Route 20 Celebrating USCF's National Chess Day With Two Events

Mark your calendars: The Route 20 Chess Club and the Freeport Public Library, along with Freeport Golden K and City Coffee Co., will celebrate National Chess Day, Saturday, Oct. 9, with an all-day community event featuring an open tournament, a speed chess tournament and exhibition, free chess lessons for beginners, and a screening of the movie Searching for Bobby Fischer (rated PG). Then, on Saturday, Oct. 23, we will continue the celebration with our second rated beginners' open and open Swiss tournament at Highland Community College in Freeport.

The community celebration will be held at the library, 100 E. Douglas St., Freeport, Ill. (map). All activities will be free and open to the general public. Players may register for the tournament between 9 and 9:45 AM on the day of the event or sign up in advance at the library’s Youth Services desk (limit 48 players). The first round will begin at 10 AM. The tournament will be a four-round Swiss with a 30-minute time control and will be divided into three youth-only sections (grades K–3, 4–8 and 9–12) and one open section for all ages. The K–3 section will be rated by the USCF. Winners will receive trophies and free entry to the RBO on Oct. 23. Beginners’ lessons will be held in two sessions, starting at 10:15 AM and 12:45 PM, and the movie will start at 3 PM. The celebration will then move to City Coffee Co., 15 N. Chicago Ave., Freeport (map), for a six-round Swiss blitz tournament (bring clocks). Registration will be open until 7:15 PM, and the first round will begin at 7:30. The first-place winner will receive a $20 prize; runners-up will receive coupons for coffee drinks.

The RBO and open tournament will be held in the Community Services Center (Building R) at Highland Community College, 2998 W. Pearl City Road, Freeport, Ill. (park in Lot B -- map). The open Swiss will be in four rounds with a 45-minute time control and a cash prize fund equal to 75 percent of entries. The RBO, open to players with USCF ratings under 1200 or unrated, will be a five-round Swiss with a 30-minute time control; first-, second- and third-place finishers will receive trophies. Both events will begin at 10 AM. Players may register for either section between 9 and 9:45 AM on the day of the event or on this site (choose your section and click "Register" button at right). USCF membership is required; single-day tournament memberships are available. Entry fees are $20 for the open Swiss ($12 for Route 20 Chess Club members), $10 for the RBO ($6 for members).

We look forward to your celebrating the game of chess with us this October!