Texas Norm Super Swiss
Join us in Houston, TX this October for a 6-day, high-stakes Super Swiss tournament designed to maximize your chances of earning FIDE title norms.
Since FIDE's 2022 regulation change (Handbook Article 1.5.6), earning norms through Swiss events now requires at least one norm earned at a Swiss containing 40 players with an average rating of 2000 or higher. These conditions are difficult to meet—and even harder to find. Furthermore, one GM norm will require an event with three or more single-round days—and those are even harder to find.
In the U.S., since this update, only a handful of unconfirmed IM and GM norms have come from Swiss tournaments, primarily from small, focused events like those organized by 1000GM or the Charlotte Chess Center—not from major open tournaments.
Texas Chess Center and The Chess Refinery have partnered to co-organize a truly rare Norm tournament in Texas!
Event Details
Dates: Wednesday, October 8 – Monday, October 13, 2025
Location: TCC-Bellaire | 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH, Houston, TX 77025
Field: Limited to 48 players (must be rated FIDE 2000+. USCF 2200+ welcome to inquire even if not FIDE 2000).
To Apply: Email normswiss@gmail.com with your FIDE ID
Schedule (9 Rounds)
Wednesday: Round 1 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: Round 2 – 7:00 PM
Friday: Round 3 – 10:00 AM | Round 4 – 5:15 PM
Saturday: Round 5 – 10:00 AM | Round 6 – 5:15 PM
Sunday: Round 7 – 10:00 AM | Round 8 – 5:15 PM
Monday: Round 9 – 10:00 AM
Grandmasters play for free. A limited number of foreign-federation GMs will be provided with a complimentary hotel room—double occupancy with another GM, please inquire. ($300 deducted from prize for USA GMs, NO deduction for foreign GMs.)
Out of state players please inquire about chauffeur service.
Prizes: $10,000 based on 48 entries (1st and 2nd places guaranteed):
1st: $3000 GUARANTEED
2nd: $2000 GUARANTEED
3rd-7th based on 48 players:
3rd: $1600
4th: $1300
5th: $1100
6th: $700
7th: $300
Price of $865 includes a convenience fee; for direct payments by Zelle ($20 less, for $845 total), email normswiss@gmail.com.
Entry List
Join us in Houston, TX this October for a 6-day, high-stakes Super Swiss tournament designed to maximize your chances of earning FIDE title norms.
Since FIDE's 2022 regulation change (Handbook Article 1.5.6), earning norms through Swiss events now requires at least one norm earned at a Swiss containing 40 players with an average rating of 2000 or higher. These conditions are difficult to meet—and even harder to find. Furthermore, one GM norm will require an event with three or more single-round days—and those are even harder to find.
In the U.S., since this update, only a handful of unconfirmed IM and GM norms have come from Swiss tournaments, primarily from small, focused events like those organized by 1000GM or the Charlotte Chess Center—not from major open tournaments.
Texas Chess Center and The Chess Refinery have partnered to co-organize a truly rare Norm tournament in Texas!
Event Details
Dates: Wednesday, October 8 – Monday, October 13, 2025
Location: TCC-Bellaire | 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH, Houston, TX 77025
Field: Limited to 48 players (must be rated FIDE 2000+. USCF 2200+ welcome to inquire even if not FIDE 2000).
To Apply: Email normswiss@gmail.com with your FIDE ID
Schedule (9 Rounds)
Wednesday: Round 1 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: Round 2 – 7:00 PM
Friday: Round 3 – 10:00 AM | Round 4 – 5:15 PM
Saturday: Round 5 – 10:00 AM | Round 6 – 5:15 PM
Sunday: Round 7 – 10:00 AM | Round 8 – 5:15 PM
Monday: Round 9 – 10:00 AM
Grandmasters play for free. A limited number of foreign-federation GMs will be provided with a complimentary hotel room—double occupancy with another GM, please inquire. ($300 deducted from prize for USA GMs, NO deduction for foreign GMs.)
Out of state players please inquire about chauffeur service.
Prizes: $10,000 based on 48 entries (1st and 2nd places guaranteed):
1st: $3000 GUARANTEED
2nd: $2000 GUARANTEED
3rd-7th based on 48 players:
3rd: $1600
4th: $1300
5th: $1100
6th: $700
7th: $300
Price of $865 includes a convenience fee; for direct payments by Zelle ($20 less, for $845 total), email normswiss@gmail.com.
Entry List
Join us in Houston, TX this October for a 6-day, high-stakes Super Swiss tournament designed to maximize your chances of earning FIDE title norms.
Since FIDE's 2022 regulation change (Handbook Article 1.5.6), earning norms through Swiss events now requires at least one norm earned at a Swiss containing 40 players with an average rating of 2000 or higher. These conditions are difficult to meet—and even harder to find. Furthermore, one GM norm will require an event with three or more single-round days—and those are even harder to find.
In the U.S., since this update, only a handful of unconfirmed IM and GM norms have come from Swiss tournaments, primarily from small, focused events like those organized by 1000GM or the Charlotte Chess Center—not from major open tournaments.
Texas Chess Center and The Chess Refinery have partnered to co-organize a truly rare Norm tournament in Texas!
Event Details
Dates: Wednesday, October 8 – Monday, October 13, 2025
Location: TCC-Bellaire | 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH, Houston, TX 77025
Field: Limited to 48 players (must be rated FIDE 2000+. USCF 2200+ welcome to inquire even if not FIDE 2000).
To Apply: Email normswiss@gmail.com with your FIDE ID
Schedule (9 Rounds)
Wednesday: Round 1 – 7:00 PM
Thursday: Round 2 – 7:00 PM
Friday: Round 3 – 10:00 AM | Round 4 – 5:15 PM
Saturday: Round 5 – 10:00 AM | Round 6 – 5:15 PM
Sunday: Round 7 – 10:00 AM | Round 8 – 5:15 PM
Monday: Round 9 – 10:00 AM
Grandmasters play for free. A limited number of foreign-federation GMs will be provided with a complimentary hotel room—double occupancy with another GM, please inquire. ($300 deducted from prize for USA GMs, NO deduction for foreign GMs.)
Out of state players please inquire about chauffeur service.
Prizes: $10,000 based on 48 entries (1st and 2nd places guaranteed):
1st: $3000 GUARANTEED
2nd: $2000 GUARANTEED
3rd-7th based on 48 players:
3rd: $1600
4th: $1300
5th: $1100
6th: $700
7th: $300
Price of $865 includes a convenience fee; for direct payments by Zelle ($20 less, for $845 total), email normswiss@gmail.com.
Entry List
Refund Policy:
Withdrawal requests before 11:59 PM on September 30, 2025 incur a $100 cancellation fee.
No refunds will be issued for withdrawals submitted after that deadline.
Withdrawal Conduct & Forfeit Policy:
No-shows or forfeits without prior notice will result in a ban from future norm tournaments organized by The Chess Refinery and Texas Chess Center.