|
||||||
|
World News: Chess In the Media: Chess Stories Across the USA and Around the World
|
National News2006 National Scholastic Chess Championships Set to Begin!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. UTD, UMBC Favorites Again in 2006 Final Four of ChessThe University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will try to regain its standing as the “bestteam in U.S. intercollegiate chess” next month when it takes on its longtime rival, The University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), along with up-and-coming teams from academic powerhouse Duke University and Miami Dade College, in the “Final Four” of Chess tournament in Dallas. The teams earned the right to compete in this year’s Final Four competition by finishing among the top four U.S. teams in December at the 2005 Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship. The winner at the round-robin Final Four will take home the President's Cup. The tournament will take place the weekend of April 1-2 in Dallas. For complete information of the most exciting event in college chess, click here. Amateur Chess Team Playoff Will Take Place in CyberspacePresidents Day Weekend, February 2006 ended with four Amateur Teams claiming the championship title for the respective chess championship - now there will be a playoff to decide the ultimate Amateur Championship Team! On April 2, 2006 at 1pm EST the 16 players will "face" their opponents in cyberspace at the Internet Chess Club website, under the direction of Chief Tournament Director and International Arbiter Carol Jarecki. The four teams and their members are: TEAM EAST—MY G-8 Predecessors TEAM SOUTH—Excaliber Electronics TEAM MIDWEST—2 FMs and 2 Losers TEAM WEST—CalTech 2006 Amateur Team Playoff Rules. Some highlights of the rules are that each player will have 90 minutes on their clock for each game (G/90). Each player will play online with their own computer under the supervision of an onsite tournament director for their cyberspace championship game. The members of the winning team will receive not only the title of 2006 Amateur Team Playoff Champions but a wrist watch commemorating this outstanding achievement. We wish "Good Chess" to all competitors. 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. 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. 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. Now Available: 2005 Chess Life Annual! |
|
[What's New] [Join/Renew] [Shop] [News] [Contact Us] [Members Only] [Ratings] [MSA] [Tournaments] [Top Players] [Clubs] [Scholastic] [Correspondence Chess] [Links] [Governance] |