3rd annual
CONTINENTAL
CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS


$50,000 projected prizes, $30,000 minimum guaranteed!

Columbus Day weekend, 2012

Master Section: 9 rounds, Oct 4-8
FIDE rated, GM and IM norms possible. 40/90, SD/30, inc/30. 150 Grand Prix points.

Expert, Class A, B, C, D Sections: 7 rounds, Oct 5-8 or 6-8
Choice of 4-day or 3-day schedule. Expert Section is FIDE rated. 40/2, SD/1, d5 (3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/75, d5).

Class E: 7 rounds, Oct 6-7
G/40, d5. The Class E Section does not play on Monday, Oct 8 (Columbus Day)
.


At Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington, Virginia-
a few minutes from the attractions of our nation's capital by car or Metro Subway!

2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA 22202.  Free shuttle to/from Reagan International Airport and Crystal City Metro station (contact hotel for schedule).

Prizes $50,000
based on 350 (note correction) paid entries (seniors, re-entries, Class D Section, GMs, IMs, WGMs, foreign FIDE rated players in Master count as half entries), else proportional, minimum $30,000 (60% of each prize) guaranteed. 

 

In 7 sections:

Master: Open to all US players currently or formerly rated at least 2200 USCF or 2100 FIDE, foreign players currently or formerly rated at least 2000 USCF or 1800 FIDE, and invitees.  Prizes $5000-2500-1500-1000-700-500-400-400-300-300, clear or tiebreak first bonus $200, FIDE Under 2400/Unr $2000-1000. Minimum prize $500 to first 5 foreign GMs to enter who play all 9 rounds (no byes), $300 to first 5 foreign IMs to enter who play all 9 rounds (no byes). GM and IM norms possible, FIDE rated.

Expert: Open to USCF 1800-2199.  Prizes $3000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300.  FIDE rated.

 

Class A: Open to USCF 1600-1999 or unrated.  Prizes $3000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300.  No unrated may win over $1500.

 

Class B: Open to USCF 1400-1799 or unrated.  Prizes $3000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300.  No unrated may win over $1200.


Class C: Open to USCF 1200-1599 or unrated.  Prizes $2500-1300-900-600-500-400-300-300.  No unrated may win over $900. 

Class D: Open to USCF under 1400 or unrated.  Prizes $1000-700-400-300-300-200-200-200.  No unrated may win over $500.    

Class E: Open to USCF under 1200 or unrated.  Prizes  $500-300-200, trophies to firs 5, top Under 1000, Under 800, Under 600, Unrated. No unrated may win over $200.  
 

Former rating prize limits: If any post-event rating posted at uschess.org 10/2/11-10/2/12 is more than 30 points over section maximum, prize limit $1200.  Balance of limited prizes goes to next player(s) in line.

Master Section entry fees: GMs, IMs, WGMs: free; $150 deduced from prize (no deduction from minimum prize). Foreign FIDE rated players: $75 online at chesstour.com by 10/1, $100
ONLINE or at site until 6 pm 10/4.  Others: $225 if check mailed by 9/25 or online by 10/1, $250 until 6 pm 10/4 ONLINE or at site.  No checks at site, credit cards OK.

Expert through Class C Sections entry fees: 
4-day $179, 3-day $178 if check mailed by 9/25, all $175
ONLINE at chesstour.com by 10/1, $185 if phoned to 406-896-2038 by 10/1 (entry only, no questions), $200 at site. 

Class D Section entry fees:
4-day $99, 3-day $98 if check mailed by 9/25, all $95
ONLINE at chessour.com by 10/1, $105 if phoned to 406-896-2038 by 10/1 (entry only, no questions), $120 at site.


Class E Section entry fees:
$47 if check mailed by 9/25, $45 ONLINE at chesstour.com by 10/1, $55 if phoned to 406-896-2038 by 10/1 (entry only, no questions), $70 at site.

 

Entry fee $100 less to seniors 65 or over in Expert through Class C sections.
 
Entry fee $120 less to unrated in Class D or E.

All:
No phone entry after 10/1. Online late entry (same price as at site) available until 2 hours before round 1.

 

Special 1 year USCF dues with paper magazine if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30, Scholastic $20.

No checks at site, credit cards OK.  No mailed credit card entries.

Re-entry: $100, no re-entry from Master Section to Master Section.

Master schedule: Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7 pm, Fri 12 & 7, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10  & 4:30.
4-day Expert through D schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30.
3-day Expert through D schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30.
Class E schedule: Reg. ends Sat 9 am, rds. Sat 11, 1:30, 3:30 & 6, Sun 10, 12:30 & 2:30.
"Reg." means late registration (does not apply to advance entrants). 
 
4-day & 3-day schedules merge and compete for same prizes.
Half point byes: OK all; limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rounds), must commit before round 3.

Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied.

Hotel rates: $95-95-105-115, 703-418-1234, reserve by 9/19 or rate may increase.
Special chess rate valet parking $6/day, with or without guest room. 
Car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve car online at chesstour.com.

Foreign player ratings in Expert or below: See www.chesstour.com/foreignratings.htm.

US player ratings: FIDE ratings used for Master Section, USCF official October ratings for Expert and below.  Unofficial uschess.org ratings are usually used if otherwise unrated.


Entry: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Questions: DirectorAtChess.US, www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9658. You may request "lowest possible section" if October rating unknown. $15 service charge for refunds.  Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com.  Chess Magnet School Junior Grand Prix Points available, except in E Section.
Invitation requests: GoAtChess.US (use @ symbol in place of "At.") 


SIDE EVENT: Columbus Day Open, Monday, Oct 8. $2000 projected prizes.
 

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