52nd annual
LIBERTY BELL OPEN
Jan 17-20, 18-20 or 19-20 (Martin Luther
King weekend)
Sonesta Hotel, Philadelphia
A Heritage Event
Jan. 17-20, 18-20 or 19-20,
Pennsylvania
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 100 (Enhanced)
52nd 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 U1200, 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.
Since 2006, the tournament had over 320
paid entries each year but one 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 USCF Under 2300/Unr
$1000-500. FIDE rated. See
peakrating.us
regarding using peak rating to qualify for Major.
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 1200:
$700-400-300-200-100.
Unrated
may enter U1200 to U2100, but may not win over $100 in U1200, $200 in U1500, $300 U1700
or $400 U1900.
Mixed doubles bonus prizes: Best
male-female 2-player combined score among all sections: $1000-600-400. Must average under 2200; may
play different sections;
register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2.
Prize limits: If any post-event rating posted 1/14/19-1/14/20 was more than 60 points over section maximim, prize limit $400.
Top 5 sections entry fee:
$108 online at chessaction.com by 1/15, 4 day $114, 3 day $113, 2 day $112 if check mailed by 1/8,
$130 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or online until 2 hours before round
1. GMs & IMs free, $80 deducted from prize.
Under 1200 Section entry fee:
All $30 less than top 5 sections entry fee.
USCF membership required.
Special 1 year USCF dues
with magazine if paid with entry: Adult $35, Young
Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed 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:
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, must commit before rd 3.
Hotel Rates: $107-107-107-107, see reservaton link below and at chessevents.us or call 1-800-SONESTA or 215-561-7500, request Continental Chess rate, reserve by Jan 3 or rate may increase.
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, $22 other days.
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, or to qualify for Major (see peakrating.us). 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.
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,
www.chesstour.info. Refunds, $15 service charge. Entries posted at
chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).
Blitz tournament Sun 10 pm, enter by 9:45 pm.