2025 US Junior Open Championship

Please see all the necessary information below, including the "Terms and Conditions," which explain:

• How to withdraw and receive refunds
• How to update and change your registration information. 
• Do not email us to provide this information. Use the methods described below.

When registering, please include your full address. Prizes may be delayed because the address does not include the apartment or unit number. Without this, mailed prizes are typically returned to us.

2025 US Junior Open Championship

$10,000 Guaranteed 150 Grand Prix Points

 

Playing Site and Room Bookings:

Northbrook Hilton, 2855 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Northbrook, Illinois 60062

https://cavechess.cc/Festival-Tourneys-Hotel

• $145 rate per night for 1-4 people
• Includes breakfast ($22 value) for 1-4 people
• Indoor pool with adults only times
• Exercise center
• Phone: (847) 480-7500
• Arrange room sharing: https://www.cavemanchess.com/forum

 

Registration:  https://www.kingregistration.com/event/USJunior25

 

Eligibility:

Players must be under age 21 as of January 1, 2025 (born after January 1, 2004).

U21 section - Under age 21, born after January 1, 2004

U15 section - Under age 15, born after January 1, 2010

U11 section - Under age 11, born after January 1, 2014

U8 section - Under age 8, born after January 1, 2017

 

Format and Sections: 

* 6 Round Swiss System with 4 sections: (based on age as of 1/1/25): U21, U15, U11, U8. 

* The U21 section is FIDE-rated and US Chess-rated. Other sections are US Chess-rated only. 

* The FIDE-rated sections uses FIDE rules, while the others use US Chess rules.

 

Equipment: Boards, sets, scoresheets and clocks provided by Caveman Chess, LLC.

 

U21 and U15 Entry Fee - Online Only - Do not request discounts after cut-offs:

• $99 through April 27
• $140 through June 1
• $160 through July 20
• $190 through July 25

U11 and U8 Entry Fee - Online Only - Do not request discounts after cut-offs:

• $75 through April 27
• $105 through June 1
• $125 through July 20
• $145 through July 25

 

U21 and U15 Time Control: G/90+30

U11 and U8 Time Control: G/60+d5

U21 and U16 Round times: 

» Friday 7/25: 1:00, 6:00

» Saturday 7/26: 9:00, 2:30

» Sunday 7/27: 8:30, 2:00  

U11 and U8 Round times: 

» Saturday 7/26: 9:00, 12:00, 2:30, 4:30

» Sunday 7/27: 9:00, 12:00  

Sunday's early round times allow for those departing on flights or taking the bus to the US Open to have an easier travel time.

 

Byes

» Two half-point byes available for any round must commit before the end of round 2

 

Prizes: $10,000 unconditionally guaranteed!

• U21 (Open) $2,000; $1,500; $1,000; $500; $500 plus $500 to 2026 U.S. Junior Invitational eligible
  qualified (Must be age-eligible, Must finish 1st or tied for first, tie-breaks used if necessary)
  – U2200: $300-200; U2000: $300-200; U1800: $300-200; U1600: $300-$200; U1400: $300-$200
  – Individual plaques to top ten overall;
  – Plaques for top players aged 18, 17, 16, 15, and under 15.
  – Plaques to the top three school teams (top 3 scores) in the U21 section only.  $500 to the first-place team.
• U15 – 15 trophies/plaques
  – $500 1st
  – Plaques to top 10 overall
  – Plaques for top players aged 14, 13, 12, 11, and under 11.
• U11 – 14 Plaques
  – $300 1st
  – Individual Plaques to top 10 overall
  – Plaques for top players aged 10, 9, 8, and under 8.
• U8 – 13 Plaques
  – $200 – 1st
  – Individual Plaques to top 10 overall;
  – Plaques for top players aged 7, 6, and under 6.

Onsite entries will be done online at the site. Players registering late will possibly receive an automatic ½ bye in round one. 

 

Resources:

* FIDE Laws of Chess: 2023 FIDE Laws of Chess

* Summary FIDE Laws of Chess and US Chess Federation rules differences:  Summary of FIDE-US Chess rules differences 2023

 

Questions

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

Side Events

• Senior/Medior/Quick (7/26 $1k) - click to enter 
• Junior Open Blitz (7/26, $1k) - click to enter

 Other Events

• US Senior Open ($13K) - click to enter
• US Blind Championship ($5K) - click to enter 
• Caveman Medior Open ($10K) - click to enter 
• Caveman Beginner Open 1 (7/26) - click to enter 
• Caveman Beginner Open 2 (7/27) - click to enter 
• Preceded by the Caveman Chess Camp.

 

Summary of Key Terms and Conditions:

This is a summary of essential Terms and Conditions. To see all Terms and Conditions, go to https://www.cavemanchess.com/terms-conditions

Withdrawals: To withdraw from an event, go to https://cavechess.cc/withdraw and fill out the form. Emails will be ignored.

Refunds: Go to the Terms and Conditions link above for the entire policy. Here are important points:

• Processing refunds is secondary to running the event without a hitch
• While we attempt to pay refunds sooner, our policy is to pay within ten business days following the event.
• In our standard refund policy, refunds incur a fee as follows:
  • For registrations $20 and below, a $5 fee
  • For registrations from $20.01 to $60, a $10 fee
  • For registrations above $60, a $15 fee

Registration Corrections and Changes: Please verify the information before submitting the registration. For example, some browsers with persistent "autofill" tools often overwrite a participant's name with the name of the person completing the registration.

1. To make a change/correction, do not email. Go to https://cavechess.cc/change, to process changes.
2. There is a $5 fee for each (set of) changes. 

Prizes: It is important to see all of our terms and conditions for prize payment at Terms and Conditions for Prizes. Key rules include:

• Prizes are paid within 10 business days of the later of the end of the event or the receipt of a W9 [or W-8 if applicable] if one is required (cumulative prizes for the year from Caveman Chess to you are over $600.)
• Prize winners need to provide appropriate information to receive their prizes electronically via our online form.

Photographs/Video: By registering, you agree to allow photographs and video of your image to be posted on our websites or related social media. Titled players and players at least age 13 agree to the use of their full name on our websites or social media along with images. Players under the age of 13 must be registered by their parents or guardians who agree that their names can be used in tournament standings or other listings, their first names may be used in general photos or videos, and their full names may be used in prize photos or videos.

Participants or their legal representatives agree to these terms by registering the player.