A Heritage Event

Dec 27-29 or 28-29, New York

Grand Prix Points: 60 (enhanced)

30th annual Empire City Open.  6SS, 40/2, SD/1, d/5 (2-day option, rds 1-3 G/50, d/5), New Yorker Hotel, 481 Eighth Ave at 34th St, across from Penn Station, New York 10001. $10,000 guaranteed prize fund. In 5 sections. NOTE: Lowered entry fee if rated under 1000.

Open Section: $1000-500-300-150, clear or tiebreak 1st $50, top 2200-2299 $500, U2200/Unr $500. FIDE rated.
Under 2100 Section: $800-400-200-100, top U1900 $500.
Under 1800 Section: $800-400-200-100, top U1600 $400, unrated limit $500.
Under 1500 Section: $700-400-200-100, top U1300 $300, unrated limit $300.
Under 1200 Section: $600-300-150-100, top U1000 $250, unrated limit $200.

Entry fee: 3-day $98, 2-day $97 if check mailed by Dec 18, both $99 online by Dec 23 at www.chesstour.com, $105 phoned by 12/23 (406-896-2038, no questions), $120 at site. No mailed credit card entries. GMs free; $90 deducted from prize.

Entry fee for Under 1000 or Unrated in Under 1200 or Under 1500 (NOTE CHANGE): $50 less than above. 

All: Re-entry $50, not available in Open.  No checks at site, credit cards OK. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. 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 at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $30, Scholastic $20.

3-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Tue 10:30 am. Rounds Tue 11 am & 6 pm, Wed 11 am & 6 pm, Thu 10 am & 4:30 pm.
2-Day Schedule: Reg. ends Wed 9:30 am. Rounds Wed 10 am,12:45 pm, 3:15 pm & 6 pm, Thu 10 am & 4:30 pm.
Half point byes available all rounds, limit 2 byes, Open must commit by rd. 2, others by rd 4.

Hotel rates: $229-229, 1-800-764-4680, 212-971-0101,  reserve by 5 pm Dec 13 or rate will increase, ask for Continental Chess Association rate.

Entry: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: chesstour.com, 845-569-9969. Advance entries posted at www.chesstour.com. Bring set, clock, board-none supplied. Chess Magnet School JGP.