The state’s top high school players will be invited to compete next March in the Illinois Denker High School Qualifier, where the winner is named the official state representative to the U.S. Denker High School Tournament of Champions.  The national tournament will be held July 31 to August 3 in Irvine, California.

DATE: Friday, March 19 to Sunday, March 21, 2010

LOCATION: Holiday Inn, Skokie (courtesy of the North American Chess Association, which will be hosting the FIDE World Amateur tournament at the same time and place)

FORMAT: 5-round, 6-player Round Robin*

TIME CONTROL: G90 plus 30-second increment

HOW PLAYERS ARE CHOSEN:  All eligible players (see below) who have reached a peak rating of 2000 or more between Feb. 1, 2009 and Jan. 31, 2010 will be invited.  The top-scoring player in the ICCA individual championship tournament, to be held Feb. 6, 2010, who would not have otherwise been invited will also receive an invitation. . If fewer than six players accept their invitations, alternates will be invited in order of peak rating, as noted above. 

*If more than six players accept their invitations, the field will be expanded to the next even number (i.e., an 8- or 10-player field), and the tournament format will be adjusted. In the case of an 8-player field, it will most likely be a 7-round Round Robin; and in the case of 10 players, a 5-round Swiss.  Invitations will be issued the week of February 8.

ELIGIBILITY: To be eligible to play in the Illinois Denker qualifier, all players must:
* Be an Illinois resident either enrolled in an Illinois high school, or home-schooled and
of high school age (born between September 1, 1991 and August 31, 1995).
* Be a current active high school chess player, or have played 10 or more USCF
regularly rated games (not quick-rated) in the past 12 months.
* List the USCF as their home federation. Players affiliated with foreign federations are
not eligible.
* Sign an agreement stating that if they win the tournament, they will play in the US High
School championship tournament in August in Irvine, California.
* Submit a $50 deposit, refundable upon completion of the tournament.

PRIZES:
1st place: $500 minimum in travel expenses (more if funding is available) to attend the U.S. Denker High School Tournament of Champions in Irvine, California, payable upon completion of that tournament; and $250 towards chess lessons, payable to the instructor.
2nd and 3rd place: $125 towards chess lessons, payable to the instructor.
The ICA Warren Junior Program will provide funding for all prizes.

CURRENT TOP 10 HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS:
Name:                        High School:                Peak 2009 Rating:

1.  Eric Rosen              Niles North                  2237
2.  Trevor Magness       Home-schooled            2186
3.  Michael Auger         Whitney Young            2109
4.  Zach Kasiurak         Barrington                   2034
5.  Matthew Wilber       Buffalo Grove              2021
6.  Josh Dubin             Stevenson                   1987
7.  Aakaash Meduri      Hinsdale Central           1986
8.  Sebastian Bibat            ?                           1951
9.  Frankie Swindell        Grayslake                  1928
10.  Kent Cen              Stevenson                   1917

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Contact Andi Rosen, ICA Warren Junior Scholar Director, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.