With witty names like How To Train Your Sicilian Dragon, Wisconsinknights, and The Wrath of Caro-Kann, teams aplenty are signing up for five rounds of long-time control team chess this weekend in Schaumburg.
The US Amateur Team North -- largely featuring entrants from midwest states -- is an opportunity for Illinois players to compete in a National tournament without leaving the state.
As of the conclusion of the weekend, Glenn Panner reports 65 team have registered -- with several individuals still looking to get matched up with partial teams.
Teams consist of four player-teams each round with one alternate allowed to substitute-in throughout the event. Teams may take a half-point bye in a round -- but there are no byes for individuals -- so that alternate can come in handy for maximum flexibility.
Teams have the option of three- or two-day competition with the three-day alternative kicking off Friday, Feb. 17 at the Schaumburg Hyatt.
Two-day entrants play two quicker games at Game/60; with a five-second delay -- before merging with the three-day teams in Saturday's round three.
The final three rounds will all be played at the full time control: Game/90 with a 30-second increment.
The defending National Champion team "Got Milk?" had to split up due to their rise above the 2200 average rating, but several have joined other teams as of press-time.
By a narrow margin, Wisconsin Chess Academy -- with GM Josh Friedel -- has the highest average rating (based on January 2017) -- with 2196. The aforementioned "Sicilian Dragon" squad is only a point lower -- lead by Eric Rosen and Tansel Turgut.
Several other team names were not appropriate for mixed company -- but all the advance registrations have been posted at the Chess Weekend website:
http://www.chessweekend.com/2017/pre-registration-list/
Registration is still available at a reasonable $10 per game rate (based on four-person teams at $200) through onlineregistration.cc under "Chess Weekend".
A seperate registration list is gathering for Saturday Night's Midwest Blitz Championships which currently features a $25 entry rate for five double-game rounds (10 games total). This event also features cash prizes -- which are forebidden in the main event due to the amateur classification.
Nonetheless, a wide array of other valueable prizes will be bestowed upon top scoring teams -- and individuals -- in the main event.