March 18-20 or 19-20                                                                   Missouri
               ChessLecture.com Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced)
15th annual Mid-America Open. 5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75), Crowne Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis MO 63105 (I-64 W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Hanley Rd). $$ 20,000 in prizes based on 230 paid entries ($60 off entries & re-entries count half), minimum $16,000 (80% of each prize) guaranteed.

PLEASE NOTE:
5 second delay will be used, but there will be no 5 minute deduction from clocks.

In 5 sections:  

Open Section: $2400-1200-600-400, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300 $1100, U2200 $1000, U2100 $900. FIDE rated.

Under 2000 Section: $1800-900-500-300. 

Under 1800 Section: $1800-900-500-300.

Under 1600 Section: $1600-800-400-200, top Under 1400 $500.

Under 1300 Section: $800-400-200-100, top Under 1100 $300.

Unrated may enter any section, with prize limits: U1300 $200, U1600 $400, U1800 $600, U2000 $800. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. 

Top 4 sections entry fee: 3-day $113.50, 2-day $112.50 if check mailed by 3/10, all $115 Online at chesstour.com by 3/15, $120 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/15 (entry only, no questions), $130 at site. No checks at site, credit cards OK.  No mailed credit card entries accepted. 

Entry fee for all in U1300 Section, and unrated in U1600 Section: all $60 less than top 4 sections entry fee. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section.  GMs free; $100 deducted from prize.

All: Special 1 year USCF dues with paper magazine if paid with entry.  Online at chesstour.com thru 3/15, Adult $30, Young Adult $20, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30, Scholastic $20.  USCF membership required.  MCA membership ($5) required for MO residents.  

Ratings:  March official USCF rating list used.  Unofficial uschess.org ratings are usually used if otherwise unrated.  Unofficial ratings are not used if you have an official rating.  Foreign player rating info.

3-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun 10 am & 4:15 pm.
2-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat. 10 am, rds. Sat. 11 am, 2:30 pm & 6 pm, Sun. 10 am & 4:15 pm.
Half point byes OK all; Open must commit before rd 2, others before rd 3.

Hotel rates: $89 single or twin, 888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess rate, reserve by March 4 or rate may increase.

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

Questions: 845-496-9658. Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com.