Sections: groups of 4 players based on rating


    1. Online Registration closes at 11:59p on the day before the first game.
    2. Onsite Registration closes at 20 minutes before the first game.
    3. ½-point Byes are available with the following conditions:
      1. No more than half of the number of rounds = (Number of Swiss Rounds)/2
      2. Rounds 1-5 byes must be requested 1 hour before that round starts
      3. Rounds 6-7 byes must be requested before Round 3 starts
      4. In the 1000+ sections, the players agree to donate any earned prize to BAC if they change byes in the last two rounds’ byes after Round 3’s start.
      5. In the u1000 sections, no changes to byes are allowed after Round 3’s start (other than requesting 0-point byes).
      6. Only 0-point (no ½-point Byes) are allowed in Quads
  • Please register early to save your money and our time!

    • Fees for 1000+ Sections

      Entry Type BAC-Plus BAC-Basic Non-member
      2-day Econ2 93 105 124
      Regular 124 140 165
      3-day Econ2 99 112 132
      Regular 132 150 176
      Re-entry Econ2 N/A N/A N/A
      Regular N/A N/A 60
      Multiday Play-up3 29 33 39
      Blitz 1000+ 25 28 33

      2 Econ entry offers a lower entry fee in exchange for 50% of the calculated prize. (Tip: Econ entry suits players who are not motivated by prize money.)
      3 Players must be within 300 points of the rating cutoff to play-up in AB, BC, and DE sections, and within 200 points in MX section. Double play-up is not allowed.
      1. Late Fees: +0 Until 11/17 | +7 11/18-20 | +15 11/19-21 | +22 11/22-23 | +30 online after 11/23 +40 onsite
      2. Cancel/Change Fee: Same as the late fee; No refunds after 11/21.
      • Fees for Scholastic 1-day

        Entry Type BAC-Plus BAC-Basic Non-member
        1-day 52 59 69
        1-day Play-up 22 25 29
        Blitz 25 28 33
        1. Late Fees: +0 Until 11/17 | +5 11/18-20 | +10 11/19-21 | +15 11/22-23 | +20 online after 11/23 +25 onsite
        2. Cancel/Change Fee: Same as the late fee; No refunds after 11/21.
    • Scholastic Side Event Fees

      Entry Type BAC-Plus BAC-Basic Non-member
      Chess4Less Quads 21 24 28
      Signature Quads 29 33 39
      Signature Swiss 37 42 49
      Signature Swiss Play-up 14 16 19

      1. Late Fees: +0 Until 11/17 | +5 11/19-23 | +10 online after 11/23 +15 onsite
      2. Cancel/Change Fee: Same as the late fee; No refunds after 11/21.

Post-Registration Info Click here to expand/contract
this section like an accordion

What to expect after registering

        • After Registering

          1. Check Processed Entries Processed Entries to confirm registration (available one week before the tournament).
          2. Use this change form for changes/corrections.
          3. Add @bayareachess.com to safe senders to receive emails with orientation and other notifications.
          4. Reconfirm the email address and other information in your profile.
          5. Check this page the day before the tournament for orientation information.
          6. Contact us for any questions or suggestions.
      • Financial Transparency

        1. The entry fees for members are slightly lower based on a donation by the Azhar Family Office.
        2. The entry fees for non-members are slightly higher due to inflation and the extra costs.
        • What’s New?

          1. The 2023 Class Warfare Open will offer 7 (not 6) rounds.
          2. The 2-day schedule’s first 4 rounds will be G50 d5. All schedules will merge in Round 5.
          3. Please indicate your preference for receiving your prize by check, PayPal or Zelle using bayareachess.com/prizeform
      • What’s Expected?

        1. Come as you are! We welcome all players regardless of their rating and playing level.
        2. US Chess membership (USCF) is required; if you're not a current member, you must renew/signup with your tournament registration at BayAreaChess.com so we can process and reconcile your entry.
        3. We will use November 2023 Supplement to place players accurately.
        4. Unrated winners: Max $300 (Open) except in the top section
        5. We may adjust round times if needed (but it is unlikely).
        6. Be nice to everyone!