Last Call for $107 Hotel Rate for Chicago Open; $2000 Guaranteed Prize Fund Offered For Sunday Night Blitz

 

An email from the Continental Chess Association reminds the community that Friday, May 13 may be the last day for the deeply-discounted $107 hotel rate for Chicago Open players. After today, the Westin North Shore has the right to bump up the nightly room rate. 

Already some room configurations are no longer available for the Memorial Day Weekend event at the posh Westin in Wheeling.

The Chicago Open kicks off May 26 with nine rounds for the Open Section, with other sections providing seven rounds and the option of either a three-day or two-day schedule.

Illinois Chess Association members -- either Scholastic or Regular (Patron & Benefactors too!) -- receive a five dollar discount on the tournament registration fee. A similar discount will be available to entrants in the upcoming Chicago Class (July) and Midwest Class (October) -- so the ICA membership generally pays for itself in addition to supporting Illinois chess.

The prize fund of $100,000 has been fully guaranteed... and, in a shocking development, a $2000 prize fund has been announced for Sunday Night Blitz (remember that Monday is Memorial Day -- so it's not a school night!).  Additionally, $4200 has been allocated towards Mixed Double prizes in the main event. No additional entry fee is required to compete for Mixed Doubles -- just a partner of the opposite gender in any section.

Complete information on the Open can be found here.

To check your ICA membership status, check here.

To renew your ICA membership -- or join for the first time, you can do so here. 

The Chicago Open -- generally Illinois' largest annual chess event with the exception of the IHSA Finals -- offers something for everyone. Entry fees for the Under 1000 section are $57 with fourteen trophies and $2700 in prize money at stake. Seniors (65 and older) are being offered a $100 discount towards registration in any section other than the U1000.

Grandmasters are eligible for free entry, with an offset should they receive prize money.

Advance registration has 15 Grandmasters signed up so far with 361 players on board. Final registration numbers are expected to almost double from the current tally.

Although public transportation options are available -- and the hotel may be offering a shuttle from the nearest Metra station, if you are seeking to carpool from the city and/or might be willing to drive others from Chicago to the hotel site each day, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..