The Bay Area International open chess tournament is set to take place on 2-8th January, 2014, at the Hilton Santa Clara, 4949 Great America Pkwy, Santa Clara, California 95054.
The International is open to players with FIDE Ratings above 2000 (a few special exceptions may be made at the discretion of the organizers).
But to ensure players of having good chances to make GM norms, a maximum of one-third of the total field will be permitted to be U2200 FIDE.
The tournament format is 9-round Swiss with the time control 40/90, SD/30 with 30 second increment.
The prizes are as follows: 1st – $3000; 2nd – $1500; 3rd – $1000; U2500 – $1000; U2300 – $1000.
With the relaxed seven day schedule, there should be ample opportunity for players to tour one of the US’s most popular cities. And along with that, with five days of the tournament having only one game, this will be one of the very few US events which will allow players the opportunity to earn one of the special GM norms now required by FIDE to obtain the GM title.
The special ‘Mixed Doubles’ prize will be awarded to the male/female team with the highest combined score. Teams must be registered before the tournament. The total prize will be $100 x the number of registered teams.
Currently top rated are:
1. GM Michael Roiz 2614 ISR
2. GM Anton Kovalyov 2612 CAN
3. GM Sam Shankland 2605 USA
4. GM Alexander Ipatov 2601 TUR
5. GM Bartlomiej Macieja 2595 POL
6. GM Giorgi Margvelashvili 2552 GEO
7. GM Victor Mikhalevski 2546 ISR
8. GM Holden Hernandez 2545 USA
9. GM David Berczes 2535 HUN
10. IM Daniel Naroditsky 2531 USA
11. GM Josh Friedel 2500 USA
Registrations through the official website
Nice.