2015 Spring Break UTB GM-Norm Tournament
By GM Bartlomiej Macieja   
March 7, 2015
The 2015 Spring Break UT Brownsville GM-norm International Chess Tournament has started. It is the strongest round robin tournament in the United States of America since August 2014, and the second strongest round robin tournament in South Texas ever after the Church's Fried Chicken Tournament in San Antonio 1972.

A round robin tournament means that every participant will play one game against every other participant. There are 10 participants representing 8 countries (USA, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Russia, and Venezuela), so it is a truly international event.

The participants of the tournament are able to obtain a norm for a grandmaster title, which is the highest title attainable in chess.

PHOTOS
TOURNAMENT REPORTS

GENERAL INFORMATION:

1.    Chief Organizer: GM Bartek Macieja ; [email protected] ; (956) 882-5761
2.    Deputy Chief Organizer: Mr. Russell Harwood ; [email protected] ; (956) 882-5761
3.    Chief Arbiter: IA Frank Guadalupe ; [email protected]
4.    Playing venue: Campus of the University of Texas at Brownsville, Salon Cassia (Main Building, room 2.402)
5.    Goals:
       ·    to promote competitive chess in the Rio Grande Valley
       ·    to promote UTB and UTB Chess Program nationally and internationally
       ·    to present UTB Campus and UTB Chess Program to young talented American players
       ·    to allow UTB students to participate in a strong tournament
       ·    to allow UTB students to obtain a norm for a grandmaster title

6.    Quick facts:
       ·    It will be the strongest round robin tournament in the United States of America since August 2014
       ·    It will be the second strongest round robin tournament in South Texas ever (after San Antonio 1972)
       ·    The participants will be able to obtain a norm for a grandmaster title, which is the highest title attainable in chess

7.    Official website: http://utb.edu/chess
8.    Online transmission: http://monroi.com/watch/?tnm_id=1816 ; http://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2015-utb-spring
9.    Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr164357.aspx?lan=1&wi=821&turdet=YES
10.    Schedule:
         Round 1 Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m.
         Round 2 Saturday, March 7 at 2 p.m.
         Round 3 Sunday, March 8 at 9 a.m.
         Round 4 Sunday, March 8 at 5 p.m.
         Round 5 Monday, March 9 at 9 a.m.
         Round 6 Monday, March 9 at 5 p.m.
         Round 7 Tuesday, March 10 at 2 p.m.
         Round 8 Wednesday, March 11 at 9 a.m.
         Round 9 Wednesday, March 11 at 5 p.m.

11.    Participants (rating as of March 5th, 2015):
1    IM    Almeida    Alfonso      Mexico       2334
2    GM    Cruz    Cristhian       Peru         2547
3    FM    Li    Ruifeng           USA          2404
4    IM    Ynojosa    Felix        Venezuela    2432
5    GM    Kovalyov    Anton       Canada       2625
6    GM    Stukopin    Andrey      Russia       2578
7    GM    Hernandez    Holden     USA          2537
8    FM    Vazquez    Guillermo    Paraguay     2394
9    IM    Ruiz    Joshua          Colombia     2417
10   IM    Viswanadha    Kesav     USA          2383

12.    Pairings:
         Round 1: 1-10, 2-9, 3-8, 4-7, 5-6.
         Round 2: 10-6, 7-5, 8-4, 9-3, 1-2.
         Round 3: 2-10, 3-1, 4-9, 5-8, 6-7.
         Round 4: 10-7, 8-6, 9-5, 1-4, 2-3.
         Round 5: 3-10, 4-2, 5-1, 6-9, 7-8.
         Round 6: 10-8, 9-7, 1-6, 2-5, 3-4.
         Round 7: 4-10, 5-3, 6-2, 7-1, 8-9.
         Round 8: 10-9, 1-8, 2-7, 3-6, 4-5.
         Round 9: 5-10, 6-4, 7-3, 8-2, 9-1
13.    Time control: 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds increment starting from move 1
14.    Rules: Current FIDE Laws of Chess
15.    Any player who arrives at the chessboard more than 1h after the start of the session shall lose the game.
16.    A draw agreement before move 25 or/and before 1h of play requires a Chief Arbiter's permission.
17.    Final standings will be determined by:
         ·    Number of points
         ·    Koya System
         ·    Sonneborn-Berger System
         ·    Direct Encounter
         ·    Number of Games played with the Black Pieces
         •    Number of wins