Thursday, October 18, 2018

Western States Open Chess Tournament 2018 at Reno

6-ROUND SWISS IN 5 SECTIONS


I and my son Ahyan will be playing in the 2-day format of Western States Open Chess Tournament 2018 at Reno. The details are as follows.

Friday 2 Rounds: 12 noon - 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 2 Rounds: 10:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 2 Rounds: 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
2 Day Schedule plays 4 rounds on Saturday: Rd. 1 - 11:00am, Rd. 2 - 1:15pm, Rd. 3 - 3:45pm. Rd. 4 merge with regular schedule - 7:00 pm.Time Control:
  • Open Section: 40 moves/2 hours, SD/55 minutes, 5 seconds delay for all six rounds.
  • Class Sections:
    • 40 moves/2 hours, SD/1 hour, 5 seconds delay in regular schedule.
    • Game/1 hour, 5 seconds delay for Rds. 1-3 of 2-day schedule.

Half-point byes available for any round (2 byes maximum in Open Section).

$25,500 PRIZE FUND!
Based on 275 players.
At least 5 places paid in each section!THE FOLLOWING PRIZES ARE GUARANTEED: Open $2,000-$1,000-$800-$600-$500-$300-$300, plus 1/2 of all other prizes. NOTE: GM/IM free entry not eligible for class prizes 2399 and below. May elect to pay entry fee and become eligible. In case of tie for 1st place, a G/10x2 playoff will be held for $100 of prize fund. 120 Grand Prix points and FIDE ratings in top section. Trophies to top 3 in sections A-D.
- OTHER PRIZES -
TOP UNRATED IN D/UNDER SECTION: One year USCF membership + trophy. Unrated players not eligible for cash prizes except Open 1-7.
TOP SENIOR (65 & Over): $200. Seniors not eligible include: Provisionally rated, unrated, and masters.
CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP: $600-$300. Decided by total score of a fixed roster of ten scores from one club or area in main tournament. Club members not eligible include: GM/IM, and unrated.
PROVISIONAL PLAYERS: May win only 50% of first-place money in a class section. (May win full prize in Open section, 1-7 overall.)
PRIZE MONEY OVER $599: U.S. Social Security number and U.S. mailing address required for IRS Form 1099, or 30% of prize money withheld for taxes.
OpenExpertABCD/Under
$2,000
1,000
800
600
500
300
300
2399/below
$1,000
$500
2299/below
$1,000
$500
$2,000
800
400
300
200
$1,800
700
400
300
300
$1,700
700
400
300
300
$1,500
600
400
300
300
$1,000
400
300
200
1199/below
$300

ENTRY FEES

SECTION/RATINGENTRY FEE2-Day Schedule
Open Section GM and IMFree*2-Day Schedule not available for Open Section
Open Section (2200-Up)$159
Open Section (2000-2199)$200
Open Section (1999 and below)$300
Expert Section$159$155 for 2-day schedule
"A" Section (1800-1999)$158$155 for 2-day schedule
"B" Section (1600-1799)$157$155 for 2-day schedule
"C" Section (1400-1599)$156$155 for 2-day schedule
"D" Section (1200-1399)$150$155 for 2-day schedule
Unrated PlayersFREE**
*Free GM/IM entry not eligible for class prizes 2399 and below. May elect to pay entry fee and become eligible.
**Unrated FREE but must also pay one year USCF dues even if already a member. (Adult Premium $49, Youth Premium $30.) Unrated players play in "D" Section. Players may play up. No discounts for Unrated players in main tournament.
$10 discount off entry fee to Seniors age 65+.

ENTRY INSTRUCTIONS

ADVANCE ENTRY BY MAIL: Add $11 if postmarked after September 19. Add $22 if entering at site. Do not mail after 10/12 or phone or email after 10/16. Print out the Entry Formand fill it out. Return the printed form with your check or money order payable to THE SANDS REGENCY or provide credit card information ($5 service charge on credit card entries) and signature. Mail to:

SANDS REGENCY HOTEL/CASINO
345 N. Arlington Avenue
Reno, NV 89501

No phone entries please.
ADVANCE ENTRY BY E-MAIL: E-mail all information on the form to TD Weikel at wackyykl@aol.com.
ADVANCE ENTRY BY PHONE: Call 775-747-1405
ENTRY AT SITE: Register on Thursday, October 18 between 5 and 8 p.m., or on Friday, October 19 between 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. Entries after 10 a.m. Friday may have to accept a first round (1/2 pt.) bye at the discretion of the T.D. CCA ratings may be used to protect from possible sandbaggers. Current USCF membership required. $49 Adult Premium, $30 Youth Premium. New memberships/renewals available at site.
Sets provided. Please bring clocks. OK to play up, but increased entry fees are applicable in Open Section. No smoking in game room. Smoking in casino OK.
Pairings: To make an odd group even, the highest rated player from the next lower group will be moved up, when applicable. If the unlikely situation occurs, three blacks in a row could be assigned. Pairings not changed for color alternation unless three in a row or cause a plus 3.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR
Jerry Weikel, Chief T.D. (N.T.D.)
6578 Valley Wood Drive
Reno, NV 89523
775-747-1405
email wackyykl@aol.com
SPECIAL HOTEL RATES
Thank you for staying with us! Discounted rates are $58.61 Sunday-Thursday, $88.12 Friday or Saturday, single or double occupancy, tax included. First night's deposit by check or credit card must be received by October 1st to guarantee these special rates. Players without reservations will be charged the current walk-up rate in effect on day of arrival.
To guarantee hotel reservation with credit card by telephone call 1-866-386-7829 and ask for group code CHESS1018. (Please, no tournament entries by telephone at Sands phone number.)

Remember, early entries must be postmarked by September 19. Add $11 after September 19. Add $22 if entering at site. First night's hotel room must be guaranteed by October 1. Players without reservations will be charged the current walk up rate on day of arrival.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

সমাস

সমাস
শিখতে লাগে ছ' মাস।
মন দিলে লাগতে পারে ক' মাস?
মন না দিলে লাগতে পারে ন' মাস
-- বাকীউল্লাহ স্যার,
আইডিয়াল স্কুল এন্ড কলেজ, মতিঝিল, ঢাকা, বাংলাদেশ
(প্রায় ৩০ বছর আগের কথা)

Wednesday, October 3, 2018

মজার খেলা দাবা


সাদা কালো দু' দল নিয়ে 
যুদ্ধ করাই দাবা খেলা,
চৌষট্টি ঘরের উপর 
বত্রিশটি ঘুঁটির মেলা।
রাজা-মন্ত্রী-সেপাই নিয়ে
দুই দাবাড়ু যুদ্ধে নামে,
বিপক্ষকে মারার আশায়
ঘুঁটি চালায় ডানে বামে।

সৈন্য শুধু যায় এগিয়ে
দুই কোণে দুই ঘর দখলে,
হাতি মশাই শান্ত বিশেষ
কোণাকুণি শুধুই চলে।
লাফিয়ে লাফিয়ে এগিয়ে গিয়ে
ঘোড়ার চাল আড়াই,
সোজা বাঁকা দুই-ই চলে
এই মন্ত্রীর বড়াই।

চারিদিকে এক ঘর যায়
দাবা বোর্ডের রাজা,
তার নির্দেশ মাথায় নিয়ে
নৌকো চলে সোজা।

হরেক রকম ঘুঁটির মাঝে
দুই রাজাই দূর্গ গড়ে,
একের পর এক আক্রমণে
কেউবা জেতে কেউবা মরে।
ষোলো ঘুটি সামাল দিয়ে
যে খেলবে ঠান্ডা মাথায়,
বুদ্ধিটাকে পুঁজি করে
জিতে যাবে দাবা খেলায়।

Written by Ashik Uzzaman at 1990 at the age of 15.