Rising Star Chess
presents the

4th Annual

Rising Star Memorial Day Classic

May 23-25, 2026  Sat, Sun, Mon

Location:

Mesa DoubleTree by Hilton
1011 West Holmes Ave
Mesa, AZ 85210

Format: 6-round Swiss Style tournament

Time Controls:
     3-day Schedule: G/90;+30 for all rounds
     2-day Schedule: G/30;+5 for rounds 1-3, G/90;+30 for rounds 4-6

Four Sections:
     Premier (1800 and Up)
     U1800 (1500-1799)
     U1500 (1200-1499)
     U1200 (1199 and under)
     Players rated 1700-1799 may play up into the Premier Section for an additional $50.
     Players within 100 points of the rating floor of lower sections may play up for an additional $25.

Important:
     • USCF Regular ratings apply for all sections.
     • USCF membership is required (may be purchased or renewed on site)
     • The official published May 2026 USCF Regular ratings will be used for section eligibility, pairings, 
        and prize eligibility. Higher unofficial USCF ratings might be used for playing up, or for other purposes.
     • A maximum of three half-point byes are available. Half-point byes must be requested no later than
       30 minutes before the round starts for rounds 1-3. Any half-point byes for rounds 4-6 must be requested
       before the start of round 3 and may not be cancelled or changed after round 3 starts.
     • Boards, sets, clocks AND pens will be provided for all sections.
     • Special Side Event: Rising Star Memorial Day U800, Saturday, May 23 @ 10:00 am
     • Special Side Event: Rising Star Memorial Day Blitz, Saturday, May 23 @ 7:30 pm

Prizes: $5000 Total Prize Fund (based on 100 paid entries):
       Premier: $1000/$500/$250, 1st U2000: $125, 1st Female: $125
       U1800: $750/$375/$200, 1st U1650: $100, 1st Female: $100
       U1500: $450/$250/$100, 1st U1350: $50, 1st Female: $50
       U1200: $300/$150/$75, 1st U800: $25, 1st Female: $25

Schedule:
     3-Day Rounds: 10:00 am and 3:00 pm  Sat, Sun, & Mon
     2-Day Rounds:
           Sun:  Rd 1  10:00 am, Rd 2 11:30 pm, Rd 3 1:00 pm, Rd 4* 3:00 pm
           Mon: Rd 5  10:00 am, Rd 6   3:00 pm
          *Merges with 3-day Schedule on Sunday in Rd 4 at 3:00 pm

Entry Fees:
     Free entry for any GM/WGM/IM/WIM/FM/WFM
         No prize deduction for FIDE titled players if entered on or before May 9, 2026
         $120 deducted from FIDE titled players' prize winnings if entering after May 9, 2026
     Premier Section: $120 early, $140 late, $150 on site.
     U1800 Section:   $100 early, $120 late, $130 on site.
     U1500 Section:    $80 early,  $100 late, $110 on site.
     U1200 Section:    $60 early,   $80 late,   $90 on site.

Re-entries: 3-day players may re-enter and restart anew in round 1 in the 2-day schedule
on or before 9:15 am on Sunday morning for an additional $40.

Online Registration: Rising Star Memorial Day Classic Registration
Early online registration is available through May 9 for the 3-day or May 10 for the 2-day
Late online registration is available through May 22 for the 3-day or May 23 for the 2-day.
On-site registration is available on or before 9:30 am on Sat, May 23 for 3-day or 9:30 am
on Sun, May 24 for 2-day. After round 1 starts, late on-site registration is still available with
half-point byes for any previous rounds missed.

Hotel:
Mesa DoubleTree by Hilton, 1011 W Holmes Ave, Mesa, AZ  85210
Group Code: TBD
Phone Reservations: (480) 833-5555
Online Reservations:  Group Reservations

Refunds: Refunds may be requested until one hour before the start of Round 1. No refunds will be given after that time. All refunds will incur a 5% processing fee.

Contact: Richard Smouse: Text/Voice: (480) 390-9528; Email: rick_smouse@yahoo.com