Frederick Ekstrom Memorial Open
October 4-5, 2014
The Springfield Chess Club is pleased to announce the Frederick Ekstrom Memorial Open, to be held Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5, 2014, at the State House Inn, corner of 2nd and Adams, downtown Springfield.
Entry form Maps and directions Download our flyer
Guaranteed prize fund: $1700
Entry fee: $42 in advance, $52 at site, $2 discount to SCC members
Time limit: Round 1 G/80 d5, Rest of tournament G/110 d5
| Schedule | Prize fund | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday | 9:30 a.m. | Registration | 1st place | $500 |
| 10:30 a.m. | Round 1 | 2nd place | $300 | |
| 1:15 p.m. | Lunch break | 3rd place | $200 | |
| 2 p.m. | Round 2 | 1st Class X | $100 | |
| 6 p.m. | Dinner break | 1st Class A | $100 | |
| 6:45 p.m. | Round 3 | 1st Class B | $100 | |
| Sunday | 10 a.m. | Round 4 | 1st Class C | $100 |
| 1:45 p.m. | Lunch break | 1st Class D | $100 | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Round 5 | 1st Class E&under | $100 | |
| 6:30 p.m. | Awards | 1st Unrated | $100 |
Frederick's daughters, Maggie and Marsha, will speak at the beginning of round 2.
Special notes
The playing rooms are in the basement level. The elevator and stairs are located opposite the front desk. The playing rooms are the first two rooms on the left after getting off the elevator. Bathrooms and water fountains are located around the corner on the right.
56 regular seats are available. Every reasonable effort will be made to accomodate additonal players. Up to four additional players may be seated by cannibalizing the registration table (see below). We cannot guarantee that any player after the 60th will be able to enter. Seats are considered reserved when entry fee has been paid. To assure yourself of getting a seat, register and pay entry fee as early as you can. You may view the preregistration list (including the current number of seats already taken) any time here.
Seats 57 through 60 are overflow seats. These will be accomodated by cannibalizing the registration table after tournament paperwork has been completed and additional chairs fetched. Overflow entrants may be required to start later, and play a shorter time limit, in round 1. They may also be required to play against another overflow entrant or a houseman in round 1. No further penalties will apply to them afterward.
Food is restricted in the playing rooms. Management has asked that tournament participants not consume full meals in the playing rooms. Prepackaged snacks such as chips, candy, and cans of soda are OK. Meal breaks have been built into the schedule between every round so that all players will have plenty of time to eat.
The usual exhortations
Be on time. Registration ends at 10:15 a.m. Saturday. We will not turn away players just for being late so long as there are still seats available, but it would not be fair to delay the first round. Latecomers may be required to play against another latecomer, a houseman, or receive a bye in round 1.
Observe tournament etiquette. Please do not talk or play blitz in the playing rooms if there are still rated games going on, and be sure to silence your mobile phones. Also, remember to report your game results promptly on the pairing sheets. Please do not write on the wall charts.
Respect the hotel and its other guests. Please do not spread out and "take over" the lobby between rounds. Sit with the other chess players and leave plenty of room for others, and don't leave garbage in the lobby or the tournament rooms. If you are bringing children to the tournament, please do not allow them to roam, make excessive noise, or get into mischief.
Have fun! We want everyone to enjoy the tournament!