American Chess Events

ACE Chess Presents:

The Master Trek - Grand Prix Cup Tournament Series

View the most Up-To-Date Grand Prix Cup Standings here.

PRIZES:

Plaques will be awarded to Top 3 players from each section.
1st Place in each section will also receive a Master Trek Grand Prix Cup All-Star Jacket.
The MVP is determined by the best overall performance from each section through out a given season. Four MVP awards will be given to the top performances from the following sections: 500-999, 1000-1399, 1400-1699, and 1700-1999. These players will see their names engraved on the Grand Prix Cup, a featured article on AmericanChess.net, and the GRAND PRIZE of a full ride, ACE Chess sponsored, trip to the 2010 K-12 National Scholastic Chess Championships, held annually by the U.S.C.F. in December (exact date and location for 2010 Dec. 10-12 Lake Buena Vista, Florida). Scholarship Prize redeemable up to $1,000.00 upon completion of play at the National Championship.
NOTE: Players graduating High School will receive a $500 dollar cash prize, redeemable upon proof of High School Diploma.
The MVP from the 2000 & Up Section will see his/her name engraved on the Grand Prix Cup, a featured article on AmericanChess.net, and the GRAND PRIZE of a guaranteed spot and free entry into the 2010 Copper State International tournament (valued at $300-$500 depending on FIDE rating). (The 2010 Copper State International will take place June 4th-9th in Mesa, Arizona. For more details, please see Copper State International tournament page).
NOTE: Adult Participants are now eligible for qualification into the Copper State International tournament, but they must follow the same rules, guidelines and restrictions as every player competing in the 2000 & Up Section.

*In the event that an MVP does not participate or complete the National Championship tournament, Scholarship Prize may be passed on to 2nd place in that particular section.

Award Ceremony will always take place at the first Master Trek Grand Prix Cup tournament of the following season.

Note: Master Trek Grand Prix Cup tournaments may be limited to 80 players starting with the 2009-2010 Grand Prix Cup Season.

RULES, GUIDELINES, AND RESTRICTIONS:

The August 1st 2009 to May 1st 2010 U.S.C.F. Rating Supplements will be used when evaluating rating point increases for the 2009-2010 Grand Prix Cup Season.
In the event that a player does not have an official August Rating, either the July or September Rating supplements will be used. The higher rating will always be chosen. In the event that the player does not have an official July, August or September rating, the June 2009, May 2009, April 2009 etc will be used. For questions, please contact Info@AmericanChess.net.
Players are eligible for the prizes listed in their particular rating class and section as of the August 1st 2009 U.S.C.F. Rating Supplement. (See above note for more details.)
Must compete in at least 6 of 10 Master Treks during the Grand Prix Cup Season to be eligible for all Grand Prix Cup Awards. Must compete in at least one tournament in your “rating class” and section in order to be eligible for prizes in your section. For more information and questions, please contact Info@AmericanChess.net.
Only K-12 Scholastic players are eligible for prizes in 500-999 Section, 1000-1399 Section, 1400-1699 Section, and 1700-1999 Section.
Master Trek Grand Prix Cup entry fees must be paid in full in order to be eligible for all Grand Prix Cup prizes. Players paying the “Adult Participation” entry fee will not be eligible for trophies or Grand Prix Cup awards.
Players competing in Master Trek sections (500-999, 1000-1399, 1400-1699, and 1700-1999) are eligible for Grand Prix Cup “Scholarship” prizes listed above.
Players participating in the 2000 & Up Section are competing for a guaranteed spot and free entry in the 2010 Copper State International, as listed above.
Rating point bonuses start at 500, to avoid inflation. (Example: Increase of 427 to 827 would be calculated as a 327 point increase.) For more questions and/or explanations please contact Info@AmericanChess.net.
Due to the importance of finding a "clear winner" when rewarding Grand Prix Cup Points, ACE CHESS will implement an “Armageddon” Blitz game to decide who receives first place. Rather than letting Tie-Breaks decide, an Armageddon Blitz game is as follows: White receives 7 minutes, while black receives 5 minutes (5 second time delay will be used), but black gets draw odds (meaning a draw equals a victory for black). All games are therefore decisive, and an obvious winner is quickly presented. The U.S.C.F. recommended Tie-Breaks will still determine all other final places.
In the event that a player ties for first place, but does not stay around to play the Armageddon Blitz game, first place bonus points will automatically be awarded to the other player.
In the event of a tie between an eligible Grand Prix Cup participant and a non-eligible player, the first place bonus points will automatically be awarded to the eligible participant, regardless of final standings by tie-breaks.
In the event that ties are reached in the final Grand Prix Cup Standings at the end of a given season, the following tie-break system will be used to determine all awards:

Number of 1st Place finishes 3 points.
Total Top 5 finishes 3 points.
Total rating points gained 5 points.

In the event that a clear winner is still not determined after tie breakers have been implemented:

Overtime TIE-BREAKER: Total number of Master Trek tournaments participated in by player(s).

After which, if the tie is still not broken, prizes will be split equally between the players. Plaques and Jackets will be awarded to both, and both players will have their names engraved onto the Cup as Co-Champions. MVP Scholastic Scholarship money will be split equally. Both players will be guaranteed spots and free entry into the Copper State International tournament.

GRAND PRIX CUP POINT BONUSES:

RATING INCREASES:

50-74 pts: 2 GPP
75-99 pts: 3 GPP
100-124 pts: 5 GPP
125-149 pts: 6 GPP
150-174 pts: 7 GPP
175-199 pts: 8 GPP
200-224 pts: 10 GPP
225-249 pts: 11 GPP
250-274 pts: 12 GPP
275-299 pts: 13 GPP
300-324 pts: 15 GPP
325-349 pts: 16 GPP
350-399 pts: 18 GPP
400+ pts: 20 GPP

TOURNAMENT PERFORMACE:

1st Place (in each section): 5 GPP.
2nd-5th Place (in each section): 3 GPP.
Three 1st Place Finishes in single Season (in any section): 3 GPP.
Five or more 2nd-5th Place Finishes (in any section): 3 GPP.

NOTES:

American Chess Events, LLC urges all players to compete in their particular rating group’s section. Although players will not necessarily be prevented from playing “up”, no bonus or sympathy points are rewarded to players playing “out of their section”. Players must also be within 50 points (updated U.S.C.F. Ratings used) of the section that they wish to play up in.

For example: In the rare event that we are forced to merge sections (due to a lack of participation in one section) players will still be competing for the prizes and Grand Prix Points in the section in which they registered. For example, if the 1700-1999 Section and the 2000 & Up Section are merged because of lack of participation in the 1700-1999, a 1980 rated player who requested to play in the 2000 & Up Section will only be eligible for the 2000 & Up prizes and Grand Prix Cup Points. For questions regarding this rule, feel free to contact Info@AmericanChess.net.

As with any good system, we will be evolving as we learn from our mistakes. Minor adjustments may be made from season to season, and we have already made many changes during the invention process. ACE Chess reserves the right to make continued improvements between seasons where we see fit to do so.

By registering and participating in the Master Trek Grand Prix Cup tournaments, you are agreeing to comply with each particular season’s pre-posted Guidelines, Bonus Point Systems, and Rules stated above.

STANDINGS:

ST = Subtotal, RI = Rating Increase, PB = Performance Bonus,
RB = Rating Bonus, GT = Grand Total