Schaumburg to Host Dual USCF National Events

Registrations remain open at this hour for both the 2015 US Senior Open and the 2015 US Junior Open. Both events kick off tomorrow, Friday, June 12, at the Schaumburg Hyatt Regency, and run through Sunday.

Entries can be viewed and registrations accepted here.

Tournament details can be viewed on the ICA calendar listings for the Senior and the Junior.

Both events are six-round tournaments beginning at 10am on Friday. The time controls are Game in 90 minutes with a 30-second (per move) increment.

Juniors will compete in four age-based sections: Under 21, Under 15, Under 11, Under 8. Overall prizes will be supplemented by additional age- and ratings-based prizes.

The eligible champion of the Senior Open will be the USCF representative to the World Senior Open in 2016. Seniors will compete in one section.

Organizers Sevan Muradian and Glenn Panner have even provided team prizes in each of the top section. The weekend's festivities will also include a slew of side events.

While preparing for the events, Panner, of Chess Weekend, responded to some questions from the ICA web staff:

What inspired the organizers to bid on bringing these two national events to Chicago?

 

We are always looking for different types of events to bring here, particularly prestigious ones.  Players are so different from each other, it is nice to see which type of events will draw well. I can’t remember the last time either of those events were here. 

 

How do you think the flavor of competition will vary between Junior and Senior play?

 

Slower for the senior  play will be my guess.  There are some really tremendous players in both events, looking forward to watching some good chess this weekend.

 

What are your thoughts on offering three full days of competition as opposed to cramming things into two or two and a half days?

 

Sevan and I disagree on this.  My feeling is that I would have preferred a 3-day schedule with a 2-day option.  For a national event, I get the idea of just 2 rounds per day, though for the junior players I think they would have especially enjoyed more action.

 

Despite a slow start to registrations, the combined registration for the two main events is now over 200 players. Will this be the center of chess activity in the midwest for the weekend of June 12-14?

 

Players will decide that with their votes whether or not to play.  We are fine with the turnout but certainly not satisfied.  The combined events should have been over 300 players in my opinion.