Any one have any comments on awarding a $500.00 prize to the person from a specific state rated 1999 and under? I am thinking about asking USCF to award such a prize to some one from the State of Washington and I would provide the $500.00.
Russell Miller, Camas WA
I’m sure the USCF would welcome the donation of such prizes. It sounds like a great way to encourage players from distant states to attend the tournament.
– Hal Terrie (member, U.S. Open Committee)
I think you’d have to suspend the limit-one-prize-per-player rule for this prize, lest chaos could result. This is more like a special prize (brilliancy, best game, etc) than a place or class prize.
At least, you’d want to calculate the other prizes first, then distribute the Washington prize. In other words, one-prize-per-player would apply in only one direction.
Bill Smythe
Looks like the prize is a GO. It will be called The Stephen Christopher Memorial 2009 US Open Prize. It will be awarded by The Washington Chess Federation from funds provided by Russell Miller and any others who wish to make a donation to increase this $500.00 prize. I am awaiting final word from the USCF headquarters. Two members of the US Open committee have liked my idea.
Maybe some other states would like to do some prize adding for residents of their states.
Russell Miller, Camas WA
This could always be done like in St. Paul in 2000. There was a special prize for top U2000 after 5 rounds of play. The same could be done for Indianapolis in 2009, with the prize being for top U2000 from the State of Washington after round [pick a number less than 9] X. Although I see no problem with the prize being awarded for after round 9. I do believe that a number of the USAT events have had state prizes, so there clearly is presidence for allowing such a prize.
-Larry S. Cohen
There was for several years someone who donated an annual prize to the youngest player in the US Open. As I recall, the prize was given out at the start of one of the rounds.
You may need to think through the details a bit more, as I’m not sure I understand how this particular prize would be awarded yet. Is it on the basis of rating or performance in the tournament? If the former, I don’t see any problems, if the latter, it may need to be explicitly stated as exempt from the ‘one prize per player’ rule.
Also, suppose there is a player whose USCF state of residence is WA but who is attending school in IN (or otherwise in IN more or less full-time) and who hasn’t played in a WA tournament in years. Is that player eligible for this prize?
I would suggest you contact Pat Knight, I’m sure she’d be interested.
I understand that Pat Knight has been contacted by the US Open Committee. The prize is based on rating. It will be on the full 9 rounds score no matter which schedule played. I hope to raise more money for the prize. Stephen Christopher was a well known players in the NW plus helped back the 1966 US Open in Seattle and attended quite a number of US Opens over the years.
I hope my idea might be picked up by other states. Might get more delegates to play maybe. I hope to attend the event which of course I said the same thing about Dallas but did not make it.
Russell Miller, Camas WA
I Think it’s an excellent idea. The US Amateur Team East awards prizes to top teams from various states. I’m not sure whether states contribute for the cost of the plaque and clocks awarded the prize. I think it would be a nice thing for other states to do at the US Open.