51st annual
LIBERTY BELL OPEN
Jan 18-21, 19-21 or 20-21 (Martin Luther
King weekend)
Sonesta Hotel, Philadelphia
A Heritage Event
Jan. 18-21, 19-21 or 20-21,
Pennsylvania
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 100 (Enhanced)
51st annual Liberty Bell Open
7SS, 40/100, SD/30, d10 (3 day option, rds 1-2 G/60, d10; 2 day option in U2100 to U1250, rds 1-4 G/30, d10).
At Sonesta Hotel,
1800 Market St, Philadelphia PA 19103.
Prizes $20,000 based on 320
paid entries (re-entries, GMs/IMs & U1250 Section count 70%), else
in proportion, except minimum 75% of each prize guaranteed.
In 2006 to 2018, the tournament had over 320
paid entries each year and the $20,000 projected prize fund was increased
in proportion!
In 6 sections:
Major
(1800/up):
$2000-1200-600-400-300, 1st clear or on tiebreak $100 bonus, top Under 2300/Unr
$1000-500. FIDE rated.
Under 2100:
$1200-600-400-300-200.
Under 1900:
$1200-600-400-300-200.
Under 1700:
$1000-500-400-300-200.
Under 1500:
$1000-500-400-300-200.
Under 1250:
$700-400-300-200-100.
Unrated
may enter any section, but may not win over $100 in U1250, $200 in U1500, or $300 U1700.
MIXED DOUBLES BONUS PRIZES: Best
male-female 2-player combined score among all sections: $1000-600-400. Team
must average under 2200; may be in different sections;
register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2.
Top 5 sections entry fee:
$108 online at chessaction.com by 1/16, 4 day $114, 3 day $113, 2 day $112 if check mailed by 1/9,
$130 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or online until 2 hours before round
1. GMs & IMs free, $80 deducted from prize.
Under 1250 Section entry fee:
All $30 less than top 5 sections entry fee.
All:
Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. USCF Junior Grand Prix
Points available.
USCF membership required.
Special 1 year USCF dues
with magazine if paid with entry: Adult $35, Young
Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or at site, Adult $40, Young
Adult $25, Scholastic $17. Re-entry
(no Major to Major) $70.
4-day schedule:
Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 12 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30.
3-day schedule:
(CORRECTED)
Reg ends Sat 11 am, rds. Sat 12, 3 & 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30.
2-day schedule (no Major Section):
Reg ends Sun 9 am, rds Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30.
Half point byes:
OK all, limit 3, Major must commit before rd 2, others before rd 4.
Hotel Rates:
$107-107-107-107, 1-800-SONESTA, 215-561-7500, request Continental Chess rate,
reserve by Jan 4 or rate may increase.
HOTEL RESERVATIONS
Parking:
Chess rate at Sonesta about $20/day (half of normal rate).
Gateway Garage, 1540 Spring St. (1 block from Sheraton Hotel), 12 minutes walk, is about $7/day
Sat/Sun, $20 other days.
Ratings: January official USCF rating list used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated.
Foreign player rating info Prizewinner tax info CCA electronic devices rules.
PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, or in your hotel room or car, or in a bag at your table.
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.
Ratings: January official USCF ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if necessary, may be used, if higher than USCF. See also above.
Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied.
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Bring set, board, clock
if possible- none supplied.
Entry:
chessaction.com or Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577.
Questions: DirectorAtChess.US,
www.chesstour.com,
347-201-2269. $15 service charge for refunds. Entries posted at
chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).
Blitz tournament Sun 10 pm, enter by 9:45 pm.