65th Annual Maryland Open GPP:30

May 3-5, 2019 
Rockville, Maryland

Championship, U2100, U1900, U1700, U1500: 5SS, Rnd 1 Game/90+inc/30, Rnds 2-5 40/90, SD/30 inc/30 from move 1 (2-day schedule: Rnds 1-2 Game/45 inc/30)
U1250 and U1000: 5SS, Game/90 d/5 with Rnds 1-2 at Game/45 d/5; U1250 and U1000 3-day schedule: all rounds Game/90 d/5

Playing Site
Rockville Hilton
1750 Rockville Pike; Rockville, Maryland 20852; United States

Places to eat near the Hilton

301-468-1100

We aim to create a pleasant environment for playing chess. Below are the answers we received at our last tournament to the question of what do we do better than other tournaments.
 

See pictures from this year's Baltimore Open

New This Year!

• Faster schedule for the U1250 and U1000 sections

Tournament Features

• We pair rounds as early as possible and start rounds on time→ You have time to get ready and don't have to waste your time waiting for the round to start
• Players like the way we run our events→ Survey results from last year's Maryland Open
• 30" increment time control in the top five sections → No more clock smashing scrambles at the end of the game.
• Score-based prizes → See the advantages below.
• Additional 1st place prizes to clear first when there is no 5-0 player in the section, added to your score prize→ More prize money
• Clocks provided in ALL sections → All you need to do is show up.
• Minimum 2000 rating to play in the Championship section → Less mismatch games.
• Sets and board provided for everyone→ No more carrying around pieces and a board, just bring a clock.
• Free Sunday morning Continental breakfast → Relax, have some coffee and a danish before you start your game.
• Texting or emailing of pairings to your cell phone available (see Dec. 2011 Chess Life) → No rush at the pairing chart before the round
• Free Day guest parking → Don't worry about where you have to park your car.
• $99/night room rate includes Wifi Reserve a room → Relax and stay at the tournament hotel. $5 EF discount if staying at hotel. Reserve a room.
  
• Hotel next to DC Metro stop→ Take the Metro directly to the tournament.
• Shorter time controls in lower sections → Less waiting around between rounds.

Prizes

This tournament will pay prizes based solely on your final score. All the prizes are guaranteed. If the total pay out in the Open section is less than $1500, extra money will be added to the pay out of the top score group to bring the total to $1500.

Advantages over place-based scoring

Less Waiting

Your score determines your prize. Once you finish your last game, you can receive a check.

Less Uncertainty

Your prize does not get lowered if others tie with you. For example, if there are two 5-0 players, both receive the full amount for 5-0.

Less short draws

The total payout is always higher when games are decisive.

Adult Unrated may not enter U1000. All unrateds and are limited to a maximum prize of $100 in the U1000, $200 in the U1250, and $400 in the U1500 section. Balance goes to player(s) with same score or is divided among players in next lower score group.

Results of Recent Tournaments with Score-based Prizes

Results from the 2016 Baltimore Open
Results from the 2016 Chesapeake Open
Results from the 2015 Potomac Open
Results from the 2015 Maryland Open

Results from all previous Maryland Opens

Advance Registrations

Entrance Fees

Early (online or mail by 4/19) $109
Regular (online or mail by 4/30) $114
Late (online by 5/2) $119
At-the-door (cash or credit card) $130. We'll be using Square to process credit cards. We'll also be trying our Square's Card Case app. If you have a Android or an iOS phone install and setup the Card Case app and at-the-door registration will be a breeze.

Read about Card Case at Wired, Slate Magazine, and USA Today.

Special Entrance Fees

Under 1250 section: all entrance fees $35 less.

Under 1000: all entrance fees $55 less. 
Free early entrance to GMs.  nothing will be subtracted from any prizes.
$45 discount EF for IMs. nothing will be subtracted from any prizes.

$5 discount if staying at hotel.

Mail Registrations to:
Maryland Chess Assn.
1827 Thornton Ridge Road
Towson, MD 21204

Mailed registrations should include name, section, schedule(2-day or 3-day). The chief TD for the tournament will be Mike Regan. If you have any questions about the tournament email him at mregan@baltimorechess.org.

Advance Registrations

Schedules

3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 7 pm, rds Fri 8 pm, Saturday 11am and 6, Sunday 9:30 am and 3:30.
2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. Saturday 11am, 2:15 and 6, Sunday 9:30 am and 3:30.
U1000 and U1250 2-day schedule: Reg ends Sat 10 am, rds. Saturday 11, 12:45 and 3:00, Sunday 9:30 am and 12:45 pm.
U1000 and U1250 3-day schedule: Reg ends Fri 7 pm, rds Friday 8 pm, Saturday 11 and 3:00, Sunday 9:30 am and 12:45 pm.

Byes

Half point byes: all must commit before rd 3

Reentries:

all, $80 except U1000 and U1250 $40. You can reenter any schedule taking 1/2 point byes for unplayed games. If you reenter with a single 1/2 point bye, the cost is $70/$35. If you reenter with two 1/2 point byes, the cost is $60/$30.

Hotel Rates: $99 per night! $5 EF discount if staying at hotel.

Rooms are limited. Reserve a room

So make your reservations early. Phone 301-468-1100.

Parking Information

Parking is free for day guests and $10/night for overnight guests.

Electronic Devices Rules for FIDE Rated Section (Championship and Under 2200)

Do not bring electronic devices (cell phones and smart watches) into the playing venue (playing room, halls outside playing room, smoking area, bathrooms, etc) according to FIDE rule 11.3. Players are subject to scanning to test for possession of cell phones. We plan to monitor using both thermal and magnetic scanners. Traffic in various areas will also be video monitored.

Possession of a device that is turned on or makes a noise

• Forfeit of the game

Possession of a device that is turned off

• 1st Violation 30 minute time penalty limited to no more than 1/2 the remaining time on the clock for the current time control.
• 2nd Violation Forfeit of game

Rule Variations 

• In sections that the organizer provides clocks, if both players are not present at the start of the round, the tournament director will start white's clock.
• Clocks that halt on end are preferred in all sections with increment time controls.
• Any player forfeiting a round must pay a $50 fine before being allowed to play in a future tournament organized by MCA or Baltimore Chess.
• At this point in time, the electronic score keeping device, ChessNoteR, cannot be used at this tournament.
• All players with provisional ratings will have 100 points added to their rating for determining section eligibility
• Players with byes who are eligible to play in a lower section that also has a bye player may get paired in the lower section as a house player. They will still have the bye for standings in their original section. The game in the lower section does count for standings and must be played.