1996 Pan-American Chess Championships

Tournament Life Announcement (TLA)

The following Tournament Life Announcement (TLA) is scheduled to appear in the November, December, and January issues of Chess Life.

National Event: December 27-30, 1996 Maryland
Pan-American Chess Championships. Three separate 6-SS events. 50/2, SD/1. Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 (on BaltimoreUs Inner Harbor). $$G: 3300 + college scholarships to UMBC + 41 trophies.

Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Championship. 6-round Team Swiss. Each team consists of four players and up to two alternates, all from same campus. To enter, each team must field at least three players. $$G: 1000-600-400-200-100. Trophies to top 10 teams; top boards 1-4; top teams under 2000, under 1800, under 1600; top 2-year school; top small school. EF (if postmarked by 12/9): $120 for first team, $100 for each additional team. Each player and alternate must be an undergraduate or graduate student (full-time or part-time), registered for the fall 96 or spring 97 semester in a degree program, and making progress toward the degree. Each team must submit a signed letter from the schoolUs registrar certifying team eligibility.

Pan-American Scholastic Team Championship. 6-round Team Swiss. Each team consists of four players and up to two alternates, all from same school. To enter, each team must field at least three players. $$G: Top team wins scholarships to the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) as follows. Highest board accepting prize on top team wins full four-year tuition scholarship; next lower three boards each wins a four-year $2000/year scholarship. Scholarship prizes are restricted to USA citizens or permanent residents who are accepted to and matriculate at UMBC. To maintain award, student must earn at least 12 credits per semester with grade point average of at least 3.25 out of 4.0. Trophies to top five teams; top boards 1P4; top teams under 1800, under 1600, under 1400; top primary school; top elementary school; and top middle school. EF (if postmarked by 12/9): $80 for first team, $60 for each additional team. Each team must submit a signed letter from the schoolUs principal certifying team eligibility.

Pan-American Open. [10 GPP] 6-SS. Open to any individual. Alternates, faculty, and coaches are encouraged to play. $$G: 400-200-100-50. Class prizes to top under 2000, under 1800, under 1600, under 1400, unrated ($50 each). Trophies to top individual, top two university alternates, top two scholastic alternates, top college faculty or coach, top scholastic faculty or coach. EF (if postmarked by 12/9): $30 adult, $15 junior. Half-point bye available in any one round of rounds 1-3, if requested before round 1. For alternates in any team event only, half-point byes available in any round during which alternate plays on team, if requested at least one hour before round.

All: Reg. 2-5pm Fri (12/27). Opening ceremony 5pm Fri. USCF College Chess Business Meeting (open to all) 3pm Sun. Awards ceremony 3pm Mon. Rds: Fri. (12/27) 6pm, Sat. 10am-5pm, Sun. 10am-5pm, Mon. 9am. Side event: Pan-Am Blitz, Sat. (12/28), circa 10pm, after round 3. Details to be announced at event. Fly to Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) Airport, or ride Amtrak to BaltimoreUs Penn Station. There is ample parking adjacent hotel (take Exit #53 off Interstate 95). HR: $79/room single or double; $89/room triple or quad. Renaissance Harborplace Hotel, 202 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, (800) 468-3571 or (410) 547-1200. EF: $5 more per person ($20 per team) if postmarked after 12/9. Make all checks payable to US Chess Federation. Ent (if postmarked by 12/9): US Chess Federation, 186 Route 9W, New Windsor NY 12553. Ent (if postmarked after 12/9) and Info: Dr. Alan T. Sherman, Dept. of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, ECS Building-Room 210, UMBC, 1000 Hilltop Circle, Baltimore, MD, 21228-5398. Tel: (410) 455-2666, Fax: (410) 455-3969, sherman@umbc.edu. See http://www.umbc.edu/chess/ for additional information. NS. W.