2nd Morris County Fall Open — Cancelled; Full Refunds Issued
Dear Chess Friends,
It is with real regret that I write to tell you that the 2nd Morris County Fall Open, scheduled for Sunday, October 25, has been cancelled. This was a difficult decision, and I want to explain it plainly, tell you exactly what happens to your entry fee, and let you know what comes next for the New Jersey Chess Club.
Why we cancelled. Eight players had registered. That is not enough to run an open. A tournament needs a critical mass of players to produce what you actually signed up for — sensible pairings across every round, a prize fund worth competing for, and a room with some energy in it. With eight entrants we could not deliver that, and we would rather cancel than hand you a diminished version of the event we advertised. Please know this reflects the size of the field, not the quality of the players in it. The eight of you who entered are exactly the people we most wanted to serve.
Your refund. Everyone who paid an entry fee will receive a full refund — the entire amount, with no processing fees deducted, returned to the card or account used for payment. Refunds will be processed beginning October 22 and should appear within 7–10 business days. You do not need to do anything to claim it. If your refund has not arrived by November 10, please write to us at info@njchess.club and I will personally see that it is resolved.
We are sorry. We know many of you cleared a Sunday for this, and some of you arranged travel, time off, or a weekend away from family to be there. Cancelling four days out does not give that back, and we do not take it lightly. We also know that for players preparing for a specific event, losing the date means losing a target to aim at.
What happens now. NJCC will not host any further tournaments for the remainder of 2026. That was not an easy call either, and I want to be straight with you about it. Our events are run by volunteers, and a tournament that loses money is not a minor problem for a club like ours — it is the whole problem. We could keep filling the calendar and hoping the next field fills, and ask our volunteers to absorb the difference each time. We are choosing not to do that. Instead we are stopping, taking the time to rebuild properly, and coming back with something worth your Sunday.
Beginning in January 2027, we will run one tournament every month — a full twelve-event calendar, published well in advance so that you can plan a year of chess instead of watching for announcements. The first three dates will be announced by December 1, and every 2027 event will carry a guaranteed prize fund.
For the eight who entered. You are the reason this decision was hard, and we do not want to leave you with nothing but an apology. Each of you will receive a complimentary entry to the first NJCC tournament of 2027. There is nothing to fill out and no code to remember — we have your names, and it will be waiting for you.
Thank you. None of our events happen alone. We are grateful to the West Orange Chess Club, the Kenilworth Chess Club, and the many other clubs, organizers, and players who helped promote this tournament and the ones before it. Those efforts did not go unnoticed and they were not wasted — they are the reason we are planning 2027 rather than stepping away.
We wish you the very best at your other tournaments this fall and winter, and we hope to see you back at the board with us in 2027.
With appreciation and apologies,
Vince Alize,
New Jersey Chess Club
P.S. — If you have a moment, reply and tell us what would bring you out in 2027: a faster time control, a lower entry fee, a guaranteed prize fund, or a specific date. We are building that schedule around your answers.
