5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess
5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess takes place on April 11, 2026 in Davis, California, United States and brings a full day of competitive US Chess rated classical chess to the UC Davis Conference Center. The tournament uses a 30 minutes + 10 seconds increment time control and runs over five rounds, so it offers a serious but practical format for players who want one-day tournament play. In addition, the event forms part of the wider Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival and welcomes a broad field across five sections.
The 5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess also stands out for its large confirmed cash prize fund, clear section structure, and strong weekend setting in Davis, California. Moreover, the organizer schedules check-in from the morning, includes a lunch break, and finishes with an awards ceremony the same day. Because the event features rating-based and scholastic sections, the 5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess suits experienced competitors, developing players, and young participants alike.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | April 11, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Davis, California, United States |
| ♟️ Format | One-day classical chess tournament |
| 📂 Sections | Master/Expert 2000+, 1500-1999, 1000-1499, U1000/Unrated, Elementary |
| ⏱️ Time control | 30 minutes + 10 seconds increment |
| 💳 Entry fee | Master/Expert 2000+: USD 40; 1500-1999: USD 40; 1000-1499: USD 40; U1000/Unrated: USD 20; Elementary: USD 15; USD 15 more after the advance deadline |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 2,560 |
| 👤 Eligibility | Open to players in the published rating and scholastic sections; US Chess membership required for tournament play |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Players may play up one section if their rating is within 200 points of the higher section cutoff. |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Master/Expert 2000+ – 1st place | USD 500 |
| Master/Expert 2000+ – 2nd place | USD 300 |
| Master/Expert 2000+ – 3rd place | USD 200 |
| Master/Expert 2000+ – 4th place | USD 150 |
| Master/Expert 2000+ – 5th place | USD 100 |
The organizer confirms a total cash prize fund of USD 2,560 for the event. In addition, the published event overview confirms the top five prizes in the Master/Expert section.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The 5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess uses a 30 minutes + 10 seconds increment time control and runs over five rounds. Moreover, the event follows a one-day schedule from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The published overview does not confirm the pairing system, tie-break system, default time, byes policy, or acceleration method.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Master/Expert 2000+ | Players rated 2000 and above | Top section |
| 1500-1999 | Players rated 1500 to 1999 | Rating-based section |
| 1000-1499 | Players rated 1000 to 1499 | Rating-based section |
| U1000/Unrated | Players under 1000 or unrated | Entry-level section |
| Elementary | Grades K-6 only | Scholastic section |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 11, 2026 | Saturday | 08:30 | Check-in |
| April 11, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00 | Round 1 begins |
| April 11, 2026 | Saturday | 12:00-13:00 | Lunch break |
| April 11, 2026 | Saturday | 17:30 | Awards ceremony |
| April 11, 2026 | Saturday | 18:00 | Event day ends |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Register online through the official organizer platform |
| Entry fee details | Master/Expert 2000+: USD 40; 1500-1999: USD 40; 1000-1499: USD 40; U1000/Unrated: USD 20; Elementary: USD 15 |
| Deadlines | Advance pricing applies before the late registration surcharge; online registration closes at 12:00 PM on the registration closing day |
| Membership requirement | US Chess membership required for tournament play |
👥 Organizer
Sosnick Chess and Davis Chess Club organize the 5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess in Davis, California. In addition, the organizer publishes direct contact details, a clear section structure, and practical registration guidance for players who want to join this one-day classical chess tournament.
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Email: michael@fpawn.com
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Website: https://sosnickchess.com/
🏨 Venue
UC Davis Conference Center, 550 Alumni Lane, Davis, CA 95616, United States
The UC Davis Conference Center hosts the tournament in Davis and gives the event a clear university venue in Northern California. Moreover, the published location details make arrival straightforward for local players and visitors. Because the full schedule runs in one place, players can manage check-in, games, breaks, and the awards ceremony more easily.
🚗 How to Get There
Players should travel directly to the UC Davis Conference Center at 550 Alumni Lane in Davis, California. In addition, the venue sits on the UC Davis campus, so players should allow extra time for campus access and parking. Therefore, an early arrival will help participants complete check-in before the first round starts at 9:00 AM.
The 5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess offers a strong one-day classical chess format, a substantial cash prize fund, and a well-structured tournament setting in Davis for players who want serious weekend competition.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $2,560
Organizer
Sosnick Chess is a Davis-area chess organizer that runs the annual Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival in California. Based around the UC Davis chess community, the organization honors Stephen Sosnick’s legacy by promoting inclusive and competitive chess. Moreover, it operates as a mission-driven tournament organizer with a clear focus on accessible, high-quality events.
The organization hosts a multi-day chess festival that includes lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, and rated tournament play. In addition, it runs rapid chess and classical chess events for players of different ages and strengths. The 5th Stephen Sosnick Memorial Chess Festival Saturday Action Chess is part of this same festival structure and reflects the group’s established role in delivering a strong local open chess tournament program.
Beyond that, Sosnick Chess presents chess as both a community activity and a competitive pathway. Furthermore, its events bring together club players, students, and visiting competitors in a welcoming setting at UC Davis. As a result, the organization has become a recognizable name for USCF-rated tournament activity in the Davis chess scene.
