Get out your pens and pencils, your calender, day planners, and/or PDAs and write these down and save these dates.
Wednesday January 31
"Buffalo Blitzzard" 7/SS, Game/10, 630-1030PM @NCCC for FREE!
Saturday February 3
Free February Event, 4 perhaps 5/SS, Game/30, 4-10PM @ UB for FREE!
(Will also include an unrated section for non-USCF players or those who wish to not play rated games.)
Saturday February 10
Rochester Grand Prix 4/SS,RDS 1&2 G/60 RDS 3&4 G/90 @RCC
EF $30 Prizes: $150-90-60 Class $80 Reg 8:30-9:15 RDS 9:30-12-2:15-5:30 Adv Ent/Info: Rochester Chess Center 221 Norris Drive, Rochester NY 14610 (585)442-2430
Saturday February 17
ELLEN KENNEDY DAY CHESS TOURNAMENT 4/SS, Game/45 for Open, Game/30 for Scholastic @ Main Place Mall, EF $20 for Open, $15 for Scholastic, Prizes $100-$60-$40 Class $50 in Open, Trophies for Scholastic.
Saturday and Sunday March 3&4
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada Open
Saturday March 10
AQE/ArchAngel Event 4/SS, Game/45 for Open, Game/30 for Scholastic @ Main Place Mall, EF $20 for Open, $15 for Scholastic, Prizes $100-$60-$40 Class $50 in Open, Trophies for Scholastic.
or
Rochester Grand Prix 4/SS,RDS 1&2 G/60 RDS 3&4 G/90 @RCC EF $30 Prizes: $150-90-60 Class $80 Reg 8:30-9:15 RDS 9:30-12-2:15-5:30 Adv Ent/Info: Rochester Chess Center 221 Norris Drive, Rochester NY 14610 (585)442-2430
Saturday March 31 and Sunday April 1
2007 MARCHAND OPEN (29th ANNUAL) GPP: 50 Enhanced New York
Dr. Erich Marchand “requested that his friends play chess in his memory.” 5SS, 30/60, SD/60. St. John Fisher College, 3690 East Ave, Rochester, NY. $$5375 Gtd. Open: (all) $1000-550-300-175, U2200 & U2000 each $300-175. EF: $55. Under 1800: $350-240-130, U1600 $230-150. EF: $50. Under 1400: $240-160-100, U1200 $150-100. EF: $45. U1000: $150-110-75-40, U800 $85-55-35. EF: $43. Unrated players in the U1800 section can only win $125, in U1400 & U1000 $55. All EF: $5 less HS, $10 less pre-HS, $5 less if rec’d by 3/15. IM and GM’s free is registered by 3/20. Great food available at site. Reg: 8-9:15 am. Rds: 10-2:15-6:30, 10-2:15. One ½ point bye available in rd. 3 or 4 if requested at entry. Info: 585-442-2430. Ent: Rochester Chess Center, 221 Norris Drive, Rochester, NY 14610. W.
Saturday April 7
Free April Event, 4 perhaps 5/SS, Game/30, 4-10PM @ UB for FREE!
(Will also include an unrated section for non-USCF players or those who wish to not play rated games.)
Saturday April 14
Saturday April 14, AQE/ArchAngel Event 4/SS, Game/45 for Open Game/30 for Scholastic @ Main Place Mall, EF $20 for Open, $15 for Scholastic, Prizes $100-$60-$40 Class $50 in Open, Trophies for Scholastic.
or
Rochester Grand Prix 4/SS,RDS 1&2 G/60 RDS 3&4 G/90 @RCC EF $30 Prizes: $150-90-60 Class $80 Reg 8:30-9:15 RDS 9:30-12-2:15-5:30 Adv Ent/Info: Rochester Chess Center 221 Norris Drive, Rochester NY 14610 (585)442-2430
Saturday April 21
3rd ANNUAL EXCELSIOR-STELLA NIAGARA SCHOLASTIC, 4/SS, Game/30, 9AM to 4PM @ Stella Niagara Education Park, EF $15, Free Lunch/Prizes/Trophies. (There probably will be again a Quick Open section as a side event as well.)
Saturday May 5
Free May Event, 4 perhaps 5/SS, Game/30, 4-10PM @ UB for FREE!
(Will also include an unrated section for non-USCF players or those who wish to not play rated games.)
Saturday May 12
Rochester Grand Prix 4/SS,RDS 1&2 G/60 RDS 3&4 G/90 @RCC EF $30 Prizes: $150-90-60 Class $80 Reg 8:30-9:15 RDS 9:30-12-2:15-5:30 Adv Ent/Info: Rochester Chess Center 221 Norris Drive, Rochester NY 14610 (585)442-2430
Posts
Are you sure that free play will bring players. Higher rated players will hardly come because of possibility to lose rating points. Will see. But it is good for those who wish to establish rating.
ReplyDeleteTo the above anonymous:
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting. You have an interesting perspective.
My hope with these "free" tournaments is to get newer players to come and also to "re-attract" those who can not participate in other events because of the cost. The vast majority of tournaments charge money to compete (sometimes quite a lot), with only a few participants likely having a good shot to win more than his or her entry fee. The bulk of the over the board players fall into this category. If we can get these new players involved and bring back the others, then there will be more interest in chess and this may, in the long run, bring more money and also develop more strong players in this great game.
As it stands, now, aside from scholastic chess events, local tournament participation is on the decline. Although, I have been involved in chess for just a short time, I am trying to do what I can, both monetarily and with hard work to try to reverse this trend.
If higher rated players do not come then those who do participate will not have an accurate established rating. For example if an unrated player plays and wins 3 or 4 games against competition averaging around 1100 then that players preliminary rating will be 1600 or 1700+. Likely not what the "actual rating" should be. But if no 1700 or better players are there, then there is no true measuring stick.
Also if no higher rated players show, it sends a message to those that come, that their time and play is not relevant. Such arrogance does not, in my opinion, help in the long run.
I would not have thought, that the higher rated player would "duck out” from playing chess, just because he or she would wish to protect his or her rating. Is the idea in rated chess to get to a certain level and then not play rated games anymore? I suppose in this way, the player could always say I am rated such and such, even though, the player may not be that good anymore.
Would we tolerate the next champion at a regional, national or world level, to get to that point and then quit just so that she will not ever lose rating points or lose her crown in competition again?
I understand that there may be some high level players, who would not play in a tournament in which there are few or no players close to his ability, as such games may not be challenging to him. But I doubt that if he is that good, that the chance of losing would dissuade him from participating. After all if he clearly is that much better, he will not lose. Unless, of course, his competitor actually played better than he did.
I also understand that there are some professional players who would not find it worth their time to compete in tournaments in which the prize fund is not enough to support their livelihood. Such players are few and far between and likely would not be coming to a small local event whether entry fees were charged and a relatively small prize fund was available.
In conclusion, I am not sure "that free play will bring players." I do know, however, that different ideas are needed to rejuvenate chess at the local level. Please consider participating whatever your playing strength may be. Even those who might not wish to play for fear from losing rating points to a at present, lesser ranked player, could still come to share some camaraderie or better yet impart some chess knowledge to those still trying to learn more.
Best in chess and in life to all!
A lot of truth in what you said Mark. I could also suggest, having parts of it as a main post in the blogspot.
ReplyDelete