99th Western Mass./ Conn. Valley Championship

Hosted by the Amherst College Chess Club

ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY A PARENT OR GUARDIAN FOR THE DURATION OF THE TOURNAMENT

Amherst College requires a parent or guardian of any child under age 18, participating in the event, to sign a waiver of release.

1st Place; Revolving trophy & Personal engraved trophy.

Trophy to top Expert, A, B, C, D, Rated under 1200, Biggest Upset, and Unrated

U.S. Chess Federation Membership is required and available at the tournament.

TWO SCHEDULES: 2-day and 1-day schedule merging in the 4th round on Sunday

FORMAT: 5 game Swiss System (No elimination)

ADVANCE REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT OPTIONS: Send REGISTRATION FORM and Check payable to W.M.C.A by U.S. mail to: ED KOSTREBA, 45 FAIRVIEW ST., PALMER, MA 01069, postmarked by February 17th. OR PayPal or Venmo to wmass-chess@comcast.net (must include Registration Form information as a note during electronic payment, or via e-mail, or phone text message) by February 20th.

ADVANCE ENTRY FEE: Rated players $25, New, and unrated players, $5

AT SITE ENTRY FEE: Rated players $30, New, and unrated players, $10

2-DAY SCHEDULE (Saturday 22nd and Sunday-23rd)                                              TIME CONTROL: G/90;d5

AT DOOR REGISTRATION & ENTRY FEE PAYMENT (Cash, Check, PayPal, or Venmo): 8:30-9:15, Saturday

ROUNDS: Saturday 10:00, Lunch break, 1:45, 5:30; Sunday 2:00, (5:00 W.M.C.A. elections), 5:30

1-DAY SCHEDULE (Sunday 23rd) NO AT DOOR REGISTRATIONS, MUST BE ADVANCE ENTERED:

Check-in only is from 8:00 to 8:15                 TIME CONTROL: Rounds 1-3: G/45;d5, rounds 4 and 5: G/90;d5

ROUNDS: Sunday 8:30, 10:15, Noon, 2:00, (5:00 W.M.C.A. elections), 5:30

1st Place Tiebreaker Format: 2 Rounds G/10;d5.

Armageddon Final Format: 1 Round G/10;d0

In the case of a tie, there will be one final playoff game of G/10;d0 no delay! The rule is, that white MUST WIN to obtain the point. If black DRAWS, he/ she wins. Both players write their color of choice on paper, and hand them to the TD. If they pick opposite colors, no bidding is necessary, as they will play those colors. If they picked the same color pieces, color is decided by bid. They each write a number equaling time in whole minutes to play and hand them to the TD. The player with a lower bid, wins the color matching their choice, and begins the game with an amount of time equivalent to their bid. The other player will begin the game with the base time.
Format: 1 Round

BYES: Limit of one 1/2-point requested bye, available for planned missed round, specified with entry, or before round 2 pairings.

WMCA MEMBERSHIP: $15 per year NOT required. It includes the 17th WMCA Free tournament, $5 off at all WMCA tournaments, voting rights, and privileges added during membership.

CHESS SETS, and CHESS CLOCKS will be provided. However, if you have a set, you would rather use, you may substitute your equipment with the approval of the player of the black pieces.

ANY QUESTIONS? Leave text message at  413=668-4589            or email: wmass-chess@comcast.net           

REGISTRATION FORM   99th Western Mass/Conn. Valley Championship

¨Name ________________________________________________________________   ¨Schedule (Circle one)   2-Day   or  1-Day

¨U.S.C.F. ID. No. (If member) ______________________________               1/2-point bye (Circle round)    1     2      3      4      5   .

¨e-mail address ___________________________________________________  OR Phone #  (_________)____________________

¨Entry Fee: $ ________

If not a U.S.Chess Federation member or if a renewing member (Fill out a USCF Membership Form) Fee:  +  $ ________

W.M.C.A. membership  (Circle one)          new          or         renewing         (Not required):  +  $ ________

¨ Required information to enter the tournament.                                                                                               ¨  TOTAL: $ ________