| Houston Open set for July 24-26 |
| By Franc Guadalupe | |
| July 17, 2009 | |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Houston, TX - July 16, 2009 Contact: Franc Guadalupe Phone: 713-530-7820 Only one week left before the start of the Houston Open! This event will take place at the beautiful facilities of the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Greenspoint area of north Houston! Many of the top players from Texas and surrounding states are getting ready for the competition. International Master Danny Fernandez and Fide Master Michael Langer, both from Texas, along with a few other high rated players will also be in attendance competing for the top prize! FOR A LIST OF PRE-REGISTRATIONS, PLEASE CLICK ON http://www.cajunchess.com/tourns/pastTourns/pastTourn12.shtml More double rooms have been added to our room block at the hotel so you can still get the reduced chess group rate ($75) at the site hotel, but you better hurry because these rooms may not last for long at that price! You may also register for the tournament on line at www.cajunchess.com (click on Upcoming Tournaments) or by calling (713) 530-7820 or (504) 905-2971. If you have already registered, we thank you for your participation. If you have not registered yet . . . Register today and get the early rate! Tournament Details below. And . . . don't forget the SCHOLASTIC TOURNAMENT on Saturday, July 25, for those in grades K-12 . . . 3 sections and 5 rounds . . . trophies, medals, gifts and fun for all . . . $10,000 HOUSTON OPEN JULY 24-26, 2009 -- Houston, Texas 5-Round Swiss, G/120 – 3-day or 2-day Schedule Available – FIDE Rated (b/200 paid entries, $5,000 min. guaranteed) FREE ENTRY FOR ALL GMs & IMs (EF deducted from winnings) SCHOLASTIC SECTIONS – ONE DAY ONLY – Saturday, July 25th – 5 Rd. Swiss, G/30 [Scholastic Players may play in both Scholastic and Adult Tournament if desired by registering for both tournaments and entering the 3-day schedule in the Adult Tournament with a 1/2-pt. bye in the 2nd Round] TROPHY OR MEDAL TO ALL SCHOLASTIC PLAYERS SEPARATE TOURNAMENT HALL FOR SCHOLASTIC PLAYERS SIDE EVENTS: CAJUN “KNOCK-OUT” G/5 BLITZ TOURNAMENT (SAT. NIGHT after Round 3) & CAJUN BOUNTY (defeat the top ranked player and win free entry into our next tournament)! DISCOUNTS & FREEBIES: FREE Chess Clock to the players who travels farthest in both tournaments (Scholastic and Main Event) AND to the youngest & oldest in the Main Event. FREE parking ! ! ! PLACE: Crowne Plaza Hotel Houston North - Greenspoint, 425 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. East, Houston, TX Hotel Rate: $75. Call (281) 445-9000 or (800) 227-6963 and mention the Cajun Chess tournament, and reserve early to ASSURE CHESS RATE (rooms not reserved soon may not get special chess rate). UPPER SECTIONS, PRIZE FUND, AND SCHEDULES: OPEN: $1400-$800-$500-300-200 (U2200-700-400); U2000: $800-$400-$200-100-50; U1800: $800-$400-$200-100-50; U1600/Unr *: $800-$400-$200-100-50; U1300: $400-$300-$200-100-50; *Unrated players may only win 50% of the prize fund except in the Open Section where they must pay full Entry Fee and are eligible for the full prize fund. 3-Day Schedule: On-site Registration Fri. 5:30-7pm. Rds. Fri. 8pm; Sat. 11am-6:30pm; Sun. 9:30am-2:30pm. 2-Day Schedule: On-site Registration Sat. 8:30-9:30am. (Rds. 1 & 2, G/75) Rds. Sat. 11am-2:30pm-6:30pm; Sun. 9:30am-2:30pm. Both Schedules merge at Round 3. SCHOLASTIC SECTIONS, PRIZES, AND SCHEDULE (for Individuals - not a team event): Sections: OPEN, U1000, U700. Five rounds will be played; Game in 30 minutes (each opponent gets 30 minutes to complete his game). Teams consist of a minimum of 3 or more players from the same school or home school district. More than 3 players may be on a team, but only the top 3 scores will count for the final team score. Prizes: Trophies to the top 10 individuals in EACH section (more individual trophies may be given depending on attendance). Every non-trophy winner receives a souvenir chess medal. Awards ceremony immediately after last round. Scholastic Schedule: Scholastic tournament is 1 day only, Sat., July 25. On-site Registration Sat. 8:30am-9:30am. Round 1 at 10am. Other rounds will immediately follow. Lunch break will be announced. BYES (1/2-point): Available all Rounds (must commit before Round 3). TIEBREAKS: USCF-recommended computer tiebreaks will decide trophy and medal placements for all winners in scholastic sections. ENTRY FEES: Upper Sections: $79 by July 22nd; $89 at site. Unrated (playing in U1600): $49 by July 22nd, $59 at site; (playing in the Open Section): $79 by July 22nd; $89 at site (SEE NOTE* BELOW) Juniors (Under 18 years of age playing in the U1300 or U1600 Sections): $49 by July 22nd; $59 at site. Scholastic Sections: $20 by July 22nd; $25 at site. *NOTE: IF YOU ARE AN ADULT UNRATED PLAYER, YOU MUST PLAY IN THE U1600 SECTION, YOUR ENTRY FEE IS $49 AND YOU ARE ELIGIBLE FOR 50% OF THE PRIZE FUND. IF YOU REGISTER ON-LINE, PLEASE USE THE REGISTRATION BOX WHICH SAYS "JUNIOR/UNRATED" AND SHOWS THE $49 ENTRY FEE. HOWEVER, IF YOU ARE AN UNRATED PLAYER AND WANT TO PLAY IN THE OPEN SECTION, THEN YOU MUST PAY THE FULL ENTRY FEE OF $79 AND YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE FULL PRIZE FUND. PLEASE USE THE REGISTRATION BOX WHICH SAYS $79 ENTRY FEE. RE-ENTRY FEE: $25, Available up to Round 4 for all sections except OPEN section, due to FIDE ratings. Three re-entries count as an additional entry for prize fund. REGISTRATION: You may register on-line (www.cajunchess.com -- click on "Upcoming Tournaments"), by phone (504-905-2971 or 713-530-7820), by fax (504-208-9620), or by sending check and registration info to: Franc Guadalupe, 305 Willow Pointe Dr., League City, TX 77573. AVIS CAR RENTAL DISCOUNT: 800-331-1600, Use AWD #J996774 to receive discount. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR: Chief TD: NTD Franc Guadalupe ADDITIONAL INFO OR QUESTIONS: Call Cajun Chess at 504-905-2971 or Franc Guadalupe at 713-530-7820, or email [email protected]. |