2025 State Championship

We are thrilled to announce that we will be hosting the first in-person State Championship since 2013!

This tournament is only open to Alaska residents, members of the US Military who are stationed in Alaska, and students enrolled in an Alaska college that are present in Alaska. For the rated sections, all participating players must have "AK" selected as their state of residence in their USCF player profile.

Register here: https://chessnut.club/e/2025-alaska-state-chess-championship

Official Event Rules: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iCHlUIV1-kG35SPotxBd2quvv-4SvalM/view?usp=drive_link

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025

Location: The Lakefront Anchorage (4800 Spenard Rd, Anchorage, AK 99517)

Entry fee: $50 through October 3rd, $60 at the door. Pay here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-alaska-state-chess-championship

Note: we are using a new payment platform (Zeffy). This platform gives non-profits 100% of the payment. Processing fees add up! During checkout, the Zeffy platform requests a tip/donation to keep their platform free for non-profits. The ACF does not receive these additional funds and a tip to the platform is not required to participate in the event.

Sections: All sections will be playing G40 time control

1. 1. Open (USCF rated)

   2. Under 1100 (USCF rated)

   3. Non-USCF

Titles

ALASKA STATE CHAMPION

For the title of Alaska State Champion, the player who wins the “OPEN” section with the highest point score for the tournament will be declared the winner. Since the State Champion will be decided by one tournament section, the tie-break process will follow the general process detailed in the “TIE BREAKS” section following.

The “Alaska State Champion” title will be retained for until the following annual Alaska State Championship tournament.

SENIOR STATE CHAMPION:

For the title of Alaska State Senior Champion, the senior player (aged 50+ on or before July 25, 2026) who scores the highest point-value in the “OPEN” section will be declared the winner. The tie-break process will follow a Cumulative of Opposition to decide the winner. If no such designee can be found in the “OPEN” section, the player will be selected from the “U1100” section following the same process.

The Alaska State Senior Champion will then be nominated by the State Chapter to play in the Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions event, for the following year after this State Championship.

The Senior Champion will also be presented with a trophy and a cash award.

WOMEN’S STATE CHAMPION

For the title of Alaska State Women’s Champion, the female player who scores the highest point-value in the “OPEN” section will be declared the winner. The tie-break process will follow a Cumulative of Opposition to decide the winner. If no such designee can be found in the “OPEN” section, the player will be selected from the “U1100” section following the same process.

The Alaska State Women’s Champion title will be retained for until the following annual Alaska State Championship tournament.

This is title is held separately from the scholastic (K-12) female player who may qualify for the Haring National Tournament of Girls State Champions event, which will be decided at the Alaska Scholastic Chess Championship in March.

The Women’s Champion will also be presented with a trophy and a cash award.

Note: The player’s gender registered with US Chess at the start of the event will govern, as per the US Chess Transgender Policy.

Note: no official title will be given to the winner of the U1100 section.

Prizes:

Cash Prize Fund is $2,180 for this event (*based on 100 players total). In addition, trophies will be awarded for the Open & U1100 sections; medals will be awarded for the Non-USCF section.

Open Section - 1st Place $400 + trophy / 2nd Place $300 + trophy / 3rd Place $200 + trophy

U1100 Section - 1st Place $300 + trophy / 2nd Place $200 + trophy / 3rd Place $100 + trophy

Non-USCF - 1st Place $70 + medal / 2nd Place $60 + medal / 3rd Place $50 + medal

Women's Champion: $250 + trophy 

Senior Champion: $250 + trophy 

*Prize funds may be adjust based on actual player turnout. Per US Chess rule 32C4c, a minimum of 50% of each advertised prize must be paid out.

Grand Prix: At the event, the winners of the Alaska Chess Federation 2025 GRAND PRIX will be declared and the award will be presented during the event’s award ceremony. 1st Place $300 / 2nd Place $200 / 3rd Place $150

Hotel discounts

The Lakefront Anchorage Hotel is offering discounted room rates for 10/3 and 10/4. Discounted rates are $145/night plus tax. We have reserved 30 rooms. Please call the hotel to book (907-243-2300) and use code 2510CHESSF. If you have any difficulties, ask to speak to April.

Event Schedule:

Registration and check-in: 8:00 - 8:30 am

Opening announcements: 8:30 - 9:00

Round 1: 9:00 - 10:20

Round 2: 10:35 - 11:55

Lunch: 11:55 - 12:55 pm

Round 3: 12:55 - 2:15

Round 4: 2:30 - 3:50

Round 5: 4:05 - 5:25

Dinner: 5:25 - 6:55

Round 6: 6:55 - 8:15

Closing, awards: 8:15 - 9:15 pm

ALL players MUST be an ACF Member to participate. To become an ACF Member, visit https://www.alaskachessfederation.org/become-a-member

Players in the Open and U1100 sections MUST have an active USCF Membership. Purchase/renew a USCF Membership here: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess. Support the ACF by using our affiliate code: A9162190 when registering with the USCF.