7 rounds, 8 sections, Memorial Day weekend, at luxurious Doubletree Chicago/Oak Brook. You play only those in your section. New anti-sandbagging prize limits! New section boundaries!  SPECIAL RULES HAVE BEEN REVISED- SEE BELOW.

7 round Swiss, 40/2, SD/1. 3-day option, rds 1-2 G/75. 2-day option, rds 1-4 G/40. Doubletree Hotel, 1909 Spring Rd (near I-88 Cermak Rd exit), Oak Brook, IL 60521 (across the street from Oak Brook Shopping Center with over 100 stores). Free parking. Unrated must enter U800/unrated or Open Section. Free analysis of your games each day by IM John Donaldson! All are invited to submit games or ask questions.

Open Section: $10000-5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-500-400-400, clear first bonus $300, top Under 2500/unrated $2000-1000. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game for title & bonus prize. FIDE rated, 150 Grand Prix Points.

Under 2300 Section: $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-500-400-400-300-300. FIDE rated.

Under 2100 Section: $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-500-400-400-300-300.
Under 1900 Section: $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-500-400-400-300-300.
Under 1700 Section: $5000-3000-2000-1000-700-500-400-400-300-300.
Under 1500 Section: $4000-2500-1500-1000-700-500-400-400-300-300.
Under 1200 Section: $3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400-300-300.
Under 800/unrated Section: Trophies to top 10.

Prize limits: 1) If under 26 total games as of 4/07 list, limit $1000 U1200, $2000 U1500 through U2100. 2) If rating was 20/more points over section maximum on any list 4/06 or after, prize limit $1000. 3) Balance goes to next player(s) in line.

Mailed entry fee: 4-day $199, 3-day $198, 2-day $197 mailed by 3/19, 4-day $219, 3-day $218, 2-day $217 mailed by 5/16, all $250 at site. No checks at site, credit cards OK.

Online entry fee at chesstour.com: $200 by 3/19, $220 by 5/22, $250 after 5/22 until 2 hours before rd 1.

Phoned entry fee (406-896-2038, entries only, no questions): $205 by 3/19, $225 by 5/22. No phone entry after 5/22.

Special entry fee: $70 less to all in Under 1200 Section and to seniors over 65 in Under 1500 & above sections. GMs: $150 from prize. Re-entry $100; not available in Open Section.

Under 800/Unrated Section entry fee: 4-day $24, 3-day $23, 2-day $22 mailed by 5/16, all $27 online at chesstour.com by 5/22, $30 phoned to 406-896-2038 by 5/22, $40 at tournament.

Advance entry fee $10 less if paid with $49 adult USCF dues. Renew now and save! USCF membership required. ICA membership ($18, juniors $14) required for Illinois residents.

Foreign player ratings: CFC OK, 100 pts usually added to FIDE or FQE, 200/more to most foreign, no pts added to CFC or Jamaica. Most foreign ratings other than CFC, FQE or Jamaica not accepted for U2000/below. High of multiple ratings used.

US player ratings: MAY USCF RATING LIST USED (usually same as May CHESS LIFE label); June list may be used if otherwise unrated. FIDE ratings not used. CCA ratings used if above USCF.

SPECIAL RULES (revised):

1) Players with scores of 80% or more in round 3 or after may not use headphones, earphones, cell phones, or hearing aids, or go to a different floor of the building, without Director permission. They must also submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director; refusal to be searched is grounds for expulsion from the tournament, with no refund.

2) Players with scores of 66% to 79% in round 3 or after, all players in round 1 and players with a 1-0 score in round 2 may not use unauthorized cellphones, and may not use unauthorized headphones or earphones if their opponent objects.

3) If the players in a game have different scores, rules for the higher of the two scores apply to both players.

4) Writing move before playing it is allowed, unless you are using an electronic scoresheet.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 21 May 2007