WESTERN CHESS CONGRESS

March 6-8 or 7-8, 2009- Concord, California
$20,000 PRIZE FUND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED!

NOTE CHANGE IN SUNDAY ROUND TIMES! 
THE FIRST SUNDAY ROUND BEGINS AT 9:30 AM IN ALL SECTIONS!

NOTE ERRORS IN PUBLICITY! 
THERE IS NO 4-DAY SCHEDULE! 
THERE IS A 2-DAY SCHEDULE IN THE TOP 6 SECTIONS!

THERE IS A CHOICE IN THE TOP 6 SECTIONS BETWEEN 3-DAY AND 2-DAY!

March 6-8 or 7-8                                                            Northern California
                World Chess Live Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced)
Western Class Congress. 5 round Swiss, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/75; U1100 & U900 sections are 6SS, 3/7-8 only, G/65). Concord Hilton Hotel, 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord CA 94520 (I-680 Willow Pass Rd exit). Free shuttle between hotel and Concord BART station. Free parking. In 8 sections with $20,000 in prizes unconditionally guaranteed:

Premier Section, open to all over 1950 and juniors under 18 over 1800.  Prizes $1600-900-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100, top U2300 $800-400. FIDE rated.

Under 2100 Section: Prizes $1400-700-400-300.

Under 1900 Section: Prizes $1400-700-400-300.

Under 1700 Section: Prizes $1400-700-400-300.

Under 1500 Section: Prizes $1200-600-300-200.

Under 1300 Section: Prizes $1200-600-300-200.

Under 1100 Section: Prizes $600-300-200-100.

Under 900 Section: Prizes $600-300-200-100.

Unrated must play in U1900 or below with maximum prize U1900 $600, U1700 $500, U1500 $400, U1300 $300, U1100 $200, U900 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line.

Top 6 sections entry fee: 3-day $119, 2-day $118 mailed by 2/26, all $120 ONLINE at chesstour.com by 3/3, $125 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $140 at site.

Under 1100, Under 900 Sections entry fee: $57 mailed by 2/26, $60 ONLINE at chesstour.com by 3/3 (entry only, no questions), $65 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/3, $70 at site.

All: FREE TO UNRATED if paying USCF dues. Special 1 yr USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: ONLINE at chesstour.com $30; mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry (except Master) $60. Mailed EF $7 less to rated CalChess members.

Ratings:  March official USCF rating list used.  Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games are usually used if otherwise unrated.  Unofficial ratings are not used if you have an official rating.  Foreign player rating info.

3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6:30 pm, rds Fri 7:30 pm, Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun (note change) 9:30 am & 4 pm.

2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 10 am, rds Sat 11 am, 2:30 pm & 6 pm, Sun (note change) 9:30 am & 4 pm.

U1100 & U900 schedule: Reg. Sat to 11:30 am, rds. Sat. 12 noon, 3 pm & 6 pm, Sun. (note change) 9:30 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.

All schedules: Byes OK all, must commit before rd 3 and have under 2 pts.  

Hotel rates: $99-99-109, 925-827-2000, reserve by 2/20 or rate may increase.

Click below for reservations.  The link says you must reserve by Feb 20, but the hotel has since extended this cutoff date.  Also, the link says king bedded room only, but go past that and you will find two beds in room with the chess rate is still available.

Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.

Questions: chesstour.com, 845-496-9658.

Entry: Continental Chess, c/o Goichberg, Box 661776, Arcadia CA 91066. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL Junior Grand Prix points.