The 2025 SPICE Cup will take place November 20–25 in Bellevue, Washington, bringing together a competitive field of titled players in a single Swiss-section event. The tournament uses a 90+30 time control and is open only to players rated at least 2000 FIDE or 2200 USCF. November 2025 FIDE ratings will be used for pairings and prize eligibility.
Prize Fund and Special Awards
A total of $12,100 in prizes will be awarded:
- Overall: $5,000 – $3,000 – $2,000
- Top U2450: $500, $250
- Top U2300: $500, $250
Special prizes, which can be won in addition to place prizes, include:
- Top Female: $500
- Top Senior (50+): $500
- Brilliancy Prize: $100
Early Start List Features Multiple Grandmasters
As of November 16, the top seeds include several international Grandmasters:
- GM Jianchao Zhou (USA) – 2591
- GM Illya Nyzhnyk (UKR) – 2544
- GM Fidel Corrales Jimenez (USA) – 2519
- GM Vladimir Belous (RUS) – 2495
- IM Josiah Stearman (USA) – 2477
- GM Denes Boros (HUN) – 2391
- IM Gabriel Bick (USA) – 2370
- FM Tymur Keleberda (CAN) – 2370
- IM Michael Lee (USA) – 2319
- FM Aziz Degenbaev (KGZ) – 2302
Last year’s edition was won by GM Viktor Gazik with 7/9, ahead of GM Illya Nyzhnyk on tiebreaks. Rising talents such as FM Grayson Rorrer, IM Ryo Chen and IM Evan Park also made notable finishes, showing the event’s mix of elite and ambitious young players.
Schedule
- Nov 19: Arrival & Check-in (3:00–4:30 PM), Rd 1 – 5:00 PM
- Nov 20: Rd 2 – 10:00 AM, Rd 3 – 4:00 PM
- Nov 21: Rd 4 – 10:00 AM, Rd 5 – 4:00 PM
- Nov 22: Rd 6 – 11:00 AM
- Nov 22: SPICE Cup Blitz Championship (9SS, G/3+2) – 7:00 PM
- Nov 23: Rd 7 – 11:00 AM, Rd 8 – 5:00 PM
- Nov 24: SPICE Cup Rapid Championship (5SS, G/15+5) – 10:00 AM
- Nov 24: Rd 9 – 4:00 PM, Closing Ceremony – 8:00 PM or ASAP
Players may request up to two half-point byes in rounds 1–7 if submitted before the event begins. Zero-point byes are allowed for any round.
Registration
Players can register online at the Northwest Chess website or submit a form with payment to the Washington Chess Federation office in Redmond, WA. Space is limited, and registration closes once capacity is reached or by November 18 at 12:00 PM PT.
For more information, participants can contact WCF President Josh Sinanan at WashingtonChessFederation@gmail.com or 206-769-3757.
I’m the senior editor of Attacking Chess, a keen chess player, rated above 2300 in chess.com. You can challenge me or asking questions at Chess.com.
