2012 Pittsburgh Open chess tournament

March 23-25 or 24-25 Pennsylvania
Trophies Plus Grand Prix Points: 60 (enhanced)
13th annual Pittsburgh Open. 5SS, 40/2, SD/1, d/5 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75, d/5), Doubletree Hotel Pittsburgh Green Tree, 101 Radisson Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15205. Free parking, free airport shuttle. Prizes $12,000 based on 150 paid entries (re-entries and $50 off entries count half), $9,000 (75% of each prize) minimum guaranteed. In 5 sections.

       Open Section: $1500-800-400-200, clear/tiebreak winner $100 bonus, top Under 2300/Unr $700, Under 2200/Unr $600. FIDE rated.
       Under 2100 Section: $1000-500-300-200, top Under 1900 $400.
       Under 1800 Section: $1000-500-300-200, top Under 1600 $400, no unrated may win over $500.
       Under 1500 Section: $800-400-300-200, top Under 1300 $300, no unrated may win over $300.
       Under 1200 Section: $400-250-150-100, trophies to top Under 1000, Under 800, Under 600, Unrated. No unrated may win over $150.

       If unrated prize is limited, balance goes to next player(s) in line.

Top 4 sections entry fee: 3-day $103.50, 2-day $102.50 if check mailed by 3/15, all $107 online at chesstour.com by 3/20, $110 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 3/20 (entry only, no questions), $120 (no checks, credit cards OK) at site. No credit card mailed entries accepted. GMs free; $100 deducted from prize.

Entry fee for Under 1200 Section: All $50 less than above.

All sections: 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. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section.

3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rounds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 6 pm, Sun 10 am & 4:15 pm.
2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rounds Sat 11 am, 2:30 pm & 6 pm, Sun 10 am & 4:15 pm.

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

Hotel rates: $91-91-91-91, 1-800-395-7046, 412-922-8400; reserve by 3/9 or rate may increase.

ROOM SHARING, RIDE SHARING: See www.ccaforum.com.

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

Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied.

Ratings: March official USCF rating list used (no tournaments rated after February 3rd were rated for the official March rating list),
but unofficial ratings at uschess.org are usually used for players who would otherwise be unrated. Foreign player rating info.

Entry: Continental Chess Association, Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. $15 service charge for refunds. No smoking. Questions: www.chesstour.com, www.chesstour.info, 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. Chess Magnet School Junior Grand Prix Points available.