March 27-29 or 28-29                                                                        Missouri
                                    US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (enhanced)
24th annual Mid-America Open. 5SS, Major G/100+30, other sections 40/100, SD/30 d10. 2-day option in all, 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 6 sections:  

Major Section: Open to 1800 or above (see peakratings.us). Prizes $2000-1000-600-400, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $800-400.  FIDE-rated.

Under 2100 Section: $1500-700-500-300. 

Under 1900 Section: $1500-700-500-300.

Under 1700 Section: $1400-700-500-300.

Under 1500 Section: $1200-600-400-300.

Under 1200 Section: $900-500-300-200.

Unrated prize limits: U1200 $150, U1500 $300, or U1700 $500.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male/female combined 2-player score: $800-400-200. Must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 3/28; prize limits do not apply to mixed doubles.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.

Top 5 sections entry fee: $113 online at chessaction.com by 3/25, 3-day $118, 2-day $117 if check mailed by 3/18, $130 online until 2 hours before round 1 or at site until 1 hour before.  

Under 1200 Section entry fees: all $20 less than above.

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

Re-entry $60; not available to go from Major to Major.  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 or paid at site, Adult $40, Young Adult $25, Scholastic $17.  USCF membership required.    

Foreign player rating info     Prizewinner tax info    CCA electronic devices policies

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, in your hotel room or car, or in a bag at your table.  

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: March official USCF ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to qualify for Major. Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if necessary, may be used if higher than USCF. See also above.   

3-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 & 3:30.
2-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat. 10 am, rds. Sat. 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun. 10 & 3:30.

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

Hotel rates: $110-113-118-123, includes free full hot buffet breakfast, 888-303-1746, 314-726-5400, request chess rate, reserve by March 13 or rate may increase, rooms may sell out earlier. 

HOTEL RESERVATIONS    

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