2026 Wesley Willows Senior Open
About Wesley Willows
Welcome to Wesley Willows — a vibrant, modern community redefining what senior living can be. Our campus combines innovative brain health and well-being programs, beautiful residences and a full continuum of care that supports every stage of life.
As a not-for-profit community, recognized by "Newsweek" as one of Illinois’ top 10 senior living communities since 2024, Wesley Willows leads with integrity, compassion and a progressive approach to wellness. Here, residents don’t just live — they thrive, surrounded by opportunity, friendship and peace of mind that lasts a lifetime.
Wesley Willows is part of the Wesley Willows family of communities, which includes Wesley Willows, Peterson Meadows and Highview in the Woodlands.
Wesley Willows “Checkmates” Chess Club
The Wesley Willows “Checkmates” Chess club was started by residents of Wesley Willows. They frequently meet lunchtime Mondays & Thursdays for exhibition matches. As of recently, the club has started hosting Chess workshops every 2nd & 4th Saturday of each month & welcomes the community to participate. There is no cost to play or attend.
How to play
The Senior Open takes place at the Castle Town Center at Wesley Willows
4142 Johns Farm rd, Rockford Illinois, 61101
Format
Unrated, 4 rounds, G/20:d2
20 minutes with 2 second delayWhen it becomes your turn, the clock will pause and wait for the designated delay time (e.g., 2 seconds) before your main time starts ticking down.
Schedule
Doors open at 9am
Round one starts at 10am
Elgibility:
Must be 50+ Years of age
Any level of chess skill.
Rules for Players
Do not talk during the game except to say "check," "checkmate," offer a draw, resign, or to get help from the Tournament Director.
It's good sportsmanship to call "check" when you put your opponent in check, you are encouraged to do so.
Before you move, examine the position carefully. “Touch Move” rules are in effect, meaning if you touch a piece and it has a legal move you can make, you must move that piece.
If you think you are hopelessly lost, you may end the game by saying, "I resign."
If there are any disagreements about your game, if your opponent makes a move you don't understand, or if you forget some of the rules, get help from the Tournament Director immediately. If you wait until somebody moves, you lose most of your rights to make a claim.
When you finish a game, report the score of that game to the Tournament Director's designated scorekeeper.
Rules for Spectators
Spectators must be passive and silent while any game is in process.
Spectators should stand or sit well away from the players and make no gestures of recognition; even a nod of the head could be misconstrued as approving a position or a move.
If you need to communicate with a player who is playing, talk to the Tournament Director (or an assistant).
The Tournament Director may do whatever is needed to make each chess game a fair contest, including banning spectators from the playing area.
General Clock Rules
Same-Hand Rule: You must press the clock button with the exact same hand that you used to move your chess piece.
Completing a Move: A move is only completed once you press the clock button, which stops your timer and starts your opponent's.
No Hovering: Do not hover your hand over the clock or rest your finger on the button while waiting for your opponent to move.
If a player's time completely runs out (the "flag falls"), that player loses the game, provided the opponent has enough remaining pieces to legally force a checkmate.
Players may only pause the clock to summon the tournament director to resolve a dispute, register an illegal move, or make a formal claim (such as a threefold repetition). Unauthorized pausing may result in a penalty.