Chess on the rise in Vegas
From the Las Vegas Review Journal ( reviewjournal.com )
On Dec. 26, Horseshoe Las Vegas will host the 33rd annual North American Open. It is one of the four biggest tournaments on the national chess calendar, with the National Open (also in Las Vegas) and two tournaments in Chicago and Philadelphia.
An estimated 1,000 chess players are expected to participate in this year’s tournament. The top-ranked “open” section will feature grandmasters, international masters and other strong players from around the country. Each player will play nine matches, with one point awarded for a win, a half-point for a draw and none for a loss. Cash prizes are awarded to the top finishers.
Eight lower sections will also be up for grabs. In these sections, players are grouped according to their official chess ratings. The lowest-rated players generally occupy the lowest section, but they can voluntarily “play up” into a section containing players stronger than they are.
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