A Heritage Event
US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available to players under 21

50th annual
CONTINENTAL OPEN

AUGUST 5-9, 6-9, 7-9 or 8-9, 2020

CANCELED

Sturbridge, Massachusetts (near the Connecticut border)

Sturbidge Host Hotel at Cedar Lake, 366 Main St (Rt 20 West), Sturbridge Massachusetts 01566 (I-84 Exit 3, near I-90). Free parking. 60 miles from Logan Airport (Boston), 55 miles from Bradley Airport (Hartford), 20 miles from Worcester Airport. Experience early 19th century New England at Old Sturbridge Village (see www.osv.org).  In 7 sections.

$40,000 PROJECTED PRIZES

Master Section 9 rounds, FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible!
Others 7 rounds, including FIDE rated 2000-2299 and 1800-2099 sections!

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 150 (enhanced)

Prizes based on 320 paid entries; GMs, foreign IMs/WGMs, U1200 Section & re-entries count as half entries; else raised or lowered in proportion with $20,000 minimum guaranteed.

MASTER SECTION: 9 rounds, Aug 5-9, 40/90, SD/30+30. FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible. Open to FIDE 2100/up or USCF 2200/up.

2000-2299 SECTION, 1800-2099 SECTION: Each 7 rounds with option of 4-day schedule Aug 6-9 or 3-day Aug 7-9, both merge and play for same prizes. Both sections are FIDE rated, except for G/60 games. 40/90, SD/30+30 (3-day option, rds 1-2 G/60 d10).

UNDER 1900 THROUGH UNDER 1200 SECTIONS: Each 7 rounds with option of 4-day schedule Aug 6-9, 3-day Aug 7-9 or 2-day Aug 8-9, all merge and play for same prizes. 40/100, SD/30 d10 (3-day option, rds 1-2 G/60 d10, 2-day option, rds 1-4 G/30 d10).

Master: $4000-2000-1500-1200-1000-900-800-700-600-500, clear or tiebreak win $200 bonus.
Top FIDE U2300/Unr $2000-1000.

2000-2299: $2000-1000-500-300-200.

1800-2099: $2000-1000-500-300-200.

Under 1900: $2000-1000-500-300-200.

Under 1700: $2000-1000-500-300-200.

Under 1500: $1400-700-400-300-200.

Under 1200: $900-500-300-200-100, top Under 1000 (no unr) $400-200.

Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female 2-player team combined score among all sections:
$1000-500-300-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee)
before both players begin round 2; prize limits do not apply. In the Master Section, only rounds 1-7 count towards mixed doubles.
 

Unrated may enter U1200 to U1900, with prize limit U1200 $150, U1500 $300, U1700 $450, U1900 $600.
Balance goes to next player(s) in line.

Master Section entry fee, if paid online at chessaction.com by 8/3:
These fees, and the minimum prizes below, have been structured to attract a very strong average field.
GMs & foreign IMs/WGMs free, must confirm entry 8/5 by 6 pm at site or by email to Director@chess.us. 
US IMs/WGMs and foreign FIDE rated players: $160.
US FMs: $310.
US FIDE 2200/up or USCF 2300/up: $460.
US FIDE 2100/up or USCF 2200/up: $660.
After 8/3, all $40 more (including GMs).

Minimum prizes: Minimum prize guarantees to the following who enter online at chessaction.com by 7/15
and play all 9 games with no byes: foreign GM $900, foreign IM/WGM $500; US GM or foreign FM/WIM $300, foreign FIDE rated $200. If entering 7/15-8/3, all guarantees half these amounts.  

2000-2299 Section, 1800-2099 Section, Under 1900 Section, Under 1700 Section entry fee: $158 online at chessaction.com by 8/3, 4-day $164, 3-day $163, 2-day $162 mailed by 7/26, all $180 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site, or at site, or online until 2 hours before round 1. 

Under 1500 Section entry fee: all $40 less than 2000-2299 to Under 1700 sections entry fees.
Under 1200 Section entry fee: all $80 less than 2000-2299 & Umder 1700 sections entry fees.

Online entry fee $5 less to MACA members; may join/renew at masschess.org.
Re-entry $80; not available for top 3 sections unless switching to new section. 

Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $35, Young Adult $22, Scholastic $15. Mailed or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17.

Foreign player rating info            Prizewinner tax info            CCA electronic devices policies

For all tournaments, adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled. Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used at our discretion if above USCF.  No rating below the latest official USCF rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, FIDE ratings are used. Click here for further details.

Ratings: August FIDE used in Master, USCF August official in others. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, and can be used to play up into top 3 sections (see www.peakrating.us). Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if necessary, may be used, if higher than USCF, in 2000-2299 and lower sections. See also above. 

5-day schedule: Reg Wed to 6 pm, rds Wed 7, Thu 12 & 7, Fri 11 & 6, Sat 10 & 5, Sun 10 & 4:15.
4-day schedule:
Reg Thu to 6 pm, rds Thu 7 pm, Fri 11 & 6, Sat 10 & 5, Sun 10 & 4:15. 
3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 11 am, rds Fri 11, 2:30 & 6, Sat 11 & 6, Sun 10 & 4:15.
2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 9 am, rds Sat 10, 11:45, 1:30, 3 & 5, Sun 10 & 4:15. 
All schedules: Bye all, limit 3, must commit before rd 3.

HOTEL RATES: $99-99-109, 800-582-3232, 508-347-7393, request chess rate, reserve by 7/20 or rate may increase; rooms may sell out before 7/20.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS (enter Group Code 2008CONTIN)

Room or travel sharing: Post a request to share on the USCF "All Things Chess" Forum.  If you have trouble posting, email your request to Continental Chess and we will post it for you.  

Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online at chesstour.com.

Entry: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham NY 10803. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.us. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).

BRING SET, BOARD, CLOCK IF POSSIBLE- NONE SUPPLIED. 

SATURDAY NIGHT BLITZ TOURNAMENT

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