The 2012 Illinois Chess Tour begins this weekend with the traditional opener to the Illinois chess calendar, the Tim Just Winter Open. This year's event, labeled XXVIII, maintains a two-section format, with an Open section and Reserve section restricted to players rated 1799 and below. Billed as "Chicagoland's longest continuously run chess tournament organized by the same organizer", the TJWO returns to the DoubleTree Hotel in Oak Brook, and once again includes a scholastic side event; a book dealer; and sets, boards and clocks provided by the North American Chess Association.

The Tour is pleased to announce that FM Albert Chow has joined the staff as its Games Editor. Chow is a many-time winner of the Illinois Chess Tour, last capturing the crown in 1997, and has a long resume of covering chess, including lengthy stints for the Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois Chess Bulletin. In addition to providing reporting coverage and game annotations of Tour events throughout the year, Albert will be playing in the TJWO, and must be considered among the favorites. Also pre-registered as of 1/4 is NM Sam Schmakel, a two-time scholastic national champion; standout member of the reigning Illinois State High School champions of Whitney Young; and integral member of the Chicago Blaze of the USCL.

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