Eighty players played a twenty-one game Swiss-paired preliminary round. The top two finalists, Joel Sherman and Matt Graham then played a best-of-five match on the last day to determine the new World Champion.
| Thursday, November 20th, 1997 | |
|---|---|
| 16:30 | Staff meeting (Mezzanine) |
| 19:00 | Welcoming reception |
| Friday, November 21st, 1997 | |
| 09:00 | Rounds 1-3 (State Room) |
| 12:15 | Lunch (Cabinet Room) |
| 13:30 | Rounds 4 and 5 |
| 15:30 | Tea and coffee break |
| 15:50 | Rounds 6 and 7 |
| 18:30 | End of day's play |
| 20:00 | Global Meeting |
| 22:00 | End of day's activities |
| Saturday, November 22nd, 1997 | |
| 06:30 | Breakfast begins |
| 07:45 | Breakfast ends |
| 08:00 | Rounds 8-10 begin |
| 11:30 | Rounds 8-10 end |
| 11:30 | Lunch begins |
| 12:45 | Lunch ends |
| 13:00 | Rounds 11-13 begin |
| 16:30 | Rounds 11-13 end |
| 16:30 | Tea and coffee (Mezzanine) |
| Sunday, November 23rd, 1997 | |
| 07:00 | Breakfast begins |
| 08:30 | Breakfast ends |
| 09:00 | Rounds 14-16 begin |
| 12:30 | Rounds 14-16 end |
| 12:30 | Lunch begins |
| 13:30 | Lunch ends |
| 13:30 | Rounds 17-19 begin |
| 17:15 | Rounds 17-19 end |
| 17:15 | Tea and coffee break begins |
| 17:45 | Tea and coffee break ends |
| 18:00 | Rounds 20 and 21 begin |
| Monday, November 24th, 1997 | |
| 09:00 | Best-of-five finals, followed by awards |