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World News: Chess In the Media: Chess Stories Across the USA and Around the World
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National NewsEarly Leaders Emerge at US ChampionshipDmitry Gurevich, Alexander Onischuk and Yuri Shulman currently lead their respective groups at the US Championship in San Diego. Gurevich and Onischuk share the lead in Group A with 4 points in the first five rounds, while Shulman has sole control of first in Group B with an impressive 4.5/5 score. The US Championship has a unique structure this year. The 64 competitors are split into two groups of 32 for a 9-round, swiss system tournament. The winner of each group will then play a rapid match, with blitz playoffs if necessary, to determine this year's champion. This tournament will also determine the US Women's Championship. In group A, WGM Rusudan Goletiani currently leads all women with 3 points, while WIM Batchimeg Tuvshintugs' 3.5 points are good enough for first among the group B women, and ties her for 2nd overall in the group. Defending champion Hikaru Nakamura got off to a rough start, scoring just one draw in his first three games. Although he rebounded to win his last two games, Nakamura still has just 2.5 points, putting him 16th in Group A. Even a perfect run through the rest of the tournament may not be enough to earn him a chance to defend his title. We will provide continuing coverage of the US Championship next week. For more information you can visit The official tournament site. For now, here is Camilla Baginskaite's surprise win over defending champion Hikaru Nakamura: White: Baginskaite, C (2299) New - Online Tournament Life Announcement (TLA) AreaThe USCF is pleased to announce a new service to members and affiliates, one that we hope will increase attendance at chess tournaments throughout the USA: a new online Tournament Life Announcement (TLA) area. Chess players will be able to search for chess tournaments based on the month in which the tournament begins and the state where the tournament will be held. The listings can be further restricted by the distance in miles from the member's home to the tournament, based on ZIP codes. Players can also search for specific types of events, such the amount of cash prizes offered, whether the tournament is open or restricted by rating or by age, what rating systems the event will be rated under (including FIDE rated events), and even the maximum entry fee. For each event matching the search request, players will be able to bring up an online flyer describing the event in full detail, including an entry form that can be printed and filled out, then mailed to the organizer. The New Online TLA Area. Affiliates can enter TLAs for their upcoming events up to a year in advance using the online TLA form available to affiliates in the USCF's TD/Affiliate Support Area . USCF Seeks Endorsements, Sponsorships and Strategic PartnershipsIf you have chess related products or services, please contact us with your proposal. The USCF is seeking endorsements, sponsorships and strategic partnerships from the chess community. Over the next few weeks please email, Joan DuBois, at the USCF office in Crossville, TN. Grandmaster Jaan Ehlvest Wins 2006 ChessCafe Grand PrixThe 2005 Grand Prix, a United States Chess Federation competition, was sponsored by ChessCafe.com one of the most popular chess websites in the world. Total case prize fund was $10,000.00 with an additional $5,000.00 in chess merchandise prizes. Grandmaster Jaan Ehlvest from New York wins $4,000.00 for his outstanding accomplishment with having scored 405.64 grand prix points. 2nd place went to Grandmaster Aleks Wojtkiewicz of Maryland with 370.33 points and 3rd to Grandmaster Ildar Ibragimov of Connecticut who totaled 278.54 points. The $10,000 for places 1st – 10th are cash prizes and the $5,000 equivalent for Junior and Senior Category winners is distributed as chess books and chess equipment. Hundreds of chess tournaments run each year under the auspices of the US Chess Federation but only a few meet the criteria of being deemed Grand Prix Events. It is from these events that players achieve grand prix points based on their performance. The Grand Prix is an annual year long contest, held each year since 1979, that causes more frequent play by top players, encourages organizers to reward excellence by guaranteeing more prize money that Masters are eligible to win, and helps to raise money for USCF’s Professional Players Health & Benefits Fund. ChessCafe.com is the third corporate sponsor in the history of the Grand Prix and will again sponsor the Grand Prix for 2006. The others were Church’s Chicken (1979-1986) and Novag Computers (1988-1998). The event was sponsored by individual donors in 2001 by individual donors and USCF in other years. This year’s prize fund will be the largest since 2000 and will include 18 special merchandise prizes for juniors and seniors. For a complete list of winners, visit http://www.uschess.org/news/press/uspr0607.pdf. 260 Attendance at 2006 U.S. Junior Chess Congress - Breaks Record!260 chess enthusiasts under the age of 19 participated this past weekend in the 2006 U.S. Junior Chess Congress. The six round national chess championship was held at the East Middle School in Anderson, Indiana under the direction of Chief Tournament Director Scott Reisinger. The 260 chess players represented eight US states! The championship was divided up into six sections for individual winners as well as team competition. The winners of each section were: 18 & Under: 16 & Under: 14 & Under: 12 & Under: 10 & Under: 8 & Under: Finals results for all players will be posted at the official website soon. The 2006 U.S. Chess Congress is an official titled event owned by the United States Chess Federation. The official tournament crosstable will be available soon on the USCF website within the Member Services Area (MSA). Congratulations to all players and event organizer and staff for making history with breaking the attendance record. Membership Appreciation ProgramThe USCF is happy to unveil it's Membership Appreciation Program for 2006. The program awards affiliates and individuals who bring new members to the USCF, maintain large, active clubs, and stay active by playing the most rated games during the year. For complete details on the program, click here. Calling All Masters! 2006 U.S. Masters ChampionshipThe U.S. Masters was first held in 1982 and known as the Mid-West Masters until 1990 when the name was changed. The event is open only to players who have ratings over 2200 (Master level), or whoever has been so rated, as well as FIDE-rated players, and juniors (under age 21) rated over 2000. FIDE norms are possible. A concurrent tournament, the N.C. Sub-Masters, will be held for those with lower ratings. This event is a U.S. Championship Qualifier (2 spots) and will be FIDE rated. A prize fund of $5000 is guaranteed and 120 Grand Prix Points (enhanced) are available. The event offers 9 rounds Swiss System and the time control is Game/150. In an effort to accommodate players, three schedules are offered: March 11-12 offers two games per day; March 17-19 offers one game on 3/17 and two games each day for 3/18 and 3/19. The 7-day schedule begins March 13 and offers one game per evening then two games 3/18 and two games 3/19. Entry fee is $150 prior to March 11, $160 if entered onsite. The 2006 U.S. Masters will be held at the Quality Inn & Suites in Hendersonville, 201 Sugarloaf Rd., North Carolina. Hotel rate is: $45/night and includes hot breakfast and indoor pool. For reservations call: 1-800-581-4745. Chief organizer is Kevin Hyde and the associated affiliate is the Greater Henderson County Home School Chess. Additional details can be found on the official website. You can contact Mr. Hyde via email at: Kevin Hyde, Phone: 828-749-1625 or by mail at: U.S. Masters, PO Box 791, Saluda, NC 28773. USCF's Affiliate Booster ProgramThe USCF is pleased to announce a special affiliate commission on regular adult USCF memberships available to affiliates through the TD/Affiliate Support Area. From March 1st, 2006, through the end of June 2006, one year regular adult memberships (e.g., $49 rate) submitted through the TD/Affiliate Support will cost affiliates just $41. (These memberships will have an $8 affiliate commission and no online discount.) Affiliate can choose to keep the $8 commission or share all or part of the lowered rated with members. Remember, this special affiliate commission is available only for memberships submitted through the TD/Affiliate Support Area and cannot be obtain through memberships submitted by mail, email, fax or phone. Other promotional membership offers, such as the $38 rate for new members and those whose membership lapsed on or before 12/31/2004, are not affected by the Affiliate Booster Program. U.S. Chess Federation Announces Three 2006 National Scholastic Chess Championships For Spring!The U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) announces three 2006 National Scholastic Chess Championships: "These tournaments provide students the opportunity to compete against some of the best scholastic chess players from across the country," said Jerry Nash, Scholastic Director for the U.S. Chess Federation. "With individual and team trophies on the line, the excitement builds round by round over the three days. If you have never been to one of these tournaments - don't hesitate to make this year your first!" USCF will begin accepting online entries January 2, 2006. Five national scholastic championships are scheduled each year. In addition to the above three, two more occur in the fall - the National Youth Action and the National K-12/Collegiate Championships. The 2005 championships attracted over 8,000 young chess enthusiasts to the five events. Motions Passed By The USCF Executive Board in Fiscal Year 2005-2006 |
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