Upcoming Tournament With Power!!

Running Chess Tournaments
1

I want to mention and remind everyone of the upcoming Tournament at Illinois Valley Community College in Oglesby, Illinois on May 3rd and 4th.

Here is the TLA:

May 3-4, 2008. Midwestern Chess Adventures (MCA) FIDE Futurity II. Illinois Valley Community College, 815 North Orlando Smith Avenue, Oglesby, IL (near I80 and I39). 5-SS Open Tournament G/90 + 30 Sec Incremental (addback, not delay). Accelerated pairings will be used. EF: $55 by 4/1/08, $65 at the door. $20 less for FIDE rated players. Free Entry will be given to participant who travels the furthest! $100 appearance fee+free hotel room (for 2 people-organizer has the right to decide who will room together)+free entry to GMs and IMs who commit in writing or email by 4/1/08. Appearance will be paid when player shows up at the site. Free entry to FMs who commit in writing or by email by 4/1/08. $25 will be deducted from any prize. Normal entry applies to GM, IM and FM after 4/1/08. Prizes: $$2200 (b/45 players, FIDE players count as 1/2) 1st $500 (Guaranteed), 2nd $300, 3rd $200, U2000 1st $200, 2nd $150, U1800 1st $200, 2nd $150, U1600 $200, 2nd $125, U1400/Unrated $75, Special Prizes: Biggest Upset $50 & Best Game $50. The prize fund will be increased if we exceed the number of players required. Reg: 9-9:30am Rds: 10-3:00-7:30, Sun 11-3:30. Ent/Info: Christopher Baumgartner, 9985 Linda Ln, Des Plaines, IL 60016, (after 7pm) 847-609-2987, email: mcafide@yahoo.com or mcafidetournaments.blogspot.com

Now I have a few salient points to make about this tournament:

  1. Chris has 3 IM’s confirmed to play in this event!!! And to make matters even better, a very well known and strong FM is playing also. Let’s see, that’s IM Emory Tate, IM Angelo Young, IM Mesgen Amanov and FM Aleksander Stamnov.

While I don’t know the play of Amanov very well, I do know that Tate, Young and Stamnov are three you can count on for real fighting chess.

  1. Yes, this is a chance for people to get their FIDE rating norms as well. Of course the tournament is also USCF rated.

  2. The famous MonRoi devices will also be used, meaning that the games will be on the internet at the MonRoi site.

  3. When you compare this with tournaments of similar stature, you will see that this one is dirt cheap to enter. Really, big masters playing, MonRoi, FIDE ratings, what more can you ask for?

  4. Yes the more that you will get, is that you will play in the very epicenter of the famous Middle. This is where I grew up. I even attended this same Junior College 32 years ago myself as a student. Seriously, this is located just South of Rte. 80 (79 mile marker or so) and just off Rte. 39. This is a 1 hour 15 minute to 1 hour 45 minute drive from anywhere in Chicagoland. It is 1 and a half drive from the Indiana border. It is about a 2 hour drive from Madison, Wisconsin. It is about one hour North of Bloomington and Normal, Illinois, 1 hour 15 minutes from Peoria. A little under 2 hours from Springfield,…Phew, it’s really a close drive from just about anywhere!!!

  5. There are motels and great eating close to the playing site as well. Plus we are close to Starved Rock State Park, Matthison State Park and Buffalo Rock State Park. So there is great scenery, hiking and all as well. It’s a beautiful area just to be in.

  6. My humble part in this is I got the playing site. I really am looking forward to having a lot of chess players coming on “down” to the Illinois Valley.

  7. As an aside, I have started a chess club in this area in the last 6 months. I even created my first website. The web address is: ivchess.110mb.com You should check it out.

If you have any questions regarding the tournament give Chris Baumgartner a shout. If you have any questions about the area, ask me.

2

Sounds great! Three questions:

  1. The name “futurity” conjures up the image of an invitational tournament. I assume, though, that this tournament is open to all.

  2. What will be the time control if neither player can furnish an increment-capable clock? This question divides into two parts, (a) what happens if one player can furnish a clock which is delay-capable but not increment-capable, and (b) what happens if neither player can furnish even a delay-capable clock?

  3. Will the Monroi devices be furnished by the organizer?

3a. If yes, will each player be required to use it? Will “Monroi novices” be instructed how to use it, and be given a chance to practice with it for a few minutes before the first round?

3b. If no, will each player be expected to furnish one, or is paper score-keeping acceptable?

Bill Smythe

3

Well Bill, I’ll try to answer the questions as best I can:

Yes, this is open to all. In fact this is an opportunity for all players to get a norm necessary to acquire a FIDE rating.

In each case, I do not know. Chris Baumgartner is the main organizer. I don’t know who the TD will be. Seeing that he had quite a capable event in Wisconsin about a month ago, I would assume this should not, would not, might not, be a problem.

To my knowledge yes. Of course if you wanted to bring a few yourself, or give me one as a gift because I am such a fine fellow, that’s alright too.

I certainly would hope and expect this to be.

Once again, I am not totally sure on the specifics, but I am sure the written score will still be more than acceptable.

I would also imagine that if someone does not want to use the device that would also be alright. The organizer/TD really only needs one for the score anyway.

4

I believe it has been stated [but I’m not 100% sure of it] that the TD for the event will be Chris Merli. Also, I think that there will be some clocks available to borrow for use in the games that are FIDE capable in terms of the time control.

An important point to make about this tournament is that there are prizes specifically for the FIDE players! So not only do FIDE rated players get a discount on their entry fee, but there are prizes that ONLY FIDE rated players are eligible to win. I think this is similar to what was done by the Berry’s in Oklahoma. For one of their tournaments they offered free entry, free hotel, & a seperate prize fund to Women FIDE players. This was done in an effort to attract more Women FIDE players to the event. It seems like the same idea is being done for this tournament, but for the non-master FIDE rated players. There is a FIDE U2200 and a FIDE U2050 prize that will be available; and that is on top of the entry fee discount given to FIDE rated players. The prizes are not part of the TLA, but they are posted on the website [mcafidetournaments.blogspot.com] that Chris Baumgartner has for his events.

Sounds like a good deal, especially for any FIDE rated players who are also rated USCF U2000.

-Larry Cohen

5

Hmm, I guess I’ll have to await answers from somebody in the know. If the organizer and/or TD of this event has done this sort of thing before, it’s probably safe to assume somebody has thought of these things and has some ready answers.

Bill Smythe

6

Bill:

I will answer your questions. The Monroi devices will be supplied by Sevan Muradian from North American Chess Association. I appreciate their generosity in assisting with this event. There will be one Monroi device per game from Board 1 down until we run out. The Monroi is the acceptable way to keep score. We will provide you with a printout after the game. An inexperienced player will be taught how to use it. Clocks: I have extras available with the increment. If 2 Non-FIDEs play it isn’t crucial that it has increment. FIDE only cares that FIDE rated players have an increment clock on their game. FIDE only rates their games. This is a USCF rated tournament. FIDE requires the home federation to register the event which has been done. Chris Merli is the director. I hope that helps you out. Hope to see you!

7

Chris - I will bring 12 increment capable clocks with me along with the MonRoi equipment. I should also have a total of 12 PCM’s so 12 games can be transmitted. But it will be a minimum of 6.

Learning how to use the PCM’s will take about 5 minutes. If people can tap a screen they know how to use the PCM.

8

Thanks to both Chris Baumgartner and Sevan Muradian for their replies. I still have some questions, though.

If there is only one device per game, how will it be decided which player gets to use it (or is required to use it)? Will paper scoresheets be provided for those who want (or need) them, or should players bring their own?

When? During registration? That’s invariably a hectic time for organizers and TDs. Will we be taught “hands-on”? If a bunch of players need to be taught, will it be a classroom-type situation, and if so, will enough of the devices be available for hands-on instruction for each person?

Not crucial to FIDE maybe, but extremely crucial to the players. So I ask again, what happens if not enough increment-capable clocks are available? What will be the time control in games not played with the increment? What is the pecking order regarding clock preference, when the players furnish the clocks?

My 13-year-old Chronos IS increment-capable (as long as there is only one main control), so for me personally, the crucial question is: If my opponent furnishes a clock which is only delay-capable, not increment-capable, will I be allowed to insist on the use of my clock? For other players, who do not own increment-capable equipment, other questions become crucial, such as: What is the time control in games using analog clocks? Is it still game/90 (with no increment or delay), or will some adjustment be made to compensate for the lack of increment (such as 40/90, then SD/30)?

For you techies, maybe. I’m sort of a techie, too, but I’ve also been around the block enough times to have developed a healthy respect for Murphy’s Law. For example, I bought my Chronos in about 1995, during the first round of a major tournament, but I did not use it during that tournament. I wanted to familiarize myself with it, at home, at my leisure, before using it. I’ve used it in every tournament since.

My point is, I don’t want to be rushed into learning to use an unfamiliar (for me) device in 5 minutes. I’m willing to give it a try, and it certainly sounds like a device I’d like to get familiar with and use regularly. But I’d still like the right to refuse, in the event that (due to aging brain cells or whatever) my 5-minute education doesn’t go too well.

That’s good news, he has a good reputation.

It sounds like a great tournament. I hope to see you too, but I think it’s important to have policies in place, before the tournament. Players who ask the kinds of questions I am asking should be able to expect decisive answers. An answer like “Uh, I’m not sure, I guess we’ll just play it by ear when it happens” would not be a good sign.

Bill Smythe

9

Bill:

Your questions are fair. Sevan is not part of registration. His sole purpose to be at the tournament is to handle the Monroi devices. There will be plenty of time to chit chat with Sevan. I have a team in place to handle registration including myself. Sevan will determine which player uses the device, so I will let him answer that question.

Scoresheets with carbonless copy are provided as FIDE requires the organizer collects a scoresheet from every player from every game.

The clock issue. I have already run 1 tournament with 48 players attending. We managed to get an increment clock at every table. IF there is a situation at the lower boards, the time control would be 1 hour 55 minutes+5 sec delay, G/120 for analog, but we will do our best to not let that happen. Between Sevan and myself, we have 15 incremental clocks. I doubt there will be a problem given people will also have digital clocks. But I have thought of this problem, addressed it with FIDE and they aren’t concerned about games that don’t include a FIDE player participating.

10

Bill and all.

The way I have been handling MonRoi distribution is by starting from the top boards and giving it to the player with the white pieces.

Even for techno-phobes the PCM’s are simple to learn. I will do it in group settings or individually as people approach me. A number of those playing, especially on the top boards, already know how to use them.

I’m going to put out a small video this weekend on the use of a PCM and the directors software as well. It’s actually quite easy to use.

If I can dig up more increment capable clocks I will bring them along.

Not to step on Chris or Chris’s toes here - but the situation you gave where there is a choice between a delay capable clock or an increment capable clock being present - I would rule that the increment capable clock must be used. Especially since with increment capable clock you must continue notating when you are below 5 minutes when a 30-sec increment is available.

11

We have obtained discounted room rates!
$55 for May 3, occupancy of 2
Mention the chess tournament at Illinois Valley Community College. If they give you any problem, tell them Loretta approved it.

This hotel is about 1 mile from the playing site.

Days Inn
120 N Lewis Ave
Oglesby, IL 61348
Phone: 815-883-9600

12

Thanks to both of you, once again. I’m getting more and more comfortable with the answers each time.

My only remaining (very slight) quibble is with the specifics of the non-increment alternatives:

G/120 is slower than G/90 inc/30 for games lasting under 60 moves. Since the average game is more like 30-40 moves, I would have preferred something like G/105 (or G/100 d/5) for games played without increment. I could see a situation where some players deliberately furnish only an analog (or non-increment delay) clock in an attempt to reward themselves with “extra” time.

No skin off my back, though, as I intend to bring my increment clock.

The specific hotel information is helpful – thank you for that, too.

Bill Smythe

13

Well, the tournament is this coming weekend (May 3-4). I hope a lot of players will support this concept, and these organizers.

Bill Smythe

14

Starting Rd 1 tomorrow you will be able to follow this event LIVE on the MonRoi World Databank of Chess.

Here is the link —> http://monroi.com/watch/?tnm_id=1050