March 24-26 or 25-26                                                                        Missouri
                                    US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (enhanced)
21st annual Mid-America Open. 5SS, 40/100, SD/30, d10 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/60, d10). Clayton Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., St. Louis MO 63105 (I-64 W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Hanley Rd).  Hotel telephone: (314) 726-5400 .

In 7 sections:  

Open Section: $2000-1000-500-300, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top U2300/Unr $800-400.  FIDE-rated.

Under 2100 Section: $1400-700-400-200. 

Under 1900 Section: $1400-700-400-200.

Under 1700 Section: $1400-700-400-200.

Under 1500 Section: $1200-600-300-200.

Under 1300 Section: $1000-500-300-200.

Under 1000 Section: $500-300-200-100, plaques to first 3, top Under 800, Under 600, Unrated.

Unrated may enter any section, with prize limits: U1000 $150, U1300 $300, U1500 $500, or U1700 $700.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male/female combined 2-player “team” score: $800-400-200. Team average must be under 2200; teammates may play in different sections; teams must register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 3/25; prize limits do not apply to mixed doubles.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.

Top 6 sections entry fee: $109 online at chessaction.com by 3/22, $115 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/20 (entry only, no questions), 3-day $113, 2-day $112 if check mailed by 3/15, $130 online until 2 hours before round 1 or at site until 1 hour before.  

Under 1000 Section entry fees: all $50 less than above.

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

Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section.  GMs free; $100 deducted from prize.

Online entry fee $3 less to MCA members.

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

Ratings:  March official USCF rating list used.  Unofficial uschess.org ratings are usually used if otherwise unrated.  Unofficial ratings are not used if you have an official rating.  

Foreign player rating info     Prizewinner tax info    CCA electronic devices policies

3-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:15 pm.
2-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat. 10 am, rds. Sat. 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun. 10 am & 3:15 pm.

Half point byes OK all, limit 2; Open must commit before rd 2, others before rd 3.

Hotel rates: $99-102, includes free full hot buffet breakfast and free parking, 888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess rate, reserve by March 10 or rate may increase, rooms may sell out earlier.     

ROOMS AT THE CLAYTON PLAZA ARE APPARENTLY SOLD OUT. We habve obtained a chess rate at the Sheraton Hotel, a few minutes walk away. The rate is $120 or $122 for one king bed (now $122 but may be about to change to $120), and $145 for an executive suite with a king plus a pullout couch bed. These rates are good until 5 pm March 21, availability permitting. The Sheraton special rates appear to be lower than other hotels in the area.

SHERATON HOTEL RESERVATIONS

CLAYTON PLAZA HOTEL RESERVATIONS (if available)

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