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News:

Upcoming Events at Greenville Chess Club:
The club calendar is on line for 2005 events.   

Upcoming Tournaments in the Region:

South Carolina

5SS, 30/90, SD/1 (2-day schedule Rd. 1 G/90). Atlanta Chess Center, 3155A East Ponce de Leon Ave., Scottdale, Georgia 30079. $5,000 b/100 maximum. $2500 GTD. In 5 sections: Open/Unr.: $800-400-300, u2200- $300-200-150. Under 2000: $300-225-150. Under 1800: $300-225-150. Under 1600: $300-225-150. Under 1400: $300-200-150, u1200- $150. EF: $65 if rec’d. by 3/28; $69 at site. GMs and IMs free, $65 deducted from prize. Re-entry $35. Bye: All, rds. 4 or 5 must commit before 2nd round. 3-day schedule: Reg: ends on 4/1 at 7:00 p.m. Rds: 7:30, 2:30-7:30, 10-3:30. 2-day schedule: Reg: ends at 9:30 a.m. on 4/2. Rd: 1 at 10 a.m., then merges with 3-day. Hotel/Info: David Spinks: (404) 377-4400 or atlantachess@yahoo.com Enter: Atlanta Chess Center, 3155A East Ponce de Leon Ave., Scottdale, Georgia 30079. www.atlantachessclub.com. NS. NC.

4SS, G/150. Candler Library, Emory University. Open to players born before April 17, 1955. 3 Sections: Open: $200-140-100. U2000: $120. U1800: $120, U1600: $100. U1400/Unr: $120, U1200: $100. Trophy to top Georgia resident, top Georgia resident over 60 each section. All prizes 100% guaranteed. EF: $37 if money received by 4/14. $45 later or at site. Reg: 9:30-10:30am on 4/16. Rds: 11-5, 9:30-3:30. One half point bye any round. Must commit when entering. No changes. GCA memb. req’d for Georgia residents. Ent: GCA, P.O. Box 1611, Decatur, GA 30031-1611. Info: Scott Parker, 770-939-5030, treasurer@georgiachess.org.

4SS, G/45. EF: $22. $500 b/34. Atanta Chess Center, 3155A East Ponce de Leon Ave., Scottdale, Georgia 30079. $150-90-60, u1900, u1700, u1500, u1300 each $50. Under 1100: EF: $15. Trophies to top 7 (not part of based on). Reg: ends 10:30 a.m. Rds: 11-1-3-5. Info: (404) 377-4400. Enter: Atlanta Chess Center, 3155A East Ponce de Leon Ave., Scottdale, Ga. 30079. www.atlantachessclub.com. NS. NC.

5SS, G/150 (2day schedule rd 1 G/90). $10,250 b/150, 60% G. Winship Ballroom, Dobbs University Center, Emory University. 3 sections: Championship (over 1999): $1100-750-400-300; 2200-2299: $350; U2200: $700-400-250. U2000: $700-400-250; U1800: $500-300-200. U1600/Unr: $700-400-250, D, U1200: $500-300-200. Unr: $200-100. Unr. may win Unr. prize only. Trophy to top Georgia resident each section. EF: $40 to Unr. All others: $68 2 day schedule, $69 3 day schedule if money received by 4/27. $85 later or at site. Re-entry: $40, no re-entry in Championship Section. Players rated over 1599 may play Championship Section for extra $10. GCA memb. req’d. for Georgia residents. 3 day schedule: Reg: 6-7pm on 4/29. Rds: 7:30, 2- 7:30, 10-4. 2 day schedule: Reg. 8:30-9:30am on 4/30. Rd 1 at 10, then merges with 3 day schedule. GCA meeting at 3 p.m. on 5/1. ½ point bye any round, limit 2. must commit when entering. No changes. Ent: GCA, P.O. Box 1611, Decatur, GA 30031-1611. Info: Scott Parker, 770-939-5030, treasurer@georgiachess.org.

4SS, G/45. Atlanta Chess Center, 3155A East Ponce de Leon Avenue, Scottdale, Georgia 30079. In 2 sections: Open: EF: $22. $500 b/35. $150-90-60; U1950, U1750, U1550, U1350 each $50. Under 1100: EF: $13. Trophies to top 7 (not part of based on). Reg: ends 10:30 a.m. Rds: 11-1-3-5. Info: David Spinks (404) 377-4400. Ent: Atlanta Chess Center, address above. NS. NC.

North Carolina 

4SS, Rds 1-3 G/75, Rd 4 G/90, Full-K. Caraleigh Fellowship Hall, 118 Summit Ave, Raleigh, NC 27610. $$900 b/55, top 2 Open prizes Gtd.,2/3 of other prizes GTd. Sections: Open: open to all. Prizes: $200G-$100G 1800-2100, U1800 $75 each. U1600: Prizes: $200G-$100G D, U1200 $75 each. All, EF: $21 by 3/22, $25 on site. Reg: 9-9:45. Rds: 10-1-4-7. NCCA memb. required, $5, OSA. Info: Unrateds assign rating for prize purposes after Rd. 3. Adv. Ent: Jeffrey Jones, 3139-I Calumet Dr., Raleigh, NC 27610, 919-270-9948, NeuseChess@aol.com. NS, NC.

4SS, Rds 1-3 G/75, Rd 4 G/90, Full-K. Caraleigh Fellowship Hall, 118 Summit Ave, Raleigh, NC 27610. $$900, $600 Gtd, b/55. Sections: Open: open to all. Prizes: $200G-$100G 1800-2100 U1800 $75 each. U1600: Prizes: $200-$100 D, U1200. All, EF: $22 by 4/19, $26 on site. $1 off for NCCA or out of state starting with this tourney. NCCA memb. required, $5, OSA. Info: Unrateds assigned rating for prize purposes after Rd. 3. Adv. Ent: Jeffrey Jones, 3139-I Calumet Dr, Raleigh, NC 27610, 919-270-9948, NeuseChess@aol.com. NS, NC.

5SS, 30/90, SD/1. (2-day option Rd. 1 G/90). Clarion Hotel Greensboro Airport, 415 Swing Road (I-40 at Exit 213), Greensboro, North Carolina 27409. (336) 299-7650. $$8000 b/165 full entries, $4000 GTD. In 10 sections. Open: $925-500-250, u2200- $600-300-150. Under 2000: $600-300-150, u1900- $100. Under 1800: $600-300-150, u1700- $100. Under 1600: $600-300-150, u1500- $100. Under 1400: $500-250-125, u1300- $100. Under 1200: $500-250-100. Under 1000: Trophies to top 7. Under 800: Trophies to top 7. Under 600: Trophies to top 7. Unrated: Trophies to top 5. (Unrated must play in Unrated or Open sections). EF: $69, 2-day $68 if rec’d by 5/02; $75 at site. GMs and IMs free, $65 deducted from prize. Juniors: $49 advance; $59 at site. U1000, U800, U600, and Unrated EF: 3-day $20, 2-day $19 if rec’d by 5/02, $24 at site. Re-entry: $40. Byes: limit 2, Rds. 4 and 5 must commit before Rd. 2. All: 3-day schedule- Reg. ends 5/06 at 7 p.m. Rds.: 7:30, 2-7:30, 10-3:30. 2-day schedule- Reg. ends 5/07 9:30 a.m. Rd. 1 at 10, then merges with 3-day. HR: $72. Cut off date 4/22 to be guaranteed a room. Mention Group Code: ACP. Info: Atlanta Chess Center: (404) 377-4400, Thad Rogers (478)-742-5607 or atlantachess@yahoo.com. Ent: American Chess Promotions, 3055 General Lee Road, Macon, Georgia 31204. NS. NC. W. FIDE.

Saluda, NC. $$2000 (b/56, $$1000G) 3 Sections. Championship: 3SS, G/120, FIDE-rated. U2200: 4SS, G/80. U1300: 5SS, G/50. Reg: by 8:30 a.m. No half-point byes. EF: $49 ($5 discount for scholastic or FIDE-rated players) +$6 at site. EF includes $5 campground use fee. Entries and Info: Kevin Hyde, 705 Old Mtn Page Rd, Saluda, NC 28773, 828-749-1625, hyde@ioa.com, http://www.ioa.com/~hyde/orch05.htm. Concurrent with Orchard Lake RBO (U1000).

Tournament notice copied from USCF
 

Increase In Rating Fees

USCF Tournament Directors Announcements

Rating fee for events played in 2003:

• Minimum rating fee for any event: $5.00
• Rating reports submitted on paper: $0.30 per game
• Rating reports submitted on disk: $0.15 per game
• Scholastic or Quick Chess reports submitted on paper: $0.20 per game.
• Scholastic or Quick Chess reports submitted on disk: $0.10 per game.

Rating fee for events played in 2004 including Scholastic:

• Minimum rating fee for any event submitted on paper: $8.00
• Minimum rating fee for any event submitted on disk: $5.00
• Rating reports submitted on paper: $0.40 per game
• Rating reports submitted on disk: $0.20 per game

Rating fees and PHBF fees are to be remitted together with the rating report.

Requirements for submission of Match play:

• Both players must have established ratings, and their differential has to be less than 400 points (the latest published rating prior to the match will be used for calculating the rating difference).
• Each match report must be submitted with the appropriate rating fee.
• Reports need to be validated by a certified tournament director or by a notarized statement signed by both players.
• The maximum rating change allowed from a match is 50 points. No player’s rating may go up or down more than one rating class within a three-year period solely through match play. Match results will not be taken into account for invitational events unless they are subsequently confirmed in tournament play.

USCF Drug Testing Policy
The following motion was passed on the conference call of the Executive Board held on October 23, 2002.

"The US Chess Federation officially adopts the following position statement:

The U S Chess Federation recognizes that Olympic affiliation for chess has various potential advantages, including eligibility for regional games such as the Asian Games, or local funding. The USCF also recognizes that some national federations may currently benefit financially from recognition by their National Olympic Committees, and the USCF does not wish to interfere with federations which may choose to pursue and maintain such benefits. The USCF also recognizes and supports the right of chess professionals and all players to choose to participate in events, and in doing so to choose to honor requirements for those events.

Furthermore, the USCF recognizes that chess has many of the finest elements of sports, including the very important element of challenging the abilities of its participants to their maximum level. Strengthening of mind as well as body should be the goal of all sports, and mind-sports such as chess can benefit society as a whole.

However, the USCF establishes the following principles and strongly urges their adoption by other federations:

1) Research does not support the conclusion that any substance produces measurable benefit to chess-playing. Even where research suggests that enhanced cognitive functioning may result from the use of substances, that research has not yet demonstrated that such effects impact the cognitive and perceptual skills that are particular to chess. Psychological studies of chess skill have demonstrated the dominant role of perceptual processes, which are enhanced and made much more efficient by specific learning, and the manner in which perceptions are organized and integrated by the player into a total reasoning process for a move choice. It can be argued from those psychological studies that the cognitive processes used in chess are not necessarily analogous to those employed in other activities that have been studied. Furthermore, the practical effects of such general factors as improved concentration on move-choice must be experimentally tested. It is evident that any such effects, if present at all, would almost certainly be much less than the effects of substances on more sensitive indicators, such as precise running time in a race.

Furthermore, chess players at all levels have demonstrated an excellent record with regard to the absence of substance abuse. Complaints of this type are virtually non-existent in any chess competitions. The USCF believes that chess competitors have already set and maintained an exemplary standard in this area that is important to all sports.

It is noted, furthermore, that anecdotal reporting by players suggests that use of any substances, including even ingestion of caffeine, may be more likely to have a detrimental effect, rather than a positive one, on chess performance for various reasons. Empirical demonstration of these effects on chess play must be established by experiments that are specific to chess performance and the cognitive processes most pertinent to that performance.

2) Pursuant to point (1), FIDE is urged to join with other mind-sports in petitioning the IOC and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) to eliminate testing requirements that are inappropriate for mind-sports, until such time as adequate experimental evidence has been produced to support the need for such testing in mind-sports. Even prior to such experimentation, it should be immediately obvious that many substances on the WADA list are inappropriate for mind-sports. Allowing organized mind-sports to investigate and self-regulate in this area is a valid approach that is completely consistent with the goals of the IOC, considering the information described above in point (1). It is noted that WADA is reviewing its regulations and seeking input at this time. FIDE should work more closely with its federations, including the USCF, in coordinating contacts with Olympic officials who are sympathetic to the social and sporting benefits of chess in order to approach this goal.

3) Because of principle (1), there is great risk that sanctions may be inappropriately placed against players who had no intent of using any performance-enhancing substances. The USCF strongly opposes any and all penalties against any players until such time as the need for testing in chess has been experimentally demonstrated as indicated in point (1). The WADA sanctions are based on the assumption that substance use is an established problem in sports, but this has not been demonstrated to be the case in chess or other mind-sports. The USCF asserts that the imposition by FIDE of testing-based sanctions, fines, related penalties, and other reprisals against USCF players will be unacceptable to the USCF, until such time as the experimental need for testing in chess has been adequately demonstrated.

4) No federation should be required by FIDE to perform testing at its events. It is noted that the USCF Delegates passed a motion in 2001 that urged FIDE to limit testing to events where it is absolutely essential for qualification into the Olympic Games. By implication from the Delegate position and consistent with it, the Board considers it to be USCF policy that there be no mandatory testing in USCF-sanctioned events, unless such events are specially organized for the purpose of Olympic qualification or for qualification to Olympic-associated events such as regional games, and all requirements are advertised clearly in advance.

5) Testing should not occur at this time in any FIDE events that are not necessary for Olympic qualification or for associated events such as regional games, until such time as the need for such testing in chess has been demonstrated, or full acceptance into the Olympic movement has moved closer to reality.

6) Chess professionals and all players should be more adequately informed of the risks they may face resulting from positive tests, and of the nature of the banned substances, particularly where there has been no intent to enhance performance by any such use. The absence of any demonstrated or reported substance-use problem in chess makes it unlikely that players will be sufficiently aware of the risks they have from innocent use of substances such as caffeine.

7) Monetary fines should be immediately removed from FIDE regulations, as these appear not to be required under WADA regulations.

8) The USCF requests that it be allowed to nominate an appointment to the FIDE Medical Commission, with the objective of addressing the research and related issues involved in this area.

9) FIDE should address these issues actively with the IOC and WADA, and should take the lead in creating the necessary research to study the effects of substances in chess, while continuing to advocate for the positive place and role of chess as a sport in the sporting world.

PASSED 6-0 Brady absent

Tournament notice copied from USCF

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