Survey Results from the 12th Annual Washington International
Near the end of the 2025 Washington International we distributed a survey to the players. There were two versions one for the Championship and one for the Premier and Contenders. We asked them to list what they like about the tournament and what they did not like and what they would want to change. Below are the results.
| Number of mentions | Subject | |
| 8 | Equipment provided | |
| 7 | Strong Players | |
| 7 | Food (breakfast/snacks) provided | |
| 5 | Advanced pairings | |
| 5 | Venue | |
| 4 | Playing conditions | |
| 4 | Consistent round start times | |
| 3 | Wood chess pieces | |
| 3 | Everything | |
| 3 | large number of boards broadcasted | |
| 2 | Well Organized | |
| 2 | Round starts at 11am | |
| 2 | Prizes | |
| 1 | Best tournament in the US | |
| 1 | Players from non-US Countries/ | |
| 1 | Start on Saturday | |
| 1 | Enchanting Ambiance | |
| 1 | Pairings texted | |
| Number of mentions | Subject |
| 2 | 15 min delay in broadcast |
| 2 | Want Free Pens, not regular pens, the branded one |
| 1 | email pairings reliablity needs improvement |
| 1 | Entrance Fee too high |
| 1 | Pairings arrive too slowly, (50 min. before the round) |
| 1 | 2 round per day |
| 1 | Move to NY or South |
| 1 | Breakfast on even or odd days |
| 1 | AC too cold |
| 1 | Rounds need to be earlier 5pm is too late for old people 9 and 3 would be much better |
| 1 | 30 min. forfeit time |
| 1 | Rating limit 2100+ |
| 1 | Premeier 1800 - <2400 |
| 1 | lower EF for non-US |
| 1 | start later 1pm and 7pm |
| 1 | larger gap between rounds |
| 1 | More Prize money |
| 1 | Blitz Tournament |
| Number of mentions | Subject |
| 28 | Equipment Provided |
| 13 | Strong Players |
| 12 | Early Pairings |
| 10 | Venue |
| 9 | Breafast/food/snacks |
| 9 | Well Organized |
| 9 | Round timings |
| 8 | Time control |
| 4 | Environment |
| 4 | Rounds on time |
| 4 | Food/Wegmans nearby |
| 3 | Sections structure |
| 3 | Playing conditions |
| 3 | Prizes |
| 2 | Free custom pens |
| 2 | Schedule |
| 2 | Nine rounds |
| 1 | Tough |
| 1 | Time between rounds |
| 1 | Best tournament area?? |
| 1 | MCA leads the way |
| 1 | Email pairings |
| 1 | Sportmanship |
| 1 | Early email |
| 1 | Communication |
| 1 | Players |
| 1 | Everything was FIDE |
| 1 | Number of games |
| 1 | Diversity of players |
| 1 | GM/IM condtions |
| 1 | DGT boards |
| 1 | Enough space |
| 1 | Cell phone lockers |
| 1 | Temperature |
| 1 | Timing of pre-event email |
| 1 | half point byes don't affect results as much |
| 1 | Everything |
| 1 | Lots of skittles roos |
| 1 | Comfortable seats |
| 1 | Table space |
| 1 | Metro nearby |
| 1 | Incredible playing experience |
| 1 | Lighting is bright |
| 1 | Quiet |
| 1 | Text pairings |
| 1 | Online standings |
| 1 | Live games online |
| 1 | Photo shoots |
| 1 | Professionalism |
| Number of mentions | Subject |
| 5 | Noise level |
| 4 | Crowded |
| 3 | Faster time control |
| 3 | Add blitz tournament |
| 3 | Remove all spectators after round starts |
| 2 | Less rounds |
| 2 | More sections |
| 2 | Slower time control |
| 2 | Lower entrance fee |
| 2 | Restrooms are far away |
| 2 | Free parking |
| 2 | Score based prizes |
| 2 | Restrooms need to be cleaned more |
| 2 | Start evening rounds at 5:30 |
| 2 | Entrance free too high |
| 1 | No eating at board |
| 1 | No ratings limit |
| 1 | Pairings are at multiple locations, need signs to explain pairings are online |
| 1 | Pairings keep changing |
| 1 | Some ratings are wrong |
| 1 | Move break time |
| 1 | Ratings being proper |
| 1 | Hotel expensive |
| 1 | AC |
| 1 | Conform to strict ratings range |
| 1 | Release pairings later |
| 1 | Need more space |
| 1 | Need higher ceiling |
| 1 | Rounds at 10 and 4 |
| 1 | Higher ratings floor |
| 1 | Stop spectators from annoying players |
| 1 | Breakfast every morning |
| 1 | Stop changing pairings |
| 1 | Get better TDs |
| 1 | Change ratings limits |
| 1 | Seats for parents |
| 1 | Add second time control |
| 1 | No low rated players below minimum limit |
| 1 | Add DGT boards for all sections |
| 1 | Appear Perpetual Chess Podcast |
| 1 | Email pairings |
| 1 | FIDE rated player above limit |
| 1 | Liked pairing system |
| 1 | Pairing time |
| 1 | Better WiFi |
| 1 | Undre 1800 does not have to pay extra |
| 1 | implement strict penalty for late arrival |
| 1 | Get better WiFi |
| 1 | Get online pairings and link to USCF |
| 1 | FIDE 1950 minimum for Championship |
| 1 | Add female prizes |