A Heritage Event!
An American Classic!
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 150 (Enhanced)
57th annual
LIBERTY BELL OPEN
Jan 17-20, 18-20 or 19-20, 2025 (Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Weekend)
Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania
7-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10; 2-day
option in U2100 and below, rounds 1-4 G/30, d10).
At Sonesta Hotel, 1800
Market St., Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Prizes $25,000
Guaranteed!
In 6 sections:
Major (1900/up): $2500-1500-1000-700-500, 1st
clear or on tiebreak $100 bonus, top USCF Under 2300 $1000-500. FIDE
rated. See peakrating.us
regarding using peak rating to qualify for Major.
Under 2100:
$1600-900-500-300-200. FIDE rated.
Under 1900: $1400-800-500-300-200.
Under 1700: $1200-700-400-300-200.
Under 1500:
$1200-700-400-300-200, top Under 1300 $350-200.
Under 1200: $800-500-300-200-100, top Under 1000
$300-150.
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. Team must average under 2200; may play
different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) before both players
begin round 2.
Top 5 sections entry fee: $138
online at chessaction.com by 1/15,
$160 later online or at site (no checks, credit card OK) until 1 hour before
round 1. GMs free, $100 deducted from prize.
Under 1200 Section entry fee: All $40 less than top 5 sections entry fee.
USCF membership required. Special 1-year USCF dues with magazine if paid online with
entry: Adult $43, Young Adult $26, Youth $19 (USCF dues go up 1/1/2025).
Re-entry (no Major to Major) $70.
4-day schedule: Rounds Fri 7 pm, Sat 12
& 6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Fri 6 pm.
3-day schedule: Rounds. Sat 12, 3 &
6, Sun 12 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Sat 11 am.
2-day schedule (no Major
Section): Rounds Sun 10, 12, 2, 3:45 & 6, Mon 10 & 3:30.
Registration ends Sun 9 am.
Half
point byes: OK all, limit 2, must commit before round 3.
Hotel Rates: $120-120-120-120,
use this
reservation link, also posted at chessevents.us (or call
215-561-7500 or 800-SONESTA, request Chess rate), reserve by 1/3/2025 or rate
may increase.
Parking: Chess parking rate at the Sonesta is
approximately $28 per day (half normal rate, valet parking only). The
Gateway Garage, 1540 Spring St. (12 minute walk from Sonesta Hotel), is about
$12/day Sat/Sun, $30 other days (self-parking).
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 or
Online Regular 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. Players cannot play below their
Online Regular rating minus 100 points.
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.
No mailed entries.
Questions: Director@Chess.US, https://chesstour.com,
www.chesstour.info. Refunds, $15 service charge. Entries posted at
chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).
Blitz tournament: Sunday 10:30 pm, enter at site Sunday night
by 10:10 pm.