Big $$$ Tournament in Concord

Bill Goichberg is coming to town! As the founder of the Continental Chess Association and the current USCF President, Goichberg is well known for successfully organizing chess tournaments around the country, including the aptly named World Open. However, until now, the only CCA events on the west coast have been in Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

The Western Chess Congress on March 6-8 changes all that. This event will be located at the Concord Hilton in the shadow of Mt. Diablo (see photo above). Those of us old enough will recall that the 1995 US Open took place at the same hotel. That was, sadly, the last high profile adult tournament held in Northern California. Since then, only the annual CalChess Labor Day Championship has consistently drawn over 150 players, including multiple GMs and IMs.

• Event: Western Chess Congress
• Dates: March 6-8 (3-day) or 7-8 (2-day) -- play Fri night or 2 rapids on Sat
  
• Location: 1970 Diamond Blvd, Concord (off I-680 at Willow Pass Road)
• Format: 5 round swiss in 8 sections (Open, U2100, U1900 through U900)
• 3-day schedule: Reg by Fri 6:30. Rounds: Fri 7:30, Sat 11 and 6, Sun 9:30 and 4
• 2-day schedule: Reg by Sat 10. Rounds: Sat 11, 2:30 and 6, Sun 9:30 and 4.
• Time control: 40/2, G/1 (rounds 1 & 2 of 2-day schedule at G/75)
• Entry fee: $120 online by March 3 or $140 on-site (U1100 and U900 are $60)
• Prize fund: $20,000. $1600 for 1st in Open; $1400 for 1st in other sections.
  
• Website: http://www.chesstour.com/wcco09.htm
• Advance entries: http://www.chesstour.com/ae-wcon09.htm (updated 2/18)
• Click here for hotel rooms (still available although the deadline passed)
  

In fact, the details for this tournament look much like the Agoura Hills events that many local players have attended in recent years. Let's hope that some of the LA players will come north for a change. If the Bay Area can support this event, then it may be the start of a longterm commitment. In fact, Goichberg plans to hold this event as a 7 round swiss on the Martin Luther King weekend in January beginning next year. Be there!