The The Right Move – Riverbank State Park – May 2027 chess tournament will take place on Sunday, May 2, 2027, at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park in Manhattan, New York City. Organized by The Right Move Chess Foundation, this free, US Chess-rated competition gives young players an opportunity to develop their tournament skills, build official ratings, and compete for trophies, medals, and team recognition.

The tournament features four Swiss-system rounds with a time control of G/25; d5, giving each player 25 minutes with a five-second delay per move. Competitors are divided into rating-based sections, while the AWE section also welcomes adults. In addition, the organizers provide individual awards based on section participation, medals for players scoring at least 2.5 points, and certificates recognizing successful school teams. Tournament entry is completely free, although every participant must hold a valid US Chess membership.

The event belongs to The Right Move’s longstanding “Free Chess for Youth” program, established in 1990. Through its partnership with New York State Parks, the foundation helps make competitive chess accessible to students and families throughout New York City. The tournament’s location at Riverbank State Park also offers a distinctive experience, with recreational facilities and views of the Hudson River. Consequently, the event combines rated chess, youth development, and community participation within a convenient one-day schedule.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses a four-round Swiss-system format, with players paired against opponents in their assigned sections. Each round contributes toward the participant’s final tournament score and US Chess rating.

All sections follow the same published time control:

The time control G/25; d5 means each player begins with 25 minutes and receives a five-second delay before the clock deducts thinking time on each move.

Importantly, this is a delay rather than a Fischer increment. Unused delay time does not accumulate on the player’s clock.

Pairing and Section Rules

Players compete within the organizer’s designated sections. However, the tournament director may approve a request to play in a stronger section.

Sections with fewer than six registered participants by Friday at 6:00 PM may be combined. Therefore, the final section arrangement will depend on registration numbers.

The tournament director has discretion over section placement and requests to play above a player’s normal rating category.

🏆 Prize Fund

The The Right Move – Riverbank State Park – May 2027 awards trophies, medals, and team certificates rather than cash prizes.

Individual trophy awards depend on the number of participants in each section. This approach recognizes achievement across different rating categories while maintaining the event’s free-entry structure.

Individual Trophies

The organizer determines trophy allocations according to the published participation thresholds.

Individual Medals

Players earning 2.5 points or more from their four games qualify for a medal.

This award system encourages competitors to pursue strong individual results even when they do not finish among the highest-ranked players in their section.

Best Team Certificates

The tournament also recognizes school-team performance.

The Best Team Certificate is awarded according to the combined results of a team’s four highest-scoring players in each section.

Consequently, schools with several participating students have an opportunity to compete for collective recognition alongside individual awards.

The competition encourages cooperation among school teammates while allowing every participant to pursue personal rating improvement.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The organizer advertises seven playing sections for the May event. Its current event-specific descriptions identify the following six divisions.

AWE — Adults Welcome

The AWE section allows adults to participate in a tournament primarily designed around youth chess.

It may include both adult and younger competitors. Therefore, it provides a rated playing opportunity for families and players who do not fall within the standard scholastic categories.

King — Advanced Players

The King section is intended for stronger competitors with a US Chess rating above 1300.

Players in this division can expect challenging games against relatively experienced opponents. Additionally, the section offers ambitious scholastic players an opportunity to test their skills at a higher competitive level.

Queen — Intermediate Players

The Queen section covers the published 900–1299 rating range.

It provides an environment for players who have developed tournament experience and wish to continue improving against opponents of comparable strength.

Rook — Developing Competitors

The Rook section is designated for players rated 500–899.

This division offers developing club and scholastic players an opportunity to strengthen their practical play, improve time management, and gain experience in rated competition.

Knight — Emerging Players

The Knight section accommodates players rated below 500.

It provides a suitable setting for less experienced competitors who are beginning to build their tournament records. Players can gain familiarity with timed games, tournament procedures, and competitive decision-making.

Pawn — Young Beginners

The Pawn section is reserved for children in Grade 3 or below who have a US Chess rating under 300.

This division helps younger participants gain their first competitive experiences against other children in an age-appropriate playing environment.

Unrated Players

The Right Move welcomes new tournament competitors, including players who do not yet have an established US Chess rating.

When registering, new players should identify themselves as unrated and follow the organizer’s section-placement instructions.

Final eligibility decisions and section assignments remain subject to tournament director approval.

📅 Schedule

The tournament takes place on Sunday, May 2, 2027, with four rounds scheduled throughout the day.

All times are local Eastern Daylight Time (EDT, UTC−4).

Sunday, May 2, 2027

All sections follow the same scheduled round times.

Players must check in before 9:30 AM, even if they have already completed online registration. Participants who miss the check-in deadline may not be included in the first-round pairings.

The first round starts promptly at 10:00 AM. Moreover, competitors should remain attentive to posted pairings and announcements throughout the day.

The organizer schedules the awards ceremony for 3:30 PM, following the conclusion of the final round.

📝 Registration

Tournament entry is FREE. However, advance registration and a valid US Chess membership are required.

Registration for the May 2, 2027, event is scheduled to open on April 19, 2027.

Registration Details

How to Register

Official Registration Website:

https://chesstrm.org/NYC/

Registration Instructions:

https://chesstrm.org/NYC/tournaments-2/register-for-a-tournament/

Visit the organizer’s website and select “Register Here” when registration for the May tournament becomes available.

Players should provide their full name, US Chess membership identification number, and requested playing section. New players should follow the organizer’s instructions for participants without an existing US Chess ID.

After submitting the registration, participants should check the published preregistration list to confirm that their information has been recorded correctly.

US Chess Membership Requirements

Every tournament participant must hold an active US Chess membership.

Scholastic players aged 19 or younger may join or renew their membership on-site for $12, covering one year.

Players with a valid existing membership do not need to purchase another membership for the tournament.

Important: Credit cards are not accepted for the organizer’s on-site membership payments.

Registration Capacity

The organizer’s general registration guidance identifies a 180-player limit at the Riverbank venue.

Because participation is limited, interested players should register promptly after entries open. The organizer may close registration when the available places have been filled.

The website’s registration list should be checked carefully before tournament day.

👤 Organizer

Organizer Name: The Right Move Chess Foundation

Contact Person: Hector Rodriguez – President

Email: therightmovetd@gmail.com

Website: https://chesstrm.org/NYC/

The Right Move Chess Foundation is a nonprofit chess organization that provides free tournament opportunities for young people in New York City.

Founded in 1990, the organization’s chess program has developed a longstanding tradition of scholastic competition. It works with New York State Parks to organize regular rated tournaments at accessible community venues.

The foundation’s activities emphasize chess education, tournament experience, sportsmanship, and participation. Its free-entry model also reduces financial barriers for families who want their children to compete.

Hector Rodriguez serves as president and is a published contact for tournament information, corrections, and questions.

📍 Venue

Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park – Theater/Auditorium (Smith Auditorium), 679 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10031, United States.

The tournament takes place at Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park, a public recreational and cultural complex overlooking the Hudson River in Upper Manhattan.

The park is located near West 145th Street and Riverside Drive, making it accessible from several neighborhoods and public transportation routes.

Originally known as Riverbank State Park, the facility was renamed in honor of New York State Assemblyman Herman “Denny” Farrell in 2017.

The park occupies a distinctive elevated location beside the Hudson River. In addition to its recreational areas, it includes cultural and community facilities that accommodate activities such as chess competitions.

Tournament Playing Area

The Right Move identifies the park’s Theater/Auditorium, also described in its venue information as Smith Auditorium, as the location for its Riverbank chess tournaments.

Players and accompanying family members should proceed to the designated tournament check-in area after entering the park.

The playing section, pairings, and board assignments will be communicated through the tournament’s on-site arrangements.

Official Park Information:

https://parks.ny.gov/parks/riverbank/

Facilities and Accessibility

Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park contains cultural, sports, and recreational facilities.

Families accompanying participants may explore the park’s public areas when appropriate. However, players should allow sufficient time to return for their scheduled rounds.

Visitors requiring step-free access or specific assistance should confirm the current entrance and elevator arrangements with park staff before traveling.

🚆 How to Get There

Denny Farrell Riverbank State Park is situated in Upper Manhattan, close to West 145th Street and Riverside Drive.

Public transportation is generally a convenient option for visitors traveling from other parts of New York City.

🚇 By Subway

The 145th Street station on the 1 subway line, located at Broadway and West 145th Street, provides a convenient connection to Riverbank State Park.

From the station, visitors can walk west along West 145th Street toward Riverside Drive and the park entrance.

Additional subway connections are available through the 145th Street stations served by the A, B, C, and D lines. These stations are farther east, so additional walking time should be allowed.

MTA Subway Information:

https://new.mta.info/

🚌 By Bus

The park operator identifies the following bus services as useful public transportation options:

Both services provide access to Riverbank State Park.

Because the tournament begins on Sunday morning, players should check current weekend schedules and service updates before departure.

✈️ By Air

LaGuardia Airport (LGA) is a practical airport for domestic travelers visiting Manhattan.

International participants may also consider John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) or Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

All three airports provide onward transportation connections to Manhattan. However, players arriving on tournament day should allow sufficient time for airport transfers and the morning check-in deadline.

🚗 By Car and Parking

The park is accessible from the surrounding Upper Manhattan road network, including Riverside Drive and West 145th Street.

Public parking is not available at the upper park level. The park operator identifies parking facilities at the lower level and advises visitors to obtain directions at the West 145th Street entrance.

Drivers should confirm parking availability and applicable charges before traveling.

ℹ️ Other Information

♟️ Tournament Check-in and Pairings

Preregistered players must still complete their on-site attendance confirmation before 9:30 AM.

After checking in, players should locate their section’s pairing information and designated playing area. Pairings are generally displayed shortly before each round.

Competitors should verify their board number, assigned color, and opponent before beginning each game.

Once a game finishes, players should ensure that the result is recorded correctly. They should then reset the pieces and leave the playing area without disturbing games still in progress.

📱 Playing Rules and Fair Play

Participants must follow the tournament director’s instructions and the applicable US Chess tournament rules.

The organizer’s published guidance emphasizes proper chess etiquette, including the touch-move rule and respectful conduct.

If a dispute occurs, players should stop their clocks and request assistance from a tournament director.

Mobile phones and other electronic devices may not be used during play without permission from a director.

Additionally, bullying, disruptive conduct, and inappropriate behavior are not acceptable during the event.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Chess Opportunities for Families

The Right Move’s tournament program supports youth participation while also encouraging families and schools to become involved in competitive chess.

The presence of different rating categories allows children at various stages of development to participate. Meanwhile, the AWE section provides a playing opportunity that also welcomes adults.

The tournament offers a particularly useful experience for developing players who want to gain official ratings, understand tournament procedures, and build confidence through over-the-board competition.

🏅 Supporting Scholastic Chess

One of the organization’s defining features is its commitment to free chess tournaments for young people.

Participants can pursue individual awards, improve their ratings, and contribute to school-team achievements without paying a tournament entry fee.

This approach helps strengthen the local scholastic chess community and encourages ongoing participation.

Official Tournament Information:

https://chesstrm.org/NYC/

Registration Instructions:

https://chesstrm.org/NYC/tournaments-2/register-for-a-tournament/