US Senior, Junior, and Not-So-Either Chess in Houston from July 13! Register Now

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

In one month, the Summer Chess Festival which includes the U.S. Senior Open and the U.S. Junior Open returns to Houston, this time to the Marriott Houston South at Hobby Airport.

The Junior Open (July 13-15) is for players under the age of 21 as of January 1, 2012, and the Senior Open (July 9-14) is for those who are at least 50 years old as of July 9th. Once again, for those who are not eligible for either National event, we will have the Not-A-Senior-Not-A-Junior Open, July 13-15. In addition to these three events, we will have the always fun Blitz and Bughouse side events.

Ruth Haring

Among the participants in the Senior Open will be the defending Champion, GM Sergey Kudrin, as well as the USCF President, Ruth Haring. GM Kudrin will also be giving a Simul on Friday morning before the start of the Junior Open. In addition to her participation in the Senior Open, Ruth Haring will also be available to discuss USCF matters with participants and other attendees of the Chess Festival.

The U.S. Junior Open has four sections: U21, U15, U11, and U8 (age as of 1/1/2012). The U21 will have cash prizes and plaques, and the winner gets an automatic spot in the 2013 U.S. Junior Championship, if still eligible by age. The other three sections have trophy prizes. All sections have Place and Class (age and rating) prizes and all participants receive commemorative medals. In addition to the individual awards, the event will have team prizes and players are eligible to enter school or club teams! Top four scores, minimum of three, count towards team scores in each section. More information and online registration, please go to this link.

Sergey Kudrin

The U.S. Senior Open has 6-Day and 3-Day Schedules. It has a guaranteed prize fund of $5,000 with the overall winner taking home $1,250! The top three finishers get Commemorative Clocks and six class (age) winners will receive plaques. The event is open to all players age 50 or over, but the top finisher born on or before January 1, 1952 is the official USCF entrant in the World Senior Chess Championship. More information and on-line registration for this National Championship visit this link.

The Not-A-Senior-Not-A-Junior Open offers a $3,500 Prize Fund, 70% guaranteed. This event has four USCF rated sections: Open (also FIDE rated), U2000, U1600/Unrated, and U1300. For information and on line registration at this link.

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