Millionaire Open II - Chess Life

Last year I did a couple of random posts on the Millionaire Open in Las Vegas, Nevada.

• 2014-10-24: Millionaire Wrapup
• 2014-10-28: Big Money Chess 'On the Cover'

The tournament was the cover story for the January 2015 Chess Life (CL). I also featured it in a couple of subsequent Video Friday posts.

• 2015-02-27: MIT Media & Millionaire Chess
• 2015-03-27: More MIT Media & Millionaire Chess

This year I'll take a more structured look at Millionaire Open II. A full page ad first appeared in the April 2015 CL, inside the front cover.

The ad ran again in the May CL, along with details in the 'Tournament Life' (TL) section under 'Grand Prix' events. The Nevada events in the same issue included a note to 'See Grand Prix'.

USCF Junior Grand Prix!
OCT. 8-12 OR 9-12, NEVADA
TROPHIES PLUS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 300 (ENHANCED)

2015 Millionaire Chess Open II
GM MAURICE ASHLEY AND AMY LEE RETURN WITH THE CHESS TOURNAMENT WITH THE BIGGEST PRIZE FUND IN USCF HISTORY!!!

9SS, 40/120, SD/30 d5 for Open; 7SS, 40/90, SD/30 d5 for Under Sections. 4-Day Schedule for Under Sections, G/45 d5 for Rounds 1 – 4. Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89109, $$1,000,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund!!! Five Main Sections: OPEN (FIDE rated & FIDE rules; GM, IM, WGM and WIM norms possible): $100,000 – 50,000 – 25,000 – 16,000 – 10,000 – 8,000 – 5,000 ea. (7th – 10th) – 3,500 ea. (11st – 20th), 2400 – 2549: 40,000 – 20,000 – 13,000 – 8,000 – 5,000, U2400: 38,000 – 19,000 – 11,000 – 7,000 – 4,000. U2200 (FIDE rated): $38,000 – 19,000 – 10,000 – 8,000 – 6,000 – 5,000 – 4,000 ea. (7th – 10th) – 3,000 ea. (11st – 20th). U2000: $36,000 – 18,000 – 9,000 – 7,000 – 5,000 – 4,000 – 3,000 ea. (7th – 10th) – 2,500 ea. (11st – 20th). U1800: $34,000 – 17,000 – 8,500 – 6,500 – 5,000 – 4,000 – 3,000 ea. (7th – 10th) – 2,500 ea. (11st – 20th). U1600: $30,000 – 16,000 – 8,000 – 6,000 – 4,000 – 3,000 – 2,500 ea. (7th – 10th) – 2,280 ea. (11st – 20th), U1400: $24,000 – 12,000 – 6,000 – 4,000, U1200: 20,000 – 10,000 – 6,000 – 4,000. Additional Unrated/Provisional Section – 3,000 – 2,000 – 1,000. $19,200 in Special Prizes, including Mixed Doubles, Upset, Tie-Break Consolation, Best Dressed categories, Top Female, Senior and Child in the five main sections . See website for list.

EF: $1,000 by 3/31, $1,250 by 6/30, $1,500 by 9/30, $2,000 after 9/30 or onsite. Unrated/Provisional players may enter in the Open or Unrated/Provisional Section only; if playing in Unrated/Provisional Section, EF: $100 by 3/31, $125 by 6/30, $150 by 9/30, $200 after 9/30.

For this event, provisionally rated players are those with less than 50 games under a single rating system (USCF, FIDE or other foreign systems). Highest rating between 12/1/2013 and the date the player registers used, but if any time after registration player’s rating exceeds the section limit by 50 points, player will be moved into the next higher section. See FAQ on tournament website for details on ratings and adjustments for section eligibility. The highest of USCF, FIDE, CFC, ECF and other foreign ratings, adjusted accordingly, will be used. Current minimum CCA ratings may also be used. Players must disclose all ratings and Federation IDs.

Onsite registration until 3:30 pm, 10/8, no personal checks. Re-entry (not available in Open section): $400 from 5-Day to 4-Day schedule available by 9am, 10/9.

Rounds: 5-Day Schedule: Thu 12 and 7, Fri 11 and 6, Sat 11 and 6, Sun 11. Play-off Qualifying Round on Sunday at 6 for players tied for top 4 positions in all sections, except for Unrated/Provisional section. Rounds 8 & 9 for Open Section players not qualifying for Top 4 Play-off, Mon 11 and 6. 4-Day Schedule (not available for Open section), G/45 d5: Fri 11:30, 2, 4:30 and 7:00 (merges with 5- Day Schedule on Round 4). Play-offs to determine Top 4 in all sections (except for Unrated/Provisional section): See complete Monday schedule for semi-finals and finals for top 4 in each section on tournament website.

Additional anti-cheating policies in effect: No cell phones or other electronic devices allowed. All chess clocks and chess sets, for all sections, will be provided! Electronic notation devices will not be allowed. Security staff on site. DGT boards will be used for a limited number of top boards. Half-Point Byes: Three (3) 1/2- point byes allowed in Rounds 1 – 5 only, if requested before the start of Round 2. Zero-point byes allowed after Round 5 if requested at least an hour before the start of the round.

Free GM lectures and simuls for registered players. HR: Planet Hollywood - $116/night. Call 1-866- 317-1829. CODE: MC2015. ENTRY: https://millionairechess. com/register. For more information, including tournament policies, prize fund, schedule, registrations, FAQ, hotel information and updates please visit: https://millionairechess.com/ W. FIDE

As far as I can tell, there were no further mentions of the tournament in CL, although other events held on the same weekend were listed through the October CL. The link at the end of the TL announcement went to a page titled Millionaire Chess | Las Vegas - October 8-12, 2015 - $1,000,000 PRIZE.