Final Entry Deadline is February 3 for the US Chess/ICC Rapids

Final Entry Deadline is February 3!

US Chess is proud to announce, in partnership with the Internet Chess Club (ICC), the 2021 US Chess / ICC Rapids! This event will take place online from February 6 to February 7. This is an open event, available to all US Chess members! As of now, there are over 170 entries, including GMs Aleksandr Lenderman, Gadir Guseinov and Andrew Tang! 

There will be 4 sections: 

·         Open Section (open to all players, including Unrated)

·         Under 2200 Section (open to all players rated under 2200 – no Unrated)

·         Under 1800 Section (open to all players rated under 1800 – no Unrated)

·         Under 1400 Section (open to all players rated under 1400 – no Unrated) 

This will be a six-round Swiss System tournament, played at a time control of G/15+3. Each player will get 15 minutes for the entire game, plus three seconds increment per move starting at move one. 

The Under 1800 and Under 1400 sections will play all their games on Saturday, February 6. The Open and Under 2200 sections will play all their games on Sunday, February 7. 

Each section will award “Plus-Score” prizes. No messy tiebreaks, no worrying about anyone else’s result. If you achieve a “plus score” of 3.5 points or more, you get a prize. It’s that simple! The table below shows the prizes for each section.

The FINAL deadline for the 2021 US Chess / ICC Rapids is at midnight Central Time on Wednesday, February 3. If you’re wanting to play, you should enter now! 

There are a few very important things to know before you enter, so please take time to read the tournament website at http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2021/iccrapids for more information. Please be sure to read and understand the rules for this event before you sign up! There is a detailed Technical Guide available on the tournament site that contains the event rules, as well as other important information you will need to compete in this tournament. 

The ICC Rapids will be online rated by US Chess. There will be some special rules in place. They are detailed on the tournament website at http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2021/iccrapids. You need to read these terms before entering. We will be using the February 2021 US Chess Rating List to determine eligibility and ratings. When you enter the tournament, you agree to follow the US Chess and ICC event rules – so be sure to read and understand them! 

Due to the substantial cash prizes, a wide-angle camera view of each player WILL be required. The ICC fair play algorithm, endorsed by US Chess, will be used to make decisions about potential cheating violations. Final decisions on violations will be up to the chief tournament director and US Chess. 

Do not use another browser window, another device, or help from anyone or anything else. You do not want the trouble that will cause you. The simplest way to avoid any problems is to make sure you, and you alone, are making your own moves. Just play honestly, as hard and as well as you can! 

Additional details, such as how to communicate with tournament directors and details about possible warm-up events, will be available at the tournament website as soon as they are finalized. 

For more information, including the list of pre-registrations, please see http://www.uschess.org/tournaments/2021/iccrapids. 

Don’t miss out – sign up before the February 3 deadline! We will “see” you next month for the 2021 US Chess / ICC Rapids!