… And the New Season Begins…

Site: Meadowdale High School, 6002 168th St SW, Lynnwood. From the South: From I-5 take exit #181 (44th Ave W). Turn left (north) onto 44th. Proceed about 4 miles on 44th to 168th. Turn left (west); go through 3 traffic lights. School appears shortly on the left. From the North: From I-5 take exit #183 (164th St) and turn right (west). Proceed on 164th until road curves southbound and changes into 44th Ave W. At 168th turn right (west) and go through 3 traffic lights. School appears shortly on the left. Give yourself plenty of time; these are very congested areas. Take directions with you on tournament day.

Format: Five round Swiss system, computer paired, (no knockouts). Open to any student registered in grades 9-12 in Washington.

Two divisions: OPEN: Rated 1300 and over, and any other player desiring the tougher competition. RESERVE: Rated 1299 and under only, and new, unrated, inexperienced players. Use ratings found on the website http://www.whsca.org

Note: The director reserves the right to change rating parameters to balance numbers in the divisions.

Note: Players who may have received high first time and provisional ratings may request to play in the Reserve Division. These requests will be granted or refused on an individual basis.

Note: When entering, put O (OPEN) or R (RESERVE) before each player's name to indicate his/her choice of division.

Schedule: All players check in by 3:30pm Friday. Rounds 4pm & 7:30pm. Saturday rounds: 9am, 1pm & 5pm. Non prepaid players checking in after 3:30pm risk forfeiting round one.

Time Control: 90 minutes per player per game (G/85 w/5-sec delay preferred). Recording is required.

Concessions: Meadowdale HS will provide concessions with the usual Pizza, drinks, and other food and snacks.

Bring: Sets, boards, clocks, writing utensils, competitive desire. Please do not come unequipped to WHSCA tournaments! Please make sure you bring enough sets for each player.

Awards: Winner of the Open division receives the title of High School Champion of the State of Washington. Also receives monetary support from the Washington High School Chess Association and the Washington Chess Federation to attend the Arnold Denker Tournament of High School State Champions concurrent with the US Open in August, 2004 in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Trophies will be awarded to individuals and teams in each division. Medals to best performers at each grade. One award per player. Note: Ties for first in the Open Section are broken by a G/90 playoff held later in the year.

Entries: $8 in advance (received by Thursday, January 22). This is a 100% pre-registered event. Substitutions on site for no-show pre-registrants are allowed however. No phone registrations. Fax option: Fax entries may be sent to (425) 921-4040 through 6 p.m. Thursday evening. Players registered by fax must pay before being allowed to play. Use the registration form in this issue or on the website. E-mail option: kwinges@comcast.net.

Half point byes: One-half point bye available for Friday afternoon and/or evening if you can't make it both days; one-half point bye available for round 3 on Sat a.m. Only two half point byes available. Request for HPB must be made with advance registration. No half point byes for rounds 4 & 5.

Make checks payable to: WHSCA (Washington High School Chess Association).

Mail to: Kirk Winges, 18031 NE 99^th Ct., Redmond, WA 98052

Questions, problems, info? Call: Paul Zurybida (425) 776-6655. Questions only – no registrations to Paul, please: zurybidap@edmonds.wednet.edu or Kirk Winges (425) 921-4013 (registrations go here) kwinges@comcast.net. Day of event phone (206) 794-6010 – Kirk’s cell phone.