2026 Hart House Holidays Open

Published on by harthousechess

The annual Hart House Holidays Open Chess Tournament is back for another year! We invite you to join us from Friday, December 18th to Sunday, December 20th at Hart House for another edition of our annual flagship event. This event is designed to accommodate all skill levels and is the ideal opportunity to participate in a competitive chess tournament.

Tournament Details

  • WHERE: Great Hall, Hart House, University of Toronto.
  • WHEN: December 18th, 19th, 20th.
  • SCHEDULE:
    • Crown, U2200, U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400: Friday 18th at 6:30pm, Saturday 19th at 10:00am & 4:00pm, Sunday 20th at 10:00am & 4:00pm
  • TIME CONTROL: 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 for all sections.
  • STYLE: 5 Round Swiss split in 6 rating sections – Crown (2200+), Under 2200, Under 2000, Under 1800, Under 1600, Under 1400.
  • RATING: All sections will be CFC-rated. Crown, U2200, U2000, U1800, and U1600 sections will also be FIDE rated. The Crown Section will be paired using FIDE ratings.
  • FORFEIT TIME: Players who do not arrive within 30 minutes of the round start time will be forfeited.
  • BYES: Maximum 2 half-point byes in rounds 1-4 if requested in advance before the start of Round 1. 
  • ORGANIZER: Hart House Chess Club.
  • EMAIL: hhtournaments@gmail.com
  • CAPACITY: 210 players in the Great Hall, 200 spots available for registration. 
  • PRIZES: Exact distribution to be announced. There will be a team prize.

Registration

Online registration for the Open is available until Tuesday, December 15th at 11:59 PM. In-person and telephone registration is available through the Hart House Information Desk during Hart House Hours.

Entry Fees

Open: $80 by December 15th at 11:59 pm and $100 cash-only on-site if space permits.

$35 discount for UofT student members and unrated players (max one discount per player). Unrated players are not eligible for prizes. Free entry for IMs/WIMs/GMs/WGMs if registered by Sunday, November 30th. Please email us at hhtournaments@gmail.com to claim a discount.

Playing up

Players are not allowed to play up, and are required to play in the section respective to their rating.

Other Info

  • HHCC will utilize DGT boards for portions of the Crown section.
  • Registrants must be current CFC members — please visit https://chess.ca/membership-fees for more info
  • Photography: By signing up, you permit HHCC the ability to take and use photos from the tournament on its social media. If you would not like your photo used, please email us.
  • Foreign Ratings: all participants must disclose all foreign ratings at time of registration or via email.
  • Withdrawals: see our Policies.
  • Parking is available at a daily rate; however, it is limited. Be prepared and come early to find parking.
  • Prize Payments: Any prize less than or equal to $100 will be paid via Gift Cards. Direct deposit is required for prizes above $100. All prizes will be payable via direct deposit on request. Please expect 1 week – 3 weeks for payments to be processed.
  • Unrated players should review our New To Tournament Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How do I request a bye?

There is a field for noting byes in the registration form. If you have already registered but did not include a bye request, please email us at hhtournaments@gmail.com with your full name, CFC ID, and the round(s) you would like to request a bye for.

  • How do I avail the unrated player or titled player discount?

Please email us at hhtournaments@gmail.com with your full name and CFC ID. We will provide you with a discount code.

  • I only have a quick/provisional rating. Am I considered unrated?

Players with any sort of rating, whether active, quick, or only provisional, are NOT considered unrated for the purposes of a discount. The unrated discount is targeted specifically at players in their first rated tournament.

For pairings purposes, ratings are picked at arbiters’ discretion.

  • My rating has changed since I registered. What section will I be playing in?

Sections will be assigned based on the latest rating update prior to the tournament. If your rating is over the threshold for the section you registered in, we will automatically move you up.

  • Withdrawals and Refunds

Please email us at hhtournaments@gmail.com AND cc hhchess@studentorg.utoronto.ca to let us know that you will be withdrawing. There is a $10 withdrawal/refund fee, which must be paid in person in cash. Full refunds are available upto 48 hours before tournament start time, 50% refunds are available upto 24 hours before tournament start time. No refunds will be provided if withdrawing within 24 hours of tournament start time, or after.

  • Other Questions

For any other questions, please email us at hhtournaments@gmail.com