North Carolina Chess Association

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TIME FOR THE BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!!

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY PRESENTS

THE 2012 US MASTERS / NORTH CAROLINA OPEN

Coming this Labor Day weekend, it's time for another big time chess event in North Carolina. With the support of a $15,000 sponsorship from High Point University, the NCCA is proud to announce this year's big event. The US Masters/NC Open will be held between August 30 and September 3 at the Embassy Suites Airport in Greensboro. The two simultaneously run events feature a total guaranteed prize fund of $30,000! The early entry fee for the NC Open portion of the tournament will be $65! And the hotel rate is $99 for a suite style room (makes it easier for a group of folks to stay in one room). Each hotel guest gets a free made-to-order breakfast each morning and can enjoy a free manager's reception each evening.

The US Masters will begin on Thursday night, August 30 and run through Monday, September 3. This will be a 9-round event that should offer the opportunity for IM and GM norms! To enter this event you must have a current rating of 2200 or you should have obtained this rating at some time in the past. If you are under 21 years old, you can enter this tournament with a current rating of 2000 or above.

The North Carolina Open will run in conjunction with the US Masters. This event is for the rest of us. It is in the form you have seen for the past couple of years. It's the traditional 5-round Swiss starting with an optional first round on Friday night August 31 and will end on Sunday, September 2. The sections will be Open, U2000, U1700 and U1400. In each section there is a $1,000 first prize and the top cash prizes go 10 places deep, while class prizes go 3 places deep.

We have worked hard to make this event affordable, convenient and spectacular for the North Carolina chess community. Please come out and support it so we can continue to do bigger and better events in future years.

Summer Chess Events
featuring the 2012 Statesville Open

Coming up on the calendar are some great summer chess events. In addition to the regularly scheduled Asheboro Opens, TACOs, Master Treks, Reverse Angles, HVCC's and ERMCT's, we have a couple of weekend events you should know of. On June 22-24, Mike Williams puts on this year's Statesville Open. This is always a good tournament and a great value! Hard to beat a $49 advance entry and $59 hotel rate! I'll see you there.

Upcoming NCCA Elections

The NC Open/US Masters will also be the venue for the annual NCCA business meeting and will be the end of the term for the current officer group. We need people to step up and volunteer to assist in running this organization. Please consider it. If you have any questions, drop me an email. The chess community needs talented folks to assist in moving things forward. Don't sit on the sidelines. Be one of the movers and shakers! You will be much appreciated by all.

Hope to see you all at a tournament soon!

Gary Newsom
NCCA President

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