26th annual
WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 1-3 or 2-3, 2019 in Southern California
$20,000 PRIZE FUND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED

5 round Swiss, Airtel Plaza Hotel, Van Nuys (Los Angeles)
March 1-3 or 2-3                                               Southern California
                US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (enhanced)
26th annual Western Class Championships. 5SS, 40/100, SD/30, d10 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60, d10), Airtel Plaza Hotel, 7277 Valjean Ave, Van Nuys CA 91406. Parking $8/day to midnight or $12/day including overnight. Free wireless, indoor pool, gym, hot tubs; restaurants within walking distance. Flyaway bus from LAX to Van Nuys about $10 each way; free shuttle between hotel and bus terminal or train station.

PRIZES $20,000 GUARANTEED. In 7 sections.

Master Section (over 2199): $2000-1000-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100 bonus, top U2300 $800-400.  FIDE rated.

Expert Section (2000-2199): $1500-700-400-200.

Class A Section (1800-1999): $1500-700-400-200.

Class B Section (1600-1799/Unr): $1500-700-400-200.

Class C Section (1400-1599/Unr): $1200-600-300-200.

Class D Section (1200-1399/Unr): $1000-500-300-200.

Class E Section (Under 1200/Unr): $600-300-200-100. 

Rated players may play up one section. Unrated must play in Class A or below with maximum prize E $100, D $200, C $300, B $400.

Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line.

Mixed doubles bonus prizes: best male/female 2-player "team" combined score among all sections: $500-300-200. Team average must be under 2200; may play in different sections; must register (no extra fee) by 2 pm 3/2; prize limits do not apply to mixed doubles.

Foreign player rating info                         Prizewinner tax info                     CCA electronic devices rules

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, or 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. 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.     

Top 6 sections entry fee: $123 online at chessaction.com by 2/27, 3-day $128, 2-day $127 if check mailed by 2/20, $140 online until 2 hours before round 1 or at site.  No checks at site; credit cards OK. GMs free, $120 deducted from prize. 

Class E Section entry fee: all $50 less than top 6 sections entry fee.

USCF membership required. Special 1 year USCF dues with 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. Re-entry (except Master) $60.  Online entry fee $5 less to SCCF members; join/renew at scchess.com.

3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6 pm, rounds begin Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.
2-day schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rounds begin Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.
Both schedules: Half point byes OK all rds, limit 2, Master must commit before rd 2, others before rd 3.

Hotel rates: $119-119, 818-997-7676, or use link at chesstour.com, reserve by 2/18 or rate may increase. Chess block could sell out before 2/18.

HOTEL RESERVATIONS

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

Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, DirectorAtChess.US.

Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.

Entry: chessaction.com or Continental Chess, PO Box 8482, Pelham NY 10803. $15 service charge for withdrawals. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering). 

BLITZ TOURNAMENT Saturday 9:30 pm, enter by 9:15 pm.

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