2014 SPICE Cup Open
Sponsored by Webster University
and the Susan Polgar Foundation
St. Louis, Missouri
October 21-26, 2014
GM/IM norm opportunity – Minimum rating (FIDE) 2100
Limited to first 50 entries (Free entry to all players FIDE > 2300)
4 IM/GM norms earned in 2012
1 IM performance/2 GM norms earned in 2013
Time Control: G/90 + 30 second increment from move 1
PRIZES: $13,000 guaranteed (up from $11,000 last year)
$5,000-$2,500-$1,500-$1,000-$500
U/2400 FIDE $500-$250-$125
U/2300 FIDE $500-$250-$125
Top Female $500-$250
October 2014 rating will be used
Limited FREE hotel accommodation (double occupancy) at the Crowne Plaza available to foreign GMs.
ENTRY FEES:
Free to all GMs, IMs, WGMs and all FIDE rated players over 2300 (must complete all 9 rounds), if registered by September 30, 2014. $50 later or on site.
$150 to FIDE 2200-2299, $200 to FIDE U-2200 if received by September 30, 2014. Additional $50 later or on site.
VENUE:
Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel 7750 Carondelet Ave, St Louis, MO 63105 (FREE shuttle from the Lambert–St. Louis International Airport) $109/night, FREE Breakfast/Internet
For reservations guests can call directly to 314-726-5400 or 1-800-439-5719
Group Name is SPICE Cup or on line at Crown Plaza Hotel.
Group Code is SPZ
Send entries to:
Webster University – SPICE
470 E. Lockwood Ave
St. Louis, MO 63119
Questions or registration for titled players: Email: spice@webster.edu or call 314-246-8075
Schedule:
Tuesday, October 21
5:00 pm – Round 1
Wednesday, October 22
10:00 am – Round 2
5:00 pm – Round 3
Thursday, October 23
10:00 am – Round 4
5:00 pm – Round 5
Friday, October 24
5:00 pm – Round 6
Saturday, October 25
10:00 am – Round 7
5:00 pm – Round 8
Sunday, October 26
10:00 am – Round 9
All Rounds played at the Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel
To “spice up things” in the 2014 Spice Cup Open perhaps the esteem Susan Polgar would consider making an elite section with a category 19 event and a regular section for others. Mr Sinquefield perhaps can sponsor the tournament. Making this a Category 19 event will make it a favorite tourney for top players. Just wishful thinking.
Would be much better if this is a 6 player elite tournament double round robin Category 20 tournament with top young guns of Chess, i.e. Magnus Carlsen, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Vachier-LagR and Karjakin. If any two will not appear, throw in Nakamura and Rapport.
My ideal 2014 Spice Cup participants: Nakamura, L Dominguez, Wesley So, Le Quang Liem, Kamsky and Bruzon. All are available or easy to make them play in US. If Nakamura will chicken out, replace him with US Open Women Champ Krush, at least i know she would just accept :d
Will Wesley So play in this tournament? Would love to see him play against the likes of Nakamura, Dominguez, Le Quang Liem, Kamsky and Ivanchuk. Double Round Robin it should at least Category 20 or something. Wesley and Le are webster u student easy to invite, Kamsky and Nakamura are US citizen so no problem (unless Nakamura will chicken out again) Dominguez is a friend of Wesly and Susan they can get him to play there. Ivanchuk i bet would have no qualms playing. If someone fron the list wont accept, replace them with Bruzon and Krush :d
Why would Mr. Sinquefield “sponsor” my event? Yes, it would be much better to have a 6 player DRR category 20. But it also costs $50-$60,000.