Houston Summer Chess Festival
The U.S. Junior Open (July 13-15) is for players under the age of 21 as of January 1, 2012, and the Senior Open (July 9-14) is for those who are at least 50 years old as of July 9th. Once again, for those who are not eligible for either National event, we will have the Not-A-Senior-Not-A-Junior Open, July 13-15. In addition to these three events, we will have the always fun Blitz and Bughouse side events, a simul by GM Sergey Kudrin, and a Q&A session by USCF President Ruth Haring.
GM Sergey Kudrin will be defending his Championship in the Senior Open and will have plenty of competition as the 2010 winner, GM Alexander Ivanov, will also be among the participants. USCF President WIM Ruth Haring will be playing as well. GM Kudrin’s Simul will take place on Friday morning before the start of the Junior Open. In addition to her participation in the Senior Open, USCF President Ruth Haring will be available to discuss USCF matters with participants and other attendees of the Chess Festival.
The U.S. Junior Open has four sections: U21, U15, U11, and U8 (age as of 1/1/2012). The U21 will have cash prizes and plaques, and the winner gets an automatic spot in the 2013 U.S. Junior Championship, if still eligible by age. The other three sections have trophy prizes. All sections have Place and Class (age and rating) prizes and all participants receive commemorative medals. In addition to the individual awards, the event will have team prizes and players are eligible to enter school or club teams! Top four scores, minimum of three, count towards team scores in each section. For more information and online registration, visit http://www.active.com/more-sports/houston-tx/us-junior-open-chess-championships-2012
The U.S. Senior Open has 6-Day and 3-Day Schedules. It has a guaranteed prize fund of $5,000 with the overall winner taking home $1,250! The top three finishers get Commemorative Clocks and six class (age) winners will receive plaques. The event is open to all players age 50 or over, but the top finisher born on or before January 1, 1952 is the official USCF entrant in the World Senior Chess Championship and gets an additional $500 USCF stipend and the $250 Larry Englebretson Memorial stipend to help defray expenses for the WSCC. For more information and on-line registration visit http://www.active.com/more-sports/houston-tx/us-senior-open-chess-championship-2012
The Not-A-Senior-Not-A-Junior offers a $3,500 Prize Fund, 70% guaranteed and is open to all, not just for those who are not eligible for the other two events. This event has four USCF rated sections: Open (also FIDE rated), U2000, U1600/Unrated, and U1300. For more information and on line registration visit http://www.active.com/more-sports-tournament/houston-tx/not-a-senior-not-a-junior-open-2012