North Carolina Chess Association

Asheville temperatures this weekend are forecasted for high 40's to mid 50's. Looks like a good weekend for chess at Land of the Sky!

pre-registration

Dear Chess Enthusiast,

The Land of the Sky chess tournament will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. This means we have entered a new era as a USCF Heritage Event. This event can now claim to be part of the American chess culture as an event of long term influence and tradition. A tournament worthy of becoming a permanent part of the National chess landscape.

I invite you to please participate and bring a friend. I would like to break all previous records and pay out a record $20,000. We have come close a few times, but this year, with your help, it could be done.  We have increased the guaranteed prize fund to $11,000, but nothing would please us more than to pay out the full amount of $20,000. This depends on the players’ participation.

This year there will be door prizes, game analysis, free lectures, blitz tournament, a free entry fee Chess 960 tournament, you can meet grandmasters and even play against one of them in a simultaneous exhibition!

So far 4 International Grandmasters are committed to playing: Timur Gareev, Alexander Ivanov,  Sergey Kudrin and Alexander Shabalov (last year’s winner coming back to defend his title). As usual, there will be International Masters, FIDE Masters and National Masters.  Past IGM participants: Julio Becerra, Walter Browne, Nick de Firmian, Roman Dzindzichashvili, Jaan Ehlvest, Ildar Ibragimov, Gregory Kaidanov, Anatoly Lein, Hikuru Nakamura, Sam Palatnik, Gregory Serper, Alexander Stripunsky, Alexander Wojtkiewicz and Alex Yermolinsky. 

Note the early entry discounts available by sending the entry fee post marked by January 20, 2012. Or enter by e-mail with your credit card. Indicate the section you want to play in and when you want to play your first round - Friday night or Saturday morning. Don’t forget your USCF number. Or just show up and enter of course. I have attached a flier and Chess Life tournament ad for the tournament, but feel free to e-mail me with any questions you have. 

I ask for your support in this, a landmark event for the Land of the Sky, to make this a big success, and the biggest prize payout in NC chess history.  

I hope to see my chess friends and supporters,  who I thank, over the many years, for making this event possible by their continued loyal participation. I hope to make new friends and supporters at this year’s celebration and special event. See you soon!

Sincerely,

Wilder Wadford
Tournament Organizer
PO Box 1123
Weaverville, NC 28787
(828) 645-4215 x313