Tucson Open - Late Fees

Effective Thursday, Jan 22 the Tucson Open late fees will go into effect. Make sure to get your entry in before then!

Tucson Open less than 2 weeks away!

Don't forget that the Tucson Open is just around the corner. Registration for the Tucson Open and Scholastics can be done online at the new SACA Store. Fast and convenient and you don't have to worry about sending in the entry through the mail.

Also new for this year's Tucson Open, is discounted entry fees for Seniors (age 50+). As a thank you to the die-hard veterans who help make our tournaments they wonderful events that they are, we are offering a $10 discount on the Open and Reserve sections entry fees. (The same discount we offer Juniors age under 20.)

The ACFI (the USCF recognized State Chapter) has deemed that the highest placing AZ resident in the Tucson Open will be the 2008 State Champion. SACA and ACFI have donated extra money to this year's prize fund for the tournament. The Tucson Open total prize fund is $2,550 and is worth 40 World Chess Live Grand Prix points.

Eliot Hearst, author of Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World Records and Important Games, will provide a guest lecture and book signing at 2:30 pm on Sunday, January 25 at the tournament. His new book is currently available and he'll be happy to sign your copy at the tournament. (A limited quantity will be available for purchase at the tournament as well.)

The special "chess" hotel rates are available up to January 11. The hotel does not have to offer that cheaper rate on reservations made after January 11.

Masters already confirmed for this year's Tucson Open (Arizona State Championship):
IM Levon Altounian
FM Danny Rensch
FM Robby Adamson

ChessBase.com reviews local author's book.

Eliot Hearst is a former captain of the U.S. Olympic team and one of the few Americans to win a rated game from Bobby Fischer after he became a strong master. Mr. Hearst is a distinguished professor of psychology emeritus from Indiana University and now an adjunct professor of psychology at the University of Arizona.

Eliot has co-authored the new book Blindfold Chess, which was recently reviewed on ChessBase.com. ChessBase.com is one of the leading chess news website in the world!

08.01.2009 – Just occasionally a new book on our game turns up which is likely to be of widespread interest throughout all parts of the chess world. Blindfold Chess by Eliot Hearst and John Knott (McFarland, 2009), hot off the press, is definitely a volume not to be missed, as it is by far the most detailed study ever made of this fascinating subject. We take an early dip into it.

Eliot Hearst is giving a free lecture and book signing on Sunday at the Tucson Open. Bring in your copy to have it signed! A limited number of books will also be available for purchase at the tournament. Blindfold Chess is currently available on Amazon.com or directly from publisher.

SACA Store up and running

Thank you to Jonathan Shacter (SACA webmaster) for all the hard work he's put in on the SACA webpage. Jon's goal for the SACA site is to make it one of the premier chess websites in the country. (Personally, I think we're already there, but Jon always believes we can do better.)

The latest feature he's developed is the SACA Store. The new SACA Store will allow players to enter and pay online for SACA tournaments and pay for SACA membership. Additionally, there is a convienent link for joining or renewing USCF membership. Be one of the first to register for the Tucson Open or Tucson Open Scholastics!

Currently, purchasing of chess equipment is not available, but we are looking into it for the future. The SACA Store lists equipment that SACA does sell but you'll have to contact Jennifer Shacter to set up a purchase. Also listed are chess books available through Amazon.com that various chess instructors within the SACA community have highly recommended for players wishing to improve their chess.

Please take a look and let us know what you think of the new SACA Store. Thank you again to Jonathan Shacter!!