A Heritage Event
US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available to players under 21

51st annual
CONTINENTAL OPEN

AUGUST 12-16, 12-15, 13-15 or 14-15, 2021

Sturbridge, Massachusetts (near the Connecticut border)

Sturbridge Host Hotel at Cedar Lake, 366 Main St (Rt 20 West), Sturbridge MA 01566 (I-84 Exit 3, near I-90). Free parking.

Masks are now required for all.

60 miles from Logan Airport (Boston), 55 miles from Bradley Airport (Hartford), 20 miles from Worcester Airport. Experience early 19th century New England at Old Sturbridge Village (see www.osv.org).  In 7 sections. Unrated allowed only in U2000, U2000, or U1200.

$40,000 PROJECTED PRIZES, $30,000 MINIMUM GUARANTEED

Master Section 9 rounds, FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible!
Others 7 rounds, including FIDE rated Under 2200 and Under 2000 sections!

NOTE CHANGE TO SLOWER TIME CONTROL IN U1400 AND ABOVE SECTIONS

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 200 (enhanced)

Prizes based on 320 paid entries; GMs, IMs/WGMs, FIDE foreign, U1200 Section & re-entries count as half entries; scholastic prize free entries not counted); else raised or lowered in proportion with 75% of each prize minimum guaranteed.

MASTER SECTION: 9 rounds, Aug 12-16, 40/80, SD/30 +30. FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible. Open to FIDE 2100/up or USCF 2200/up (see peakrating.us). Prizes $3000-1800-1200-1000-800-700-600-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak win $200 bonus, top FIDE U2300/Unr $2000-1000. Foreign GM bonus prize pool: $4000 projected divided evenly among foreign GMs who play all 9 games with no byes. Minimum prize $300 to US GMs and foreign IMs/WGMs who play all 9 games with no byes.

UNDER 2200 SECTION, UNDER 2000 SECTION, UNDER 1800 SECTION: Each 7 rounds, 40/80, SD/30 +30 (3-day rounds 1-2 G/60 d10) with option of 4-day schedule Aug 12-15 or 3-day Aug 13-15, both merge and play for same prizes. 40/80 games in U2200 and U2000 are FIDE rated. Prizes each section $2000-1000-500-300-200.

UNDER 1600 SECTION, UNDER 1400 SECTION: Each 7 rounds, 40/80, SD/30 +30 (3-day rounds 1-2 G/60 d10) with option of 4-day schedule Aug 12-15 or 3-day Aug 13-15, both merge and play for same prizes. Prizes each section $1500-750-400-300-200.

UNDER 1200 SECTION:  7 rounds, Aug 14-15, G60 d10. Prizes $800-400-300-200-100, top Under 1000 (no Unr) $200-100.

MIXED DOUBLES BONUS PRIZES: best male/female 2-player team combined score among all sections:
$1000-500-300-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee)
before both players begin round 2; prize limits do not apply. In the Master Section, only rounds 1-7 count towards mixed doubles.
 
 

Prize limits:  1) If any post-event regular OTB rating posted 1/1/20-8/10/21 was more than 50 points over section or prize maximum, prize limit $400. 2) If current Online Regular rating is more than 50 points over section or prize maximum, prize limit $400. 3) Unrated limits $800 in U2100, $300 in U1200. 4) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line.

Foreign player ratings: see foreignratings.com. US player ratings: Official August ratings used; August FIDE ratings used for Master Section. Unofficial or Online Regular USCF ratings usually used if otherwise unrated.

Master entry fee: $198 online at chessaction.com by 7/15, $228 online by 8/5, $250 until 12 noon 8/12 or at site. GMs, IMs, WGMs, FIDE rated foreign players: $50 at chessaction by 7/15, $75 by 8/5, $100 until 12 noon 8/12 or at site. FMs or FIDE 2300/over: $100 at chessaction.com by 7/15, $125 by 8/5, $150 until 12 noon 8/12 or at site.

U2200 through U1400 sections EF: $148 at chessaction.com by 7/15, $163 by 8/5, $180 until 1 hour before rd 1.
U1200 section EF: $83 by 8/5, $100 until 1 hour before rd 1.

No checks at site, credit cards OK.
Online EF $5 less to MACA members; join at masschess.org.

Special 1 yr USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry: Online at chessaction.com, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Youth $18. Mailed or at site, $45, $27 & $20.

Re-entry: $100, no Master to Master.

5-day schedule (Master only): Reg. ends Thu 12 noon, rds Thu 1 pm & 7 pm, Fri 11 am & 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am & 4 pm, Mon 10 am.

4-day schedule (U2200 to U1400): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, Rds.Thu 7 pm, Fri 11 am & 5 pm, Sat-Sun 10 am & 4 pm.

3-day schedule (U2200 to U1400): Reg. ends Fri 10 am, Rds. Fri 11, 2 & 5, merges with 4-day at 5 pm.

2-day schedule (U1200 only): Reg. ends Sat 9 am, rds. Sat 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm & 7 pm, Sun 10 am, 1 pm & 4 pm.

4-day & 3-day schedules compete for same prizes. Byes: OK all, limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rds), must commit by rd 3.

Hotel rates: $99-99-109-119, sturbridgehosthotel.com, use group code 2108CONTIN, or 800-582-3232, reserve by 7/28 or rate may increase.

Foreign player rating info            Prizewinner tax info            CCA electronic devices policies

For all tournaments, adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled. Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used at our discretion if above USCF.  No rating below the latest official USCF rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, FIDE ratings are used. Click here for further details.

Room or travel sharing: Post a request to share on the USCF "All Things Chess" Forum.  If you have trouble posting, email your request to Continental Chess and we will post it for you.  

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

Electronic devices: See devicerules.com.  Not all electronic scoresheets are allowed.

Awards: If not claimed at site, paid electronically through Zelle or Paypal.

Entry: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.us. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).

BRING SET, BOARD, CLOCK IF POSSIBLE- NONE SUPPLIED. 

SATURDAY NIGHT BLITZ TOURNAMENT

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