More than 600 chess players from all parts of the United States are expected to attend the 104th annual U.S. Open Chess Championship, which will be held at the LAX Radisson, 6225 W. Century Blvd., Los Angeles, CA August 3-15, 2003. This is a 12 round chess tournament open to all U.S. Chess Federation (USCF) members. The 19th annual Denker Tournament of High School Champions will also be held at the LAX Radisson August 3-8, 2003. The Denker tournament is a six round invitational tournament open only to state high school chess champions. The U.S. Blind Chess Championship will be held at the LAX Radisson August 9-10. The U.S. Blind Championship is a five round tournament open only to USCF members who are legally blind and who do not have a driver�s license.

The U.S. Open is a qualifier for the 2004 U.S. Invitational Championship, and many world renowned International Grandmasters (GMs) have already announced their intention to come to the 104th annual U.S. Open. This list of players includes: Hall of Fame GM Arthur Bisguier; GM Pavel Blatny; Hall of Fame and six time U.S. Champion GM Walter Browne; 2002 U.S. Champion GM Larry Christiansen; GM Ildar Ibragimov; former women�s world chess champion GM Susan Polgar; and reigning U.S. Champion GM Alex Shabalov.

This year�s U.S. Open features a return to the traditional 12 round tournament and a $55,000 prize fund. The twelve round format, in combination with new World Chess Federation rules, may enable players to earn Grandmaster or International Master norms. There are five different schedules for players to choose from. There will be meetings and workshops covering all aspects of chess beginning on Wednesday, August 6, culminating in the annual USCF Delegates� meeting, which will be held August 9-10. There will also be numerous one day and weekend chess tournaments held at the LAX Radisson in conjunction with the U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open is co-sponsored by the USCF and the Southern California Chess Federation and organized by Jerry Hanken ([email protected]) and Diane Reese ([email protected]). National Tournament Director Randall Hough ([email protected]) will be the chief tournament director. For more information, please visit www.uschess.org/tournaments/2003/usopen.

The United States Chess Federation, founded in 1939, serves as the governing body for chess in the United States and is devoted to extending the role of chess in American society. It promotes the study and knowledge of the game of chess, for its own sake as an art and enjoyment, and as a means for the improvement of society. The USCF is a not-for-profit membership organization with more than 90,000 members. For more information, please see http://www.uschess.org.