Holiday Season Full of Tournaments

Just because school is on hiatus and you're sipping hot cocoa waiting for some portly guy in a red suit to climb down through your chimney doesn't mean your brain should atrophe! Competitive chess opportunities abound across northern Illinois this season.

Saturday, December 26, the DeKalb Chess Club will host the 4th Annual Home for the Holidays with four sections and four rounds of Game/55 competition and a five-second delay. Entry fee is only $8 or $12 at the door. See www.DeKalbChess.com for more information. All equipment provided.

Sunday, December 27, is the 4th Annual DuPage County Chess Championship. Six rated sections: U800, U1000, U1200, U1400, U1600 and Championship, all with four rounds. Game analysis and concessions on-site.

The DuPage County event includes generous cash prizes and will be hosted at Benedictine University's Krasa Center in Lisle. More information is available at www.elitechess.net under the "Tournaments" tab. Entry fee is still just $35 as of this posting but goes up on December 26.

The DeKalb Chess Club is also hosting the 2016 Northern Illinois Kick-Off on (Friday) January 1. The event will be both regular-rated and quick-rated by the USCF (US Chess).  Entry fees are $8 if pre-registered by Wednesday December 30, or $12 without pre-registration. www.DeKalbChess.com -- all equipment provided.

Also dual-rated on January 1 will be the Village of Park Forest's Third New Years Day Chess Tournament. $10 entry fee. Players must bring their own equipment. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

On January 2nd, the Kenosha $1000 Stateline Shootout will take place in Pleasant Prairie, WI. Sections include K-5 Under 600, K-12 Under 1000 and an Open Section with a $250 first prize in the top division (based on 50 players). Early registration is $30 increasing to $50 onsite. www.KenoshaChess.org

Saturday, January 9 (in DeKalb) is the 2016 Lasker Memorial Open, honoring what would have been the 75th anniversary of the passing of Emanuel Lasker on January 11, 1941. Lasker was the World Chess Champion for 27 years. www.DeKalbChess.com for more information. Flyer is available for download. All equipment provided -- but you are welcome to bring your own writing implement for taking of notation!