Win a trip to the World Championship in Mexico City!

Official World Championship Website: www.ChessMexico.com

Starting August 4, and running until August 12, you will have a chance to win a trip to be a VIP guest at the World Championships in Mexico City

In a very exciting finale to our Mainz Chess960 qualifier last week, the young Armenian GM Tigran L. Petrosian defeated American No.1 GM Gata Kamsky, 4-2, to claim the top prize. I’m sure all at the ICC will closely be following Tigran’s progress in Mainz, and take this opportunity to wish our online qualifier ‘good luck’.

Now, after the huge record-breaking success of our Mainz qualifier, there comes another bigger and better qualifier – and exclusive ONLY for full ICC members!

We have joined forces with the organizers of the forthcoming World Championship tournament in Mexico City for yet another unique online qualifier package. Starting August 4, and running until August 12, you will have a chance to win a trip to be a VIP guest at the the World Championships in Mexico City from September 13 until September 17, with a ringside seat to watch all the action involving Kramnik, Anand, Morozevich, Aronian, Grischuk, Leko, Svidler and Gelfand.

The package for the overall winner includes: $1500USD (to be paid out only on arrival in Mexico) to cover your airfares and other expenses. Also included in the package is 4 nights (13-17 Sept.) at a top hotel in Mexico City, plus VIP tickets for the World Championships, and free entry into the “Copa Internacional de la Cd. De Mexico” Open.

1. PLAYING SCHEDULE

There will be six qualifiers to the knockout finals. You can play in as many qualifiers as you like. All qualifiers will have 9 rounds, swiss pairings. The games are rated in the Blitz category. Latejoining is possible until round 6, but half point byes are only available for the first three rounds. The time control will be 3 0 in the whole tournament.

Qualifier 1: Saturday, August 4th, 2pm
Qualifier 2: Sunday, August 5th, 2pm
Qualifier 3: Monday, August 6th, 3pm
Qualifier 4: Tuesday, August 7th, 6pm
Qualifier 5: Wednesday, August 8th, 5pm
Qualifier 6: Thursday, August 9th, 4pm

The final of the last 32 players will take place on Saturday, August 11th, 2pm and the final of the last 8 players will take place on Sunday, August 12th, 2pm. All times are server time (EDT, New York Time). Type “date” on ICC and compare to your local time.

2. PRIZES

The winner of the tournament will receive USD 1500 in cash, VIP tickets to the World Championship in Mexico City for the duration of his stay there, and a paid hotel room for 4 nights at either Sheraton Centro Histórico or Camino Real starting September 13, check-out September 17. The winner will also take part in the Open tournament “Copa Internacional de la Cd. De México” held in Mexico City at that time (September 14-16, 6 rounds Swiss, 2 per day).

NOTE: that airfare is not included, and the prize of USD 1500 will only be awarded by the organizing committee upon arrival in Mexico. The winner must be able to travel to Mexico and advance the money for the trip.

In case the winner cannot travel to Mexico, the first prize will be awarded to the runner up. In case also the runner up cannot travel, the first prize will be offered to the player who lost to the later winner in the semifinals, and after that to the other semifinalist. In those cases, the winner will only receive the cash prize which the player who eventually travels to Mexico originally won.

Second place will receive USD 750 in cash. Third and fourth place will receive USD 375 in cash each.

In addition, there will be prizes raffled between all participants who finish a qualifier, for EVERY qualifier. four 3-months ICC extensions per qualifier, giving a total of 72 months just for playing. Note that in order to be eligible for the raffle, (a) the qualifier must be finished orderly (not forfeited), (b) the player did not qualify for the finals, and (c) the account used is a paid one.

On top of this, there will be prizes for the players who score most points over all qualifiers but do not qualify for the finals:

1st: (Qualification to Finals)
2nd-5th : 6 months ICC extensions
6th-15th : 4 months ICC extensions
16th-30th: 3 months ICC extensions

Should GM/IMs win membership extensions, they can donate those extensions to other players of their choice.

Cash prizes other than first prize will be paid by cheque. Other payment methods require the approval of ICC. The first prize will be paid upon arrival of the winner in Mexico.

For more info, visit http://www.chessclub.com/