Oct 6-10, 7-10, 8-10, 6-9, 7-9 or 8-9                                                                                Virginia

                            ChessLecture.com Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)
2nd annual Continental Class Championships. 
Master Section, Oct 6-10 only:  9 round Swiss, 40/90, SD/30, 30 second increment.  GM & IM norms possible, FIDE rated. 
Expert Section, Oct 6-10 only:  9 round Swiss, 40/2, SD/1.  FIDE rated.
Class A and Class B Sections, Oct 6-10, 7-10 or 8-10: 7 round Swiss, 40/2, SD/1 (3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/75).
Class C, D and E Sections, Oct 6-9, 7-9 or 8-9: 6SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds. 1-3 G/60). 

At the luxurious Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington VA 22202.  Free shuttle to/from Reagan International Airport and Crystal City Metro station (contact hotel for schedule).

Prizes $60,000 based on 380 paid entries (unrated in E or D, Seniors, re-entries, GMs, IMs, WGMs, foreign FIDE rated players in Master count as half entries), else proportional, minimum $40,000 (2/3 of each prize) guaranteed.  5 seconds delay used for digital clocks, but no 5 minute time deduction.

 

In 7 sections:

Master: Open to all US players currently or formerly rated at least 2200 USCF or 2100 FIDE, foreign players rated at least 2000 USCF or 1800 FIDE, and invitees.  Prizes $5000-2500-1500-1000-700-600-500-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak first bonus $200, FIDE Under 2400/Unr $2000-1000. Free hotel room to the highest FIDE rated foreign GM who enters by 9/6 and completes the tournament with no byes.  GM and IM norms possible, FIDE rated.

Expert: Open to USCF 1800-2199.  Prizes $3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400.  FIDE rated.

 

Class A: Open to USCF 1600-1999 or unrated.  Prizes $3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400.  No unrated may win over $1500.

 

Class B: Open to USCF 1400-1799 or unrated.  Prizes $3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400.  No unrated may win over $1200.

Class C: Open to USCF 1200-1599 or unrated.  Prizes $2500-1300-900-700-600-500-400-400.  No unrated may win over $900. 

Class D: Open to USCF under 1400 or unrated.  Prizes $2000-1000-800-600-500-400-300-300.  No unrated may win over $600.  No player with under 26 lifetime games rated by 10/11 list may win over $1200.  

Class E: Open to USCF under 1200 or unrated.  Prizes  $2000-1000-800-600-500-400-300-300.  No unrated may win over $400. No player with under 26 lifetime games rated by 10/11 list may win over $800.  
 

Former rating prize limits: If official rating was more than 30 points over section maximum on any USCF rating supplement 10/10-9/11, prize limit $1200.  Balance of limited prizes goes to next player(s) in line.

Master Section entry fees: GMs, IMs, WGMs: free by 9/6, $30 ONLINE or at site until 6 pm 10/6; $150 deducted from prize.  Free entries must reconfirm entry online or in person on 10/6 by 6 pm. Foreign FIDE rated players: $75 online at chesstour.com by 10/3, $100 ONLINE or at site until 6 pm 10/6; $150 deducted from prize.  Others: $225 if check mailed by 9/28 or online by 10/3, $230 phoned by 10/3 (406-896-2038), $250 until 6 pm 10/6 ONLINE or at site.  No checks at site, credit cards OK.

Other sections entry fees:  5-day $195, 4-day $194, 3-day $193, 2-day $192 if check mailed by 9/28, all $197 ONLINE at chesstour.com by 10/3, $200 if phoned to 406-896-2038 by 10/3 (entry only, no questions), $220 at site.  No phone entry after 10/3.

Entry fee $100 less to seniors 65 or over in Expert or below sections. 
Entry fee $120 less to unrated in Class D or E.

Special 1 year USCF dues with paper magazine if paid with entry: Online at chesstour.com, Adult $30, Young Adult $20, Scholastic $15. Mailed, phoned or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30, Scholastic $20.

No checks at site, credit cards OK.  No mailed credit card entries.

Re-entry: $100, no re-entry from Master Section to Master Section.

5-day schedule (Master, Expert): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7 pm, Fri 12 & 7, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10  & 4:30.
5-day schedule (Class A, Class B):  Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 6 pm, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30.
4-day schedule (Class A, Class B): Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30.
3-day schedule (Class A, Class B): Reg. ends Sat 10 am, rds. Sat 11, 2:30 & 6, Sun 11 & 6, Mon 10 & 4:30.
4-day schedule (Class C, Class D, Class E): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds. Thu 7, Fri 7, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30.
3-day schedule (Class C, Class D, Class E): Reg. ends Fri 11 am, rds. Fri 12 & 7, Sat  11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30.
2-day schedule (Class C, Class D, Class E): Reg. ends Sat 9 am, rds. Sat 10, 12:45, 3:15 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:30.
"Reg." means late registration (does not apply to advance entrants). 
 
All schedules in Class A or below merge and compete for same prizes.
Half point byes: OK all; limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rounds), must commit before round 3.

Bring sets, boards, clocks if possible- none supplied.

Hotel rates: $95-95-105-115, 703-418-1234, reserve by 9/22 or rate may increase.
Special chess rate valet parking $6/day, with or without guest room. 
Car rentals: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633 or reserve car online at chesstour.com.

Foreign player ratings: See www.chesstour.com/foreignratings.htm.

US player ratings: FIDE ratings used for Master Section, USCF ratings for Expert and below.  Unofficial uschess.org ratings are usually used if otherwise unrated.

Special rules: Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. In round 3 or after, players with scores of  80% or over and their opponents may not use headphones, earphones or cellphones or go to a different floor of the hotel without Director permission. 

Entry: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658, www.chesstour.com. You may request "lowest possible section" if October rating unknown. $15 service charge for refunds.  Advance entries will be posted at chesstour.com.  Chess Magnet School Junior Grand Prix Points available. Invitation requests: GoAtChess.US (use @ symbol in place of "At.") 
 

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