A cash prizefund of NZ $30,000 is guaranteed (approximate equivalent Australian $23,300, Euros 17,000, UK £15,100, US $24,800). All prizes are shown here in New Zealand dollars. Prize money will be shared equally between players on the same final score.

1st $7,000
2nd $5,000
3rd $3,000
4th $2,000
5th $1,500
6th $1,400
7th $1,300
8th $1,200
9th $1,100
10th $1000
11th $750
12th $700
13th $600
14th $550
15th $500

Special Prizes

Best Game Prize (sponsored by Grant Kerr): $700. A condition of eligibility for the prize is that the winner agrees to later annotate the game for the tournament organisers to use in publicity.

Grading Prizes: (if there are fewer than 3 players eligible in a category, the prize and category will be combined with a rating group above or below at organizer's discretion):
Best under 2200: $400
Best under 2100: $400
Best under 2000: $400
Best under 1900: $300
Best under 1800: $300
Best under 1700: $300
Best under 1600: $300

Senior Prize (age 55 or over on 15/1/2012): Trophy and book prize

Junior Prizes (must be at least 2 players eligible in a category, or the category and prize will be combined with the age group above or below at organizer's discretion): (age at 1/1/2012):
Best junior U-9 trophy and book prize
Best junior U-11: trophy and book prize.
Best junior U-13: trophy and book prize.
Best junior U-15: trophy and book prize.

Daily Book Prizes (donated by Gambit) To be awarded at the start of each round for meritorious performance the previous day - both on and off the chessboard. So if you haven't played a brilliant game that day, we recommend you impress the judges with a jump off the Nevis Bungy (134 metres).

OFFICIAL NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES

The overall winner of the 2012 Queenstown Chess Classic (of any nationality) will become the 2012 NEW ZEALAND OPEN CHESS CHAMPION
In the event of a tie for first the trophy and title will be awarded on tie-break.

Only currently registered NZCF players are eligible for the following:

The highest-placed eligible New Zealand player(s) will become the official 2012 NEW ZEALAND CLOSED CHESS CHAMPION(S) and will have their name(s) recorded on the coveted Silver Rook trophy. An outright winner will qualify automatically for the 2012 New Zealand Olympiad Team.

The highest-placed eligible New Zealand player(s) rated under 2100 (NZCF rating) will become the official NEW ZEALAND MAJOR OPEN CHAMPION(S)

The highest-placed eligible New Zealand woman player will qualify automatically for the 2012 New Zealand Women's Olympiad Team subject to winning outright (no ties).