80th Ohio Chess Congress
August 29th – August 31st 2025
Cherry Valley Hotel
2299 Cherry Valley Rd SE, Newark, OH
Hotel Rate: $129 per night; Call (740) 788-1200
Ask for the “Chess Rate”‘. Must reserve by August 8th 2025 to guarantee the Chess Rate
Or book online here: 2025 Ohio Congress Chess Tournament Hotel Reservations – Cherry Valley Hotel
$10,200 based 140 paid entries
2 or 3 Day Options: Open (FIDE Rated), U2200, U1900, U1600, U1300
Open Section (FIDE Rated): $1500-800-500-300 (Open prizes guaranteed)
Under 2200: $1000-700-400
Under 1900: $800-500-300
Under 1600: $800-500-300
Under 1300: $800-500-300,
top Under 1000: $200
Entry Fee for all sections: $120 by August 17th, $130 by August 28th, $140 by August 30th and on-site. GM, IM, WGM, WIM free; entry fee will be deducted from the prize.
5 Round Swiss
3-Day Schedule: Registration ends 6:15 PM Friday, August 29th
Time Control for all Rounds: G90+30
| Friday: Round 1 | 7 PM | |
| Saturday: Rounds 2 – 3 | 10 AM | 4 PM |
| Sunday: Rounds 4 – 5 | 10 AM | 4 PM |
2-Day Schedule: Registration ends 9:15 AM Saturday, August 30th
Time Control for Rounds 1-2: G60+10, Rounds 3-5: G90+30
| Saturday: Rounds 1 – 3 | 10 AM | 1 PM | 4 PM |
| Sunday: Rounds 4 – 5 | 10 AM | 4 PM |
Bring sets and clocks, none provided. August official USCF ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings used if otherwise unrated. Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted, if necessary, may be used, if higher than USCF. Notation required in all sections. Only US Chess approved electronic scoresheets allowed.
Unrated Players: Unrated players may win no more than 50% of any prize except in the Open Section. If this happens, the remaining amount of the unrated players’ prize will go to the players in the next score group of the section.
Reentry: $40, not available in Open Section or players in 2-day schedule.
Byes: Half point bye okay, limit 1, must be requested before Round 2 pairings are posted. Discounted entry fee available to players in financial need.
Doubles Prize: $200-100. Best male/female or female/female 2-player “team” combined score among all sections. Must average under 2200; may play in different sections. Register by 5 PM Saturday, August 30th. Prize limits do not apply to Doubles Prize. No additional fee to register.
Contact: Kathy Lin, 614-746-7682, info@columbuschessacademy.org