Mechanics' Institute Chess Club Newsletter #446

The exhilarating feeling that one walks in a minefield, that one has to be constantly on the alert for a tactical surprise, plotting at the same time to surprise one's opponent, these are the very things that make chess exciting.

Hans Ree

1) Mechanic' Institute Chess Club News

2) Jaan Ehlvest wins Chicago Open

3) 2009 NY International at the Marshall Chess Club

4) Here and There

5) John Donaldson wins Washington Open by Rusty Miller

6) Upcoming Events

1) Mechanic' Institute Chess Club News

The Summer Tuesday Night Marathon started last night with 68 entrants headed by top seed NM Russell Wong.

Normally round one sees the top half of the field deal mercilessly with the bottom group but there is a reason the games

are played. Last night Tom Allen and Michael Hilliard showed the form charts don't always hold true

as they upset players rated over 400 hundred points above them. It's not to late to join the eight round Marathon with

a half point bye for the first game.

George Sanguinetti has started up blitz tournaments on Wednesday nights starting at 6:30 pm. The entry fee is $5 with

a one hundred percent payout ( 50% / 30% / 20%). The format is a round robin - double round robin if time allows. Players

are asked to bring clocks with digital preferred. Jules Jelinek and Romulo Fuentes were the winners the past two weeks,

both events attracting eight players.

Payam Afkham-Ebrahimi has put together some interesting statistics on the Mechanics' Tuesday Night Marathon

and weekend tournament series at ( http://www.tanakachessclub.com/chess_room). 20 players participated in all 5 Marathons

last year and John Chan is the most active MI member with 100 percent attendance at TNMs and close to 80 percent for weekend

events. That translates to over 100 games the past year.

Thanks to NM John Blackstone for finding the following article which appeared in The San Francisco Call of August 24, 1895.

The article contained some nice caricatures of Mechanics' players of the time that can be viewed at

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn94052989/1893-08-24/ed-1/seq-7/;words=Chess+CHESS+chess .

A CHESS REVIVAL

Rendezvous of the Local Crack Players.

Most Players Wear Beards

Scene in the Chessroom at Mechanics' Institute— Significant Facts
About the Players.

There Is a dense cloud of tobacco smoke. There is a big crowd of well-dressed men,
men not so well dressed and shabbily dressed men. There are chairs and tables
and books.

When your eyes have been accustomed to the rather opaque atmosphere you see
that the men, the chairs, the tables, the books are arranged with some regard to
order and regularity. Enough, at all events, to bespeak the original presence
in the room of an orderly and designing mind.

It Is the chessroom of the Mechanics' Institute that you are viewing. The books
are on shelves on three of the four walls which enclose all this tobacco smoke and
chairs and tables and men.

The men are mostly divided into quartets. So are the chairs, and there are not
lacking evidences that once— early in the morning for instance— the chairs were so

arranged around the chess-tables that regular passageways or aisles were left
between the quartets running the entire length of the long room.

You have to wind in and out considerably and tread your way carefully to go
from one end of the room to the other. It is yet early in the afternoon, but the
chess-players have been at their work so long that the day is old for them and the
room correspondingly disorderly.

Recently there has been a reawakening of local interest in the abstruse game of
chess. Lasker, the champion, is coming out here, and the consequent revival is
vigorous and healthy.

This is the only chess room in the city. That is why it is crowded. It you stay a
whole day in this room you will see all the chess-players in San Francisco before
you leave. Go there at 3 o'clock in the afternoon and you will see most of them
in half an hour.

They are a strange lot of mortals. Silent as so many sphinxes they are. A season
of silent prayer in a Methodist church is about the only thing that will compare at
all favorably with the chessroom of the Mechanics' Institute.

Not a word is spoken. For long minutes not a sound is heard. Then the click of a
bishop is heard on the hard table. Then another click. Then a silence.

Checkmate." is whispered lowly in a suppressed voice, choking with self
absorption and material unconsciousness.

Once in a long time two players arise and go out. Immediately their places are
filled by two men who have been merely spectators. This makes a little noise, relieves

somewhat the quiet monotony that pervades the big room. Occasionally, too, a king

or a pawn is shoved off the board and strikes with an awful din on the hard floor.

In an ordinary crowd such slight disturbances as these would scarcely be noticed.

In this chessroom they punctuate the stillness to the point of startling one almost.

If you go early in the morning you will find only two men, on an average, at each
table, for only a couple. you know, can play at one table. But in the afternoon
there is not a game that has not at least two spectators and many have more.

Though you know little about the game, you can. at this hour, readily distinguish
the tables at which the crack players are at work. You have only to watch the
crowd. When there are six, eight or a dozen spectators there a brilliant game is
in progress, and there you will find some couple out of the dozen or more crack
chessmen in town.

At none of the tables will you find Joe Redding these days — though for years he
was the local champion— for he has given up the fascinating game now for the still
more entrancing one of law.

You will probably find Dr. Walter Lovegrove, who took the last championship
chess game in this city, at one of the tables where the group of spectators is largest.
And Dr. Benjamin Marshall. The doctor has retired from the practice of medicine
and juts taken a hearty interest in the practice of chess. He finds it even more
absorbing than the game of human life and health.

A. .V. Manson, A. Heinemann, Captain Scott— you will find either or all of them
at some of the tables where the crowd is the largest or it will be a cold day for chess
at the Mechanics' Institute.

Miller, Hendricks, Howe, Walsteln, Levy— these complete, or nearly complete.
the list of players who can give you a couple of knights and all the pawns and
then beat you in a few moves.

These men are permanent fixtures in the chessroom. They are more than that.
They are players of such recognized ability that their names are known, and well
known in the literature of chess throughout the United States and in Europe.
Does Dr. Marshall visit New York? He has only to make himself known at the
Manhattan Chess Club to be greeted as a brother.

Does Dr. Lovegrove journey to Europe? At Paris, at London, at Berlin there are
sumptuously appointed clubhouses and intellectual club members waiting to

welcome him as an honored guest.

Truly, there is no game like chess. Its origin is as old as that of history. The
Hindus have it that the game originated in the fertile brain of an astronomer who
flourished several thousand years ago and was possessed of supernatural knowledge
and acuteness.

The Greeks claimed chess as the invention of Palameties, who employed it to be
guile the tedium of the siege of Troy.

But the Arab legend is more likely. It is that chess was first devised for the instruction

of a young despot by his tutor, a learned Brahmin, who sought thus to teach the youth

how a king was dependent on his subjects for safety.

Probably all of these are wrong, but it matters not. No other game is so absorbing as that of chess.

No other game exhausts the gray matter of its devotees at such an alarming rate as does chess.

If you look but casually at the faces of the players in this big room you can judge
the intellectual character of their occupation. There are strong faces here. Some
of them are stronger than the others, hut none are weak. Brains are the chief requisite

for chess. You will not find low foreheads nor narrow chins in this room.
At least you ought not to find them here, and if you do the chances are that you
have found a physiognomical exception.That is for more likely than that you will
find a weak mentality in this room.

And mark this fact: three-fourths or more of all the. players here are bearded
men. Does the beard signify mental strength or intellectuality? Mark this,
too: you will not find one clean-shaven face in all the room. One or two youths
you may rind who go to learn chess, but no clean-shaven men. Is this a significant
fact or a mere coincidence?

There is another fact worth noting about the faces in this big chessroom.
They are almost to a man the faces of Americans, so far at least as may be
judged from a mere exterior acquaintance.

All day long they sit there and play and play and play, and never speak throughout it all,

save to "check" or to "check mate." Do they get tired of it? Never.Are they dull and heavy?

Not in the least; on the contrary, they are intensely excited, and when the day's work is over

as much exhausted as ordinary folks are after ten hours of remunerative toll.

It is not play. It is work. It is absorbing work, that demands the whole individual as much an even

literary composition does. And it demands all one's time to attain even a local prominence in the

game, say those who ought to know. And after a long lifetime spent in chess playing the devotee

dies when he has reached the point where he is beginning to realize how little he knows of the great
game.

This is chess. These are its devotees in San Francisco.

2) Jaan Ehlvest wins Chicago Open

The Chicago Open took place from May 22-25, 2009 in Wheeling, IL. GM Jaan Ehlvest took the title and additional bonus money with a win with the black pieces in the Blitz
Armageddon playoff against GM Gabriel Sargissian. NM Michael Aigner of Davis tied for sixth in the under 2300 section with a score of 5 from 7.

Open section, Final standings:
1-2. GMs Ehlvest and Sargissian - 5½ out of 7,
3-8. GMs Van Wely, Shulman,Akobian, Kacheishvili, Shabalov and IM Finegold - 5,
9-12. GMs Petrosian and Sharavdorj,FMs Kleiman and Boor - 4½, etc.

3) 2009 NY International at the Marshall Chess Club

American norm hunters can't complain about a lack of opportunities the next month with the Copper State Invitational coming up in a few days followed by a trifecta on the Eastern seaboard

starting with the New York International followed by the Philadelphia International and ending with the World Open.

New York International

June 19–23, 2009< B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">

200 Grand Prix Points (enhanced)!!
9-round Swiss-System, 40/120, SD/60

open to all players rated 2200 and above (USCF or FIDE) and special invitees
May be limited to first 50 registrants

$10,000 GUARANTEED

$5000—2500—1500—1000

Plus special Brilliancy Prize

&nb sp;

Awards ceremony to follow round 9. Every player will receive a special prize.

ENTRY FEE:

GMs, foreign IMs, and foreign WGMs .................................. $100, returned on completion

............................................................... of tournament; no money deducted from prize fund

USA IMs, USA WGMs, and Foreign FIDE-rated players............ $150 in advance / $200 at site

USA players with FIDE ratings over 2200.................................. $200 in advance / $250 at site

Players with USCF ratings over 2200 and FIDE rating U2200.... $250 in advance / $300 at site

Players with USCF ratings over 2200 with no FIDE rating......... $300 in advance / $350 at site

Players under 2200 USCF………………………………………….$350 in advance / $400 on site

All except first category:......................................... $25 less for Marshall Chess Club members

Enter:

In advance: By mail (checks only, made payable to The Marshall Chess Foundation) postmarked by 6/14, by phone (credit cards only) thru 6/16, in person (cash, credit card, or check) thru 6/16

On our website (credit cards only) thru 6/16, at site no later 30 minutes before your first game.

Special free entry fee available for juniors under 18 years of age. These scholarships are provided by the Marshall Chess Foundation in its mission to help talented juniors to compete in international tournaments. Juniors must be rated 2100 or over, limited to first five applicants.

Playing Schedule:

Round one: Friday, June 19, 12:00 Noon

Round two: Friday, June 19, 7:00 PM

Round three: Saturday, June 20, 12:00 Noon

Round four: Saturday, June 20, 7:00 PM

Round five: Sunday, June 21, 12:00 Noon

Round six: Sunday, June 21, 7:00 PM

Round seven: Monday, June 22, 12:00 Noon

Round eight: Monday, June 22, 7:00 PM

Round nine: Tuesday, June 23, 12:00 Noon

Byes: Must commit by rd. 3; limit 2; limit 1 bye rounds 8–9

Players taking byes cannot make norms

USCF and FIDE-Rated. IM/GM Norms may be possible.

Tournament director: Steve Immitt

Dr. Frank Brady, International Arbiter, officiating

Marshall Chess Club

23 West 10th Street

New York , NY 10011

Phone 212-477-3716 Fax 212-995-9281

www.marshallchessclub.org

For information on lodgings,

contact the Marshall Chess Club

4) Here and There

IM Nikolay Minev has started a new column for Phil McCready's website (www.thechesslibrary.com). The column is called "Mini-Lessons From Short Games of the 21st Century"

and a new one will appear about every three weeks. The link to the index is:http://www.thechesslibrary.com/minevcontentindex.html and to the first article directly (.pdf) is:
http://www.thechesslibrary.com/files/MiniLesson001.pdf. A list of all the articles Dr. Minev wrote for Northwest Chess in the 1980s can be found at
http://www.thechesslibrary.com/magbiblio-northwestchess.html

Here is a Bobby Fischer game that is not published in any anthology devoted to him. It was played in a simul in Quebec City where Bobby went 48-0. It was first published in the May-June 2008

issue of the Quebec magazine Echecs.

Fischer,Robert - Guay,Jules [C25]

Quebec City ( simul) February 25, 1964.

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 c6 3.d4 d5 4.exd5 exd4 5.Qxd4 c5 6.Qe5+ Qe7 7.Nf3 Qxe5+ 8.Nxe5 Bd6 9.Nc4 Kd7 10.Nxd6 Kxd6 11.Bf4+ Kd7 12.0–0–0 Nf6 13.h3 Kd8 14.g4 Re8 15.Nb5 Re7 16.d6 Rd7 17.Nc7 b6 18.Nxa8 Bb7 19.Bb5 Bxa8 20.Bxd7 Bxh1 21.Bf5 Be4 22.d7 Nbxd7 23.Rxd7+ Nxd7 24.Bxe4 g6 25.Kd2 Ke7 26.Bc6 Nf6 27.Bb8 a6 28.Ke3 Nd7 29.Bxd7 Kxd7 30.Ke4 Ke8 31.Bd6 c4 32.Kd5 Kd7 33.Be5 h5 34.Kxc4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Ke6 36.Bd4 f6 37.Bxb6 Ke5 38.b4 1–0

Issue 5 of 2009 of the German magazine Schach Magazin 64 has a very lengthy and detailed analysis of Yasser Seirawan's win over the young Dutch talent Robin Swinkels in a 4...Bf5 Caro-Kann.

Here is another nice win by Yasser in the Caro that did not make it into TWIC.

Hugo van Hengel - Yasser Seirawan [B12]

Dutch League Cup, 2009

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nc3 e6 5.g4 Bg6 6.Nge2 c5 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4 9.Bg2 h5 10.gxh5 Rxh5 11.Qg4 Rxe5 12.Qg3 Nd7 13.f4 Rxe3+ 14.Qxe3 Qh4+ 15.Qg3 Qf6 16.0–0–0 Ne7 17.Ncb5 Kf8 18.Bh3 a6 19.Nc7 Bd6 20.Ncxe6+ fxe6 21.Nxe6+ Kg8 22.Rhf1 Nf8 23.Ng5 Bf5 24.Bg2 Rc8 25.Rd2 Rc4 26.Qb3 b5 27.a4 Bxf4 28.Rxf4 Rxf4 29.Bxd5+ Kh8 30.Nf7+ Kh7 31.Rd1 Rf2 32.Rd2 Rxd2 33.Kxd2 Qd4+ 0–1

Michael Aigner writes about the remarkable performance of young star Samuel Sevian at the Bay Area Chess Memorial Day event held in San Jose which was organized and directed by Salman Azhar.

" FM Kenan Zildzic of Sacramento won the Master section, ahead of IM Ricardo DeGuzman, NM Arjoe Loanzon and 8 year old Samuel Sevian. The young rising star drew with five masters including IM DeGuzman and even beat one of the state K-12 co-champions! His new rating is 2036. Simply amazing!"

The Ukrainian Team Championship is being held from May 21-29, 2009 in Alushta.The main favourites are PVK Kiev Chess with GMs Ponomariov, A.Onischuk (USA), Miroshnichenko, Areshchenko, Beliavsky (SLO), Baklan, Vysochin, IM Nyzhny and after six rounds they are tied for first place. GM Onishuk is 4-0 so far.

Rusty Miller who helped organize the following event writes:

PGE Baseball Park in Portland Oregon has setup Chess Night for the Portland Beavers game against Las Vegas51s on July 28, 2009. The 2009 Oregon Chess Champion Carl Haessler of Lake Oswego Oregon will throw out the First Pitch that evening.Get your souvenir T-shirt or other item at: http://www.cafepress.com/ChessNight . Chess boards will be set up before to the game for skittles play.More information is available in Northwest Chess magazine and at http://www.nwchess.com

US Zonal President Beatriz Marinello writes:

The Confederation of Chess for Americas (FIDE) and the Brazilian Chess Federation are pleased to invite all Chess National Federations of Americas to the Continental Absolute Chess Championship 2009. It will be held in CXSP in Sao Paulo , a Sport and Financial city and capital of the Department of Sao Paulo between July 25th to August 2nd, 2009. Sao Paulo is a city located near Rio de Janeiro and is the main economic center of Brazil . All details can be found in the official web page http://www.continental2009.com/

GM Melik Khachian, IMs Enrico Sevillano and Andranik Matikozian and SM John Bryant tied for first at 4.5 from 6 in the Lena Grumette Memorial held in Los Angeles last weekend.

GM Sergey Kudrin won the annual NAO event in Stillwater, Oklahoma, last weekend scoring 6.5 from 7. Among those tied for second a point back were GM Alex Yermolinsky and IM Michael Brooks. Frank and Jim Berry organized and directed the event.

5) John Donaldson wins Washington Open by Rusty Miller

The Washington Open, held at the Red Lion Hotel in Spokane over Memorial Day weekend, drew 103 players in 3 sections. This marked the first time the Washington Open was held in Spokane in 52 years!

IM John Donaldson of Berkeley won the Open section and the $1000 first prize with 5 points from 6 after NM Curt Collyer of Seattle forced a draw by repetition shortly after the parties made the first time control in round 6. NMs Josh Sinanan of Seattle and Nick Raptis of Portland drew their 6th round encounter to tie for second with 4.5. They were joined by young Experts and soon to be Masters Steve Breckenridge and Howard Chen who won their last round games.

The cross tables are posted on http://www.spokanechessclub.org plus the USCF website.

The information above comes from a report made by tournament director Kevin Korsmo. The event was sponsored by the Spokane Chess Club, the Gary Younker Chess Foundation and the Washington Chess Federation.

Photos of the event by Russell Miller can be found at http://www.flickr.com/photos/27748810@N03/sets/72157618763434113/

6) Upcoming Events

Upcoming Events

Mechanics' Events ( go to www.chessclub.org for more information)

Arthur Stamer Memorial - June 13-14
William Addison Open - June 20
Charles Bagby Memorial - July 18
Vladimir Pafnutieff Memorial - August 8
Bernardo Smith Memorial - August 22-23
Scholastic Championship - July 11

May 30
San Luis Obispo County Open
4-SS, G60 5 sec delay. South Bay Community Center, 2180 Palisades Avenue, Los Osos CA 93402.
In 2 Sections: Open: EF $35; $45 at site. Reserve (U1400/Unrated): EF $25; $30 at site.
All: Cash only at site. $5 discount to SCCF, SLOCC, Scholastic (Age 12 and Under).
$$: 80% of entries.
Reg: 9:00-9:30 at site.
Rds: 10:00-12:15-2:45-5:00.
One ½ pt. bye any round if requested with entry.
Ent: Payable to San Luis Obispo Chess Club, c/o B. McCaleb, 234 Via La Paz, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.
Inf: Barbara McCaleb, 805-540-0747 bmccaleb@calpoly.edu.
Directions: Hwy 101 to Los Osos Valley Rd; 10 miles West to Palisades Ave.
Note: A separate Scholastic Tournament with 3 sections will be held at the same site for trophy prizes. For details, call or write Maria Kelly, maria kelly@charter.net or 805-423-5331.
State Championship Qualifier.

June 27 BayAreaChess

San Jose, CA. Swiss in 2 sections u1800, 1800+. 4SSxG/60. EF: Swiss $44. Prizes: $1,000 b/44. BayAreaChess is #1 USCF affiliate in rated games west of Texas! More info at bayareachess.com/events. Online entry at: bayareachess.com/my. Email to: contact@bayareachess.com.

July

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July 4 6th Pacifica Chess Open

5 rounds, G/30. 1125 Terra Nova Blvd., Pacifica, CA 94044. Contact: John Galpin, JohnGalpin@atcc.us or website: atcc.us/Index.htm for additional details.

Heritage Event!
July 3-5 49th Annual Pacific Southwest Open GPP: 30 California Southern

6-SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day schedule rds 1-3 G/60, then merges). LAX Hilton, 5711 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045. $$8,000 b/200, 50% of each prize guaranteed. 2 sections: Open, $$1400-700-400-300-200, U2200 $600-300-150, U2000 $600-300-150. Amateur, open to U1800/Unr, $$600-300-150, U1600 500-250-150, U1400 400-250, U1200 150, Unr. 150. Unr. May win Unrated prize only. All, EF $69 if rec'd by 7-2, $79 at site. SCCF memb. req'd of So. Californians ($18, jrs. U18 $10, includes Rank & File magazine). Reg.: 3-day 9-10 a.m. 7-3, 2-day 8:30-9:30 a.m. 7-4. Rds.: 3-day: 10:30-5 Fri-Sat, 10-4:30 Sun. 2-day: 10-12:15-2:30 Sat., then merges. Ent: SCCF, c/o John Hillery, 835 N. Wilton Pl. #1, Los Angeles, CA 90038, on line at www.westernchess.com. HR: $109 (310) 410-4000, mention chess with group code APS. Parking $10/day. Inf: admin@westernchess.com. NS, W, F. State Championship Qualifier. WCL JGP.

July 16-19, 17-19 or 18-19 14th annual Pacific Coast Open GPP: 150 Enhanced California Southern

6SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-3 G/50). Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, 30100 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills CA 91301 (US-101 to Reyes Adobe Road exit). Adjacent to the Santa Monica Mountains, 26 miles west of Burbank, 12 miles from Malibu, 28 miles from Ventura. Free parking. Prizes $30,000 based on 250 paid entries (re-entries & U1000 count half), minimum $24,000 (80% of each prize) guaranteed. In 7 sections. Open: $3000-1500-700-400, clear or tiebreak win $100 bonus, top U2300/Unr $1800-1000. FIDE. Under 2100: $2000-1000-600-400. Under 1900: $2000-1000-600-400. Under 1700: $2000-1000-600-400. Under 1500: $2000-1000-600-400. Under 1300: $1800-900-500-300. Under 1000: $1000-500-300-200. Unrated may enter any section, with prize limit U2100 $900, U1900 $700, U1700 $500, U1500 $400, U1300 $200, U1000 $100; balance goes to next player(s) in line. Top 6 sections EF: 4-day $144, 3-day $143, 2-day $142 mailed by 7/8, all $145 online at chesstour.com by 7/13, $150 phoned by 7/13 (406-896-2038, entry only, no questions), $160 (no checks, credit cards OK) at tmt. Under 1000 Section EF: all $60 less. FREE TO UNRATED in U1000 or U1300 sections if paying 1 year USCF dues with entry. GMs free; $140 deducted from prize. SCCF membership ($18, jrs $10) required for rated Southern CA residents. Re-entry $80; not available in Open Section. Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry- $30 online at chesstour.com, $40 if mailed, phoned or paid at site. 4-day schedule: Reg Thu to 6:30 pm, rds Thu 7 pm, Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 10-4:30. 3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 11 am, rds Fri 12-7, Sat 11-6, Sun 10-4:30. 2-day schedule: Reg Sat to 9 am, rds Sat 10-12:45-3:15-6, Sun 10-4:30. All schedules: Bye all, limit 2, Open must commit before rd 2, other sections before rd 4. HR: $87-87, 818-707-1220, request chess rate, reserve by 7/2 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Ent: Continental Chess, PO Box 249, Salisbury Mills NY 12577. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: www.chesstour.com, 845-496-9648. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.

August

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Aug. 21-23 or 22-23 Central California Open GPP: 60 Enhanced California Northern

5SS, 40/2, SD/1 (2-day option, rds 1-2 G/75), Ramada University Hotel, 324 E. Shaw Ave., Fresno, CA 93710 (CA-99 to CA-41 to Shaw Ave). Cosponsored by Fresno Chess Club. $$ 15,000 based on 150 paid entries (re-entries count half), minimum $10,000 (2/3 of each prize) guaranteed. In 4 sections: Open: $2000-1000-500-300, top U2200 $800-400. FIDE. Under 2000: $1500-700-400-200, top U1800 $800-400. Under 1600: $1200-700-400-200, top U1400 $600-300. Under 1200: $1000-500-300-200, top U1000 $400-200. Unrated may enter any section, with prize limits: U1200 $100, U1600 $300, U2000 $500. Balance goes to next player(s) in line. EF: 3-day $113, 2-day $112 mailed by 8/13, all $115 online at chesstour.com by 8/18, $120 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 8/18 (entry only, no questions), $130 at site. Mailed EF $10 less to Fresno Chess Club members. FREE TO UNRATED in U1200 section if paying 1 year USCF dues with entry. GMs free, $100 deducted from prize. All: Unofficial uschess.org ratings based on 4 or more games used if otherwise unrated. Special 1 year USCF dues with Chess Life if paid with entry: online at chesstour.com $30, mailed, phoned or paid at site $40. Re-entry $60; not available in Open Section. No checks at site, credit cards OK. 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11-6, Sun 9-3:15. 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds Sat 11-2:30-6, Sun 9-3:15. Byes: OK all; must commit before rd 2. HR: $89-89, 800-241-0756, 559-224-4040, request chess rate, reserve by 8/7 or rate may increase. Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Ent: Continental Chess, Box 249, Salisbury Mills, NY 12577. Questions: 845-496-9658. Advance entries posted at chesstour.com. WCL JGP.