TournaChess

Prize Calculation

TournaChess can calculate prize distribution for your tournament sections following USCF rules. If you run rated tournaments with cash prizes, this feature handles the math for you -- splitting tied prizes, enforcing eligibility rules, and producing a clear breakdown that you can use to pay out winners.

This feature is designed for Tournament Directors running USCF-rated events. It supports the most common prize structures used in over-the-board tournaments.

Prize Types

TournaChess supports three types of prizes. You can mix and match them within a section to build the prize structure your tournament needs.

Place prizes

Place prizes are awarded by final standing position. First place goes to the player who finishes first, second place to the player who finishes second, and so on. Every player in the section is eligible for place prizes regardless of rating.

Class prizes

Class prizes are restricted to players within a specific USCF rating class. Only players whose pre-tournament rating falls within the class boundaries can win that prize. The standard USCF rating classes are:

ClassRating Range
Master2200 and above
Expert2000 -- 2199
Class A1800 -- 1999
Class B1600 -- 1799
Class C1400 -- 1599
Class D1200 -- 1399
Class EUnder 1200

A player rated 1800 is Class A (the boundary belongs to the higher class). A player rated 1799 is Class B.

Under prizes

Under prizes are open to all players rated below a specified threshold. For example, an "Under 1800" prize is available to any player with a pre-tournament rating strictly less than 1800. A player rated exactly 1800 is not eligible for an Under 1800 prize.

Class vs. Under -- what's the difference?

A class prize targets a single rating band. A "Class B" prize can only be won by a player rated 1600--1799. A player rated 1500 cannot win a Class B prize -- they are Class C.

An under prize targets everyone below a threshold. An "Under 1800" prize is available to players rated 1799 and below, including Class B, Class C, Class D, and Class E players. Under prizes cast a wider net.

Most tournament prize structures use one approach or the other. Some use both -- for example, place prizes plus an "Under 1800" prize and a separate "Class E" prize.

How Ties Are Handled

When multiple players tie for positions that span one or more prizes, TournaChess pools the prize money and splits it equally among the tied players. This follows USCF Rule 32B (pool sharing).

Example: two players tied for 1st/2nd

Your section offers $200 for 1st and $100 for 2nd. Two players finish with the same score at the top. The 1st and 2nd place prizes are pooled: $200 + $100 = $300, split two ways. Each player receives $150.

Example: three players tied for 3rd

Your section offers $75 for 3rd place. Three players are tied for 3rd. The $75 prize is split three ways. Each player receives $25.

Rounding

When a prize amount does not divide evenly, TournaChess rounds up so that every player in the split receives the same amount. For example, $100 split three ways pays $33.34 to each player. This may result in the total paid exceeding the original prize fund by a few cents.

Separation

In some situations, a subset of tied players is eligible for a restricted prize (class or under) that would pay them more per person than the pooled share. USCF rules require that this prize be separated from the pool and distributed only to the eligible subset, while the remaining pool is shared among the rest of the group. TournaChess handles this automatically.

Tip: You do not need to think about separation logic yourself. Configure your prizes, and the calculator applies the correct USCF rules.

Eligibility Rules

The calculator applies the following rules to determine who can win each prize:

  • Pre-tournament rating determines eligibility. The rating a player had before the tournament started is used for all class and under prize calculations, not their performance during the event.
  • Unrated players are eligible for place prizes only. Players without an established USCF rating cannot win class or under prizes.
  • Withdrawn players are ineligible. Players who withdrew from the tournament before it ended do not receive any prizes.
  • Boundary ratings belong to the higher class. A player rated exactly 1800 is Class A, not Class B. A player rated exactly 2000 is Expert, not Class A.
  • Under thresholds are strict less-than. A player rated exactly 1800 is not eligible for an Under 1800 prize. Only players rated 1799 and below qualify.

How to Use

Configuring prizes

  1. Open your tournament's management page and navigate to the section you want to configure.
  2. Click the Prizes tab in the section settings.
  3. Add prizes by specifying the type (Place, Class, or Under), the amount, and any type-specific details (place number, class code, or rating threshold).
  4. Add as many prizes as your tournament structure requires. They are processed in the order you define them.

Calculating distribution

  1. After the final round, go to the Standings tab on the tournament management page.
  2. Open the Prize Distribution panel.
  3. Click Calculate to run the distribution algorithm.
  4. Review the results. The calculator shows each player's award amount and a description of how it was determined (for example, "1st/2nd Place split 2 ways" or "Class B").

Who can see prize results

Prize distribution results are visible to Tournament Directors only. They do not appear on the public tournament page. You are responsible for communicating prize amounts to your players and handling payouts.

What's Not Currently Supported

TournaChess covers the most common prize structures, but a few less common formats are not yet automated:

  • Based-on prizes -- Prizes where eligibility is based on a rating other than the player's own (for example, "based on highest game"). You can calculate these manually and enter them as custom awards.
  • Non-monetary prizes -- Trophies, merchandise, or other non-cash awards are not tracked by the calculator.
  • Special prizes -- Awards for biggest upset, best game, sportsmanship, or other subjective criteria.
  • Points-based prizes -- Prize structures based on cumulative points across multiple events rather than a single tournament.

If your tournament uses any of these, you can still use TournaChess for the standard prizes and handle the exceptions manually.

USCF Rule References

The prize calculation feature follows the relevant sections of the USCF Official Rules of Chess:

  • Rule 32A -- General prize distribution principles
  • Rule 32B -- Pool sharing for tied players (32B1 through 32B5)
  • Rule 32C -- Class prize distribution and separation
  • Rule 33C -- Rating class definitions and boundaries
  • Rule 33F -- Under prize eligibility

For the full text of these rules, consult the current edition of the US Chess Federation's Official Rules of Chess.