Dallas vs San Antonio: City Chess Showdown

$5.00

Two Texas cities. One online battlefield.

The Dallas vs San Antonio City Chess Showdown is a one-time online team tournament designed to bring city pride into competitive chess. Players compete in 100-Elo rating brackets, ensuring fair and competitive matchups at every level.

If multiple players register in the same rating band for a city, a mini double-elimination playoff determines the city’s representatives. Once selected, representatives face the opposing city in a two-game match (one as White, one as Black), with a 5-minute tiebreak if needed.

Each bracket winner earns one month of Chess.com Diamond, sponsored by Chess.com.

Event Details

  • Date: February 21st, 2026

  • Start Time: 12:00 PM CST

  • Entry Fee: $5

  • Platform: Chess.com

  • Time Control: 15|0 (5|0 tiebreak)

  • Format: Double Elimination

  • Eligibility: Self-reported Dallas or San Antonio affiliation

  • Account Requirement: Rated Chess.com account (rating does not need to match registered Elo band)

Streaming

Select matches will be streamed live on:

Additional platforms may be announced.

Registration & Brackets

  • Registration is unlimited until bracket cutoff

  • If a bracket does not fill:

    • Players may be moved up to the nearest populated bracket

    • If no reasonable bracket exists, a refund will be issued

Two Texas cities. One online battlefield.

The Dallas vs San Antonio City Chess Showdown is a one-time online team tournament designed to bring city pride into competitive chess. Players compete in 100-Elo rating brackets, ensuring fair and competitive matchups at every level.

If multiple players register in the same rating band for a city, a mini double-elimination playoff determines the city’s representatives. Once selected, representatives face the opposing city in a two-game match (one as White, one as Black), with a 5-minute tiebreak if needed.

Each bracket winner earns one month of Chess.com Diamond, sponsored by Chess.com.

Event Details

  • Date: February 21st, 2026

  • Start Time: 12:00 PM CST

  • Entry Fee: $5

  • Platform: Chess.com

  • Time Control: 15|0 (5|0 tiebreak)

  • Format: Double Elimination

  • Eligibility: Self-reported Dallas or San Antonio affiliation

  • Account Requirement: Rated Chess.com account (rating does not need to match registered Elo band)

Streaming

Select matches will be streamed live on:

Additional platforms may be announced.

Registration & Brackets

  • Registration is unlimited until bracket cutoff

  • If a bracket does not fill:

    • Players may be moved up to the nearest populated bracket

    • If no reasonable bracket exists, a refund will be issued

How do I choose my Elo bracket?

Players self-select an Elo bracket during registration. Your Chess.com rating does not need to match the bracket you choose. Brackets exist to promote fair and competitive matches across all skill levels.

What happens if my bracket doesn’t fill?

If your Elo bracket has low participation, one of the following will occur:

  • You may be placed into the closest populated bracket above your selected range

  • If no reasonable bracket exists, a full refund will be issued

What if multiple players from my city sign up in the same bracket?

If more than the required number of players from the same city register in one Elo bracket, a mini double-elimination playoff will determine the official city representatives for that bracket.

How many games will I play?

Players can expect 3–6 games, depending on bracket size and progression through the double-elimination format. Additional games may be played during city representative selection.

Is this event rated?

Games will be played on Chess.com using rated accounts. Match rating changes are subject to Chess.com’s rating system and policies.

Who can participate?

  • Players representing Dallas or San Antonio

  • All rating levels welcome

  • Players must have a rated Chess.com account

City affiliation is self-reported and based on player honesty and community integrity.

Do I need to be a club member?

No club membership is required. This event is open to all players who wish to represent their city.

Fair Play Policy

All games must follow Chess.com’s Fair Play rules. Any violations, including engine use or unsportsmanlike behavior, may result in immediate disqualification without refund.

Sportsmanship

Players are expected to conduct themselves respectfully in chat, streams, and community spaces. The tournament organizer reserves the right to remove disruptive participants.

Streaming Consent

By registering, players acknowledge and agree that their games, usernames, and gameplay may be:

  • Streamed live on Twitch

  • Recorded for replay or highlight content

  • Used in future promotional materials by Sixty Four Squares Chess

Streams will primarily appear on:

  • twitch.tv/sixtyfoursquareschess

  • twitch.tv/completechessSA

Prize Details

Each winning city representative will receive:

  • 1 Month of Chess.com Diamond Membership
    (Sponsored by Chess.com)

Prizes will be distributed digitally following the conclusion of the event.

Refunds

Refunds will be issued if:

  • No reasonable Elo bracket is available for placement

  • The event is canceled by the organizer

Refunds will not be issued for:

  • Player no-shows

  • Disqualifications due to fair play violations

  • Voluntary withdrawal after brackets are finalized

How will I receive event info?

Registered players will receive:

  • Bracket assignments

  • Match instructions

  • Stream links (if applicable)

Communication will be sent via:

  • Email used at registration

  • Chess.com messages (when needed)

Players are responsible for being available at the scheduled start time.