36th annual WORLD OPEN

July 2-6, 3-6, 4-6 or June 30-July 6, 2008

Back at Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel!
Largest World Open guarantee ever-
$400,000 PROJECTED PRIZES, $320,000 MINIMUM GUARANTEED!

NOTE CHANGE (see below)- special USCF dues rates!

A Heritage Event
An American Classic
An ACP Qualifier

July 2-6, 3-6, 4-6 or June 30-July 6, GPP:  300 (enhanced), Pennsylvania

At Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel, 17th & Race Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19103. Special parking rate for all players $5/day. Downtown location, Franklin Institute and many other museums as well as stores & restaurants within a few blocks.

Prizes $400,000 based on 1450 paid entries (seniors, re-entries, U1200 Section, GMs, WGMs count as half entries, U900, U600 & Unrated Sections not counted), otherwise raised or reduced in proportion, with $320,000 minimum (80% of each prize) guaranteed.

Free analysis of your games by GM Sam Palatnik; free lectures by other GMs 7/3 10 am, 7/4 10 am, 7/5 9 am.

In 11 sections (Unrated eligible only for Open, Under 2400, or Unrated, except Unrated age 13/below may enter Under 900, Unrated age 10/below may enter Under 600).

Open Section: $30000-15000-7000-3500-2500-2000-1500-1000-800-700, 11th-20th each $600, clear winner bonus $500, top U2500/Unr $3000-1500. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game 7/4 11:30 pm (white 7 minutes, black 5 minutes & gets draw odds) for title & bonus prize. GM & IM norms possible in 5-day & 7-day schedules. FIDE rated.

Under 2400 Section, Under 2200 Section, Under 2000 Section, Under 1800 Section, Under 1600 Section: each $20000-10000-5000-3000-2000-1600-1300-1000-800-700, 11th-20th each $600.  U2400 Section is FIDE rated with IM norms possible in 5-day & 7-day schedules.

Under 1400 Section: $15000-8000-5000-3000-2000-1600-1300-1000-800-700, 11th-20th each $600.

Under 1200 Section: $5000-3000-2000-1500-1000-900-800-700-600-600, 11th-20th each $500.  

Under 900 Section: $500-300-200, trophies to top 10.  Unrated allowed only if age 13/below. 

Under 600 Section: Trophies to top 10.  Unrated allowed only if age 10/below.

Unrated Section: $1000-500-300-200, trophies to top 10.  Must have ID with US Social Security or tax ID number to win over $200 in Unrated Section. 

College team trophy: Based on 4 best scores from a school regardless of section; must have at least 4 players to be eligible.

Prize limits: 1) Players with under 26 games played as of 7/08 list may not win over $1500 in U1200, $2500 U1400, $4000 U1600 to U2000. Games rated too late for 7/08 list not counted. 2) Players who were rated more than 30 points over section maximum on any supplement 7/07-6/08 have a prize limit of $2000. 3) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line.

Entry fee, if mailed by 2/15: 7-day $347, 5-day $345, 4-day $344, 3-day $343.
Mailed by 5/15: 7-day $367, 5-day $365, 4-day $364, 3-day $363.
Mailed by 6/20: 7-day $377, 5-day $375, 4-day $374, 3-day $373.
At site: All $400; no checks, credit cards OK.

ONLINE entry at chesstour.com: $346 by 2/15, $366 by 5/15, $376 by 6/26, $400 after 6/26 until 2 hours before rd 1.

Phone entry at 406-896-2038: $350 by 2/15, $370 by 5/16, $380 by 6/26 (entry only, no questions). No phone entry after 6/26.

GMs free; $240 entry fee deducted from prize. WGMs $150; another $150 entry fee deducted from prize.

Entry fee $150 less to all in U1200 Section and seniors over 65 in Under 1400 & above.

Under 900 Section, Under 600 Section, Unrated Section entry fee:  $25 if mailed by 6/20, $26 ONLINE at chesstour.com by 6/26, $30 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 6/26 (entry only, no questions), $40 at site.

All: No checks at site; credit cards OK.  Re-entry: $160, any section but Open, any schedule, byes OK, no discounts. $20 fee for switching section after 7/1. $10 service charge for refunds (no service charge if fee applied to future CCA tmts). 

SPECIAL! (note change): 1 year USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: if paid ONLINE, unrated $20, rated $30. By mail, phone or at site, unrated $30, rated $40. Cost of reduced dues borne by CCA.  USCF membership required.  Please tell your chess friends about these bargain dues rates!

5-day schedule: 7/2 7 pm, 7/3, 7/4 & 7/5 11 am & 6 pm, 7/6 10 am & 5 pm.
7-day schedule: 6/30, 7/1 & 7/2 7 pm, 7/3 & 7/4 6 pm, 7/5 11 & 6, 7/6 10 & 5.
4-day schedule: 7/3 11 am, 2:30 pm & 6 pm,  7/4 & 7/5 11 & 6, 7/6 10 & 5.
3-day schedule (U1200 & up): 7/4 11 am, 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm, 6 pm & 8:30 pm, 7/5 11 & 6, 7/6 10 & 5. 
Above schedules merge & compete for same prizes. 

3-day schedule (U900, U600, Unrated Sections): 7/4 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm & 6 pm, 7/5 11 am, 1:30 pm, 3:45 pm & 6 pm, 7/6 10 am & 12:30 pm.

Half point byes OK all, limit 4 (limit 2 in last 4 rounds). Open byes must commit before rd 2, other sections before rd 5.  

Entries, re-entries close 1 hour  before your first game. 

Hotel rates: $91-91, 215-448-2000, rooms may sell out about 5/31, two night minimum 7/4-5.

ROOMS AT THE SHERATON NOW APPEAR TO BE SOLD OUT.  The $91 chess rate is also available at the RADISSON WARWICK HOTEL, 1701 Locust Streeet, walking distance from the Sheraton.  Click here for reservations and under "promotional code," enter "chess."  Or call the hotel Monday through Friday, 8 am through 5 pm at 215-735-6000.

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

Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied!

Foreign player ratings: usually 100 pts added to FIDE, 100 to FQE, 200 or more to most foreign, no pts added to CFC or Jamaica.  Most foreign ratings other than CFC, FQE or Jamaica not accepted for U2000 or below. Highest of multiple ratings usually used. Players who fail to disclose foreign or FIDE ratings may be expelled.  More foreign player rating info.

US player ratings: JULY LIST USED; FIDE ratings not used.

Special rules: 1) In round 3 or after, players with scores of 80% or more in U1200/up and their opponents may not use unauthorized headphones, earphones, cellphones, or hearing aids, or go to a different floor of the building, without Director permission. They must also submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director; refusal to be searched is grounds for expulsion from the tournament, with no refund. 2) As in all CCA tournaments, writing your move before playing it is allowed, unless you are using an electronic scoresheet.

Mailed entry: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577.

Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. Invitation requests: go@chess.us. You may request "lowest possible section" if June rating unknown.  No smoking.  Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com.  JGP (Junior Grand Prix points available).

Home            More tournaments