Save $200-plus, Early Registration Deadlines Approach: Sevan Memorial 11/11, IL Class 11/13, Sevan Scholastic 11/22

 

According to the National Retail Foundation, the average Black Friday shopper in 2015 spent $300. Imagine in how much better shape your pocketbook (or wallet) will be if you played chess instead that day!

Thanks to the Sevan Memorial (and Sevan Scholastic) you will have that opportunity to play tournament chess instead of shopping... and with a potential of $12,500 in prize money offered (in the main event) you might actually come out with positive cash flow! (Full disclosure: The prize fund offering is based on 220 paid entries).

But in order to achieve maximum savings, one should act soon. Registration jumps from $95 to $105 after this Friday, Nov. 11. The five-round event features two-day or three-day options with a merger for the final three rounds. Register here.

For those new to the Illinois chess community, we lost a legend of chess with the passing of tournament organizer, FIDE trainer and Chess IQ administrator Sevan Muradian. Muradian died suddenly in February at 40, leaving behind a wife and two daughters. This event is a fundraiser for the family as well as an opportunity for Thanksgiving-time gathering of the chess community.

Assuming the "based on" is met, competitors can win $1500 for first place overall -- even second place is worth $800. Under 1800 prize money is $1000 -- with $750 prizes to first place Under 2200, Under 2000, Under 1600 and Under 1400. That's a hefty potential return on investment. All in, Organizer Glenn Panner of Chess Weekend is offering $12,500 in cash prizes. Earning a share of that would certainly pay for a few holiday gifts!

For the up-and-coming players, Sevan's Scholastic offers newcomers or those rated Under 1200 a one-day experience on Friday, November 25 with a $30 entry fee (until Tuesday, Nov. 22). That tournament will be conducted in four-rounds with trophies as prizes. In addition to overall prizes, there will be awards for top U800 as well. 

To be clear, there is also a U1200 in the main event -- with a reduced early entry fee of only $60 -- and the potential to win $400.

And if the above hasn't given you enough reason to sign up, the organizer has included a $600 prize for top "mixed double" score (one male, one female) with $400 going to the second place pair. No additional entry fee is required to claim the mixed double prizes -- but you do have to sign up!

To promote rated chess in accordance with Sevan's principles, the tournament is offering an amazing $5 rate for new USCF scholastic chess players. (For details on this, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line "Membership promotion").

More details on Sevan's Scholastic can be found here and for the Sevan Memorial click here. The Hyatt Woodfield in Schaumburg will be the host site -- so if someone in the family has the shopping bug, they can scratch that itch with Woodfield Mall across the street. Woodfield is also host to an amazing Legos experience if a child (or adult) can't get enough of those little plastic pieces.

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Sevan Memorial Blitz

To add to the excitement there will be a Memorial Dinner for Sevan at RAM near the hotel site. And whether or not you're in the main event, a Saturday night (11/26) blitz competition will kick off at 8pm with 10 games per player -- (as white and as black against 5 different opponents). $25 early entry fee with $1000 in prizes (based on 75 entries.)

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Illinois Class

Speaking of early registration cut-offs, those are approaching for the Illinois Class, to be held Sunday, November 20 at the Hilton Lisle / Naperville.

Friday, Nov. 11 is the deadline for the wonderful $89 hotel rate for that Hilton property. This time of year is a great time to explore the nearby Morton Arboretum with a tapestry of fall colors.

Sunday, Nov. 13 is the last day for the earliest registration rate: $45 for the upper sections and $25 for the U1200 or U800 sections. (ICA members get a $5 discount so the rates are actually $40 / $20 respectively). After that date, the registration goes up $10.

ICA memberships -- in addition to supporting ICA efforts including the website -- provide discounted entry to this event, the Illinois Class (September), the Chicago Open (May), the Chicago Class (July) and the Midwest Class (October). At $15 for adults and $10 for juniors, it more than pays for itself in savings alone. (Other Illinois Tour events provide other discounts). ICA membership can be addressed here.

The Illinois Class represents the final event on the 2016 Illinois Tour. Details on the tour can be found here.

This is the first year where the U1200 and U800's have been split into two sections so it's an event which promises matches against compatible players.

Full details on the Illinois Class -- including a link to registration -- can be found here.

For those brand new to rated chess, USCF memberships can be purchased at the discounted rate of $11 by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with the subject line "Membership promotion". For high school sophomores through seniors, this can otherwise cost $26 so the rate is quite a savings.