WORLD AMATEUR CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS Skokie, IL – U.S.A. March 19 – 25, 2010

General Regulations

1. Invitation

The North American Chess Association and the Village of Skokie, IL USA have the honor to invite all FIDE affiliated Chess Federations throughout the world to participate in the World Amateur Chess Championship 2010, to take place in Skokie, IL USA between March 19th and March 25th 2010.

2. Participation

2.1 Every Federation can register one (1) male and one (1) female guest participant at no charge.

2.2 Participants must have a FIDE rating of 2000 or lower to take part in the tournament during the prior two-year period. Participants with no FIDE rating will be reviewed to ensure a national rating higher than the allowed does not exist.

2.3 Federation’s may register additional players with the fee designated in Section 3.

2.4 Federations will be required to utilize the online registration system provided by the organizing committee to register participants.

3. Tournament entry fees

3.1 Each national federation can register additional participants. Early registration shall be accompanied by a fee of $120 USD valid through 6pm CST March 18, 2010 online or post marked by March 13, 2010; $160 thereafter and onsite.

4. Registration and travel

4.1 The registration must include the surname, the first name, the FIDE ID number if available, and the passport number of every player and every accompanying person. It also must include the name and phone number/address/fax/email of the head of the delegation and of an appointed official of their Federation.

4.2 All the travel expenses must be paid by the participants or their Federation. Travel arrangements should be made into Chicago O’hare International Airport (ORD).

4.3 Each foreign (non-US) participant must pay to the organizing committee the amount of $40 at the time of registration to cover the expenses of shuttle transportation from Chicago O’hare International Airport (ORD) and the hotel for the dates of March 18 (arrival) and March 27 (departure). **Normal cost of transportation by taxi is approximately $45 USD one-way.

4.4    When registering, the above-mentioned amounts for tournament and shuttle transportation must be transferred to the bank account of the organizing committee (the transfer is free of bank charges).

4.5 As soon as all payments are confirmed, the organizing committee will send to the respective Chess Federation the confirmation of all the reservations.

4.6 Participants will not be paired until all the payments are made and unless they arrive the day before the first round.

4.7. Upon check-in at the accommodating hotel, the participants will be required to provide the accommodating hotel a credit card for additional costs (telephone, meals, etc).

5. A few words about the Village of Skokie and the Holiday Inn Hotel and Convention Center

5.1. The Village of Skokie and the Holiday Inn have been hosting FIDE International Title Tournaments and US Championship events since 2008. There are many enjoyable places in Skokie and in the surrounding area, together with our organizing skills will ensure that you have an enjoyable stay.

5.2. The championship will take place at the Holiday Inn North Shore Hotel and Convention Center, which is easily accessible for all participants with transfer by shuttles from the area hotels and motels.

6. Accommodations – Catering

6.1 The Holiday Inn North Shore is the primary accommodation of the organizing committee. All non-US participants are required to utilize the primary accommodation first.

6.2 All participants will have access to the Internet in the hotel and their rooms while staying at the preferred accommodation location.

6.3 The accommodation charges must be paid in advance. The payment must be paid only in U.S. dollars. No subsequent payment will be accepted.

6.4 Accommodation prices:

A.  Holiday Inn Hotel -  Standard room   – $99/ per day + 10%  tax

Hot Buffet Style Breakfast is included in the room cost only at the main tournament venue (Holiday Inn Hotel).

6.5 Breakfast, lunch and dinner is available at the hotel restaurant or any surrounding restaurant (a 5 minute walk from the main playing venue).

6.6 For more information please contact the organizing committee by fax: 1-847-779-0324 or by email: sevan@worldchesschamps.com

7. Prizes

7.1. Per FIDE regulations the World Amateur Champion will be awarded the title of FIDE Master with a rating of 2200. The Woman’s World Amateur Champion will be awarded the title of Woman FIDE Master with a rating of 2050. The Silver Medal Champion of the Open section will be awarded a FIDE rating of 2100. The Bronze Medal Champion of the Open section will be awarded a FIDE rating of 2050.

7.2. Per GM Susan Polgar’s authorization as the Director of SPICE, Texas Tech University (TTU) will offer two (2) undergraduate scholarships valued up to $36,000 each for the top performing male and female players under the age of 25.

7.3. A minimum $20,000 USD prize fund will be provided for. Non-US residents will have 30% of their prize held back for taxes.

7.4. 60 days prior to the end of early registration, any additional prizes will be posted on the tournament website. 8. Technical regulation 8.1. The tournament will be played in Swiss system with 9 rounds. All participants must conform to FIDE regulations for the World Amateur Championships 8.2. The game rate will be in accordance with the FIDE rules: 90 min for all the game with an increment of 30 sec per move until the completion of the game. 9. Calendar March 17 –       Staff Arrival March 18  -       Participant Arrival

Technical Meeting – 12:00

March 19 –        Opening Ceremony – 17:00

1st round – 18:30

March 20 -       2nd round – 13:00

3rd round – 18:30

March 21 -        4th round – 13:00

5th round – 18:30

March 22 -        6th round – 18:30

March 23 -        7th round – 18:30

March 24 -       8th round – 18:30

March 25 -       9th round – 18:30

March 26 –     Departure     

10. Tournament bulletin

10.1. Daily bulletins will be available for sale onsite. Each federation will receive an electronic copy of the entire tournament bulletin and can purchase hard-bound copies upon request. Each national federation must provide e-mail information for the organizers to send the complete electronic bulletin to.

11. Tournament publicity

11.1 The top 20 boards will be broadcast live on the MonRoi World Databank of Chess along with the tournament website.

11.2 All tournament media and publicity will be coordinated with local and international media via selected media liaison to be named in the future.

11.3 All tournament publicity, including bulletins, live broadcast, and communication will initially be provided in the official FIDE language of English. Additional translations will be provided as available. The organizer will strive to have translation in Spanish and Russian at a minimum.

12. Organizing Committee contact information

Chief Organizer and Coordinator Sevan A. Muradian

North American Chess Association

4957 Oakton Street Suite 113 Skokie, IL 60077

Tel.- 1-888-80-CHESS – Mobile – 1-847.274.1352 – Fax.: 1-847-779-0324

email : sevan@worldchesschamps.com

Tournament Website: www.worldchesschamps.com

Village of Skokie Website – www.skokie.org

Holiday Inn North Shore Hotel and Convention Center – www.hiskokie.com

13. Visa Information

13.1. Participants requiring visas are asked to contact the Organizing Committee no later than January 31, 2010.

13.2. The Organizing Committee will supply official invitations for visas only after all the payments are done (registration and accommodation fees for every participant requesting a visa).

13.3. In accordance with the U.S. immigration laws, the Organizing Committee must confirm the U.S. Department of State that all the people getting a visa for the World Amateur Championships are accommodated in hotels rented by the World Championship organizers.

14. Appeals Committee

An Appeals Committee shall be created in accordance with FIDE regulations. The Appeals Committee will consist of 5 individuals, exclusive of the Chief and Deputy Arbiter of the event, who shall represent 5 different federations. The Chief Organizer will secure at a minimum 5 individuals who hold the title of FIDE Arbiter or International Arbiter. In addition, the Chief Organizer will have a 2 Grandmaster’s available to assist the Appeals Committee should their expertise be required.

15. The Organizing Committee:

Sevan A. Muradian, FIDE Arbiter and FIDE International Organizer,

Chief Organizer Dr. Mikhail Korenman, FIDE International Organizer, Deputy Organizer

Bill Hall, Executive Director, United States Chess Federation

Tom Sprandel, President, Illinois Chess Association

Howard Mayer, President, Skokie Chamber of Commerce Local Business Liaison

Ann Tennes, Director of Marketing and Communications, Village of Skokie, Village Services Liaison

Gina Speckman, Director, Chicago North Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau

Sheila Gilani, Chief Hospitality Officer, Holiday Inn, Venue Management

Stewart Reuben, International Arbiter and International Organizer, Chief Arbiter

15.1. For all the issues not mentioned in these regulations, the Organizing Committee will make the appropriate decisions after consulting, when necessary, the FIDE and the U.S. authorities.