Utrecht Open Chess Championships 2008

INTRODUCTION
In 2008 chess club Paul Keres will organise the Utrecht Open Chess Championships (OKU) for the 35th time. The tournament will be held from June 6 to 8, 2008. The OKU will again be played at the Nationaal Denksportcentrum Den Hommel, Kennedylaan 9, in Utrecht (+31-30-2759988).

SETUP
Players will be divided into three groups according to FIDE- or national ELO-rating. Players with a rating of 1800 or higher may play in the first group, players with a rating between 1500 and 1900 may play in the second group and players with a rating below 1600 may play in the third group. The organisation may deviate from these rules in exceptional cases. All groups will play a six rounds Swiss tournament following the FIDE-regulations.
The rate of play will be all moves in 115 minutes + 5 seconds added time per move. Smoking is prohibited in the playing area.
It is possible to get one or more byes. However, people taking two or more byes during the tournament or bye in round 5 or 6 are excluded from winning prizes. A bye counted as a half point. Bye-requests must be communicated to the organisation before the tournament starts.

RATING
All results will be communicated to the Dutch chess federation, but not to the FIDE.

SCHEDULE

Friday June 6, 2008      18.30 - 19.15       Registration
                         19.15 - 19.30       Opening
                         19.30 - 23.30       Round 1

Saturday June 7, 2008    09.15 - 13.15       Round 2
                         14.15 - 18.15       Round 3
                         19.30 - 23.30       Round 4

Sunday June 8, 2008      09.15 - 13.15       Round 5
                         14.15 - 18.15       Round 6
                         18.45 - 19.00       Prize and award ceremony

PRIZES

If a tie occurs, prizes are split.

Ratingprizes: There will also be four rating prizes of € 50 each for the best players with a rating below 2200 and 2000 in the first group, below 1700 in the second group and below 1400 in the third group.

ENTRY AND CONTACT INFORMATION
The entry fee of the tournament will be:
Group 1 27,50 Euro (12,50 Euro for FM, free for IM and IGM)
Group 2 22,50 Euro
Group 3 22,50 Euro
Payment on registration at the tournament hall.

Entry by e-mail: or after May 25th by phone to Gabriel Smit, +31-633904470. On entry, please give your name, full address, date of birth, club and Elo-rating (KNSB and/or FIDE). Also indicate whether you wish to receive a bye in one of the first four rounds, and which group you will play in.

LOCATION
The OKU will be held at the Nationaal Denksportcentrum Den Hommel:

Nationaal Denksportcentrum Den Hommel
Kennedylaan 9
3533 KH Utrecht
Phone number +31-30-2759988

ROUTE

(click on the map to see the full size picture)

Public transport
- From train station Utrecht Centraal take the tram (direction Nieuwegein-Zuid or IJsselstein) to Hospital Oudenrijn ("24 Oktoberplein-Zuid"). Walk back to the roundabout and go straight ahead (Pijperlaan). Take the first street on the left (Bizetlaan) and follow to the end. The Nationaal Denksportcentrum is at the end of the street, past the swimming pool.
- Or take bus number 5 from Utrecht Centraal in direction Kanaleneiland. Get out at swimming pool Den Hommel ("Zwembad Den Hommel") and follow the road past the swimming pool.

Car
Take exit 8 (Utrecht/De Meern) from the A2 and follow the signs Utrecht/Jaarbeurs. After passing the canal go left at the roundabout (Pijperlaan) and left again quickly (Bizetlaan). Follow to the end of the street. The Nationaal Denksportcentrum is at the end of the street past the swimming pool.

ACCOMODATION
Information about accomodation can be obtained from the VVV-Utrecht, Vredenburg 90, Utrecht, telephone 0900-1288732 (www.utrechtyourway.nl). The IBIS hotel is closest to the playing venue.

HALL OF FAME

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