Countdown to the 1997 Interplay US Chess Championships

The 1997 Interplay U.S. Chess Championships:
Site Report

IA Carol Jarecki

International Arbiter Carol Jarecki is one of the most respected tournament directors in the world. The 1997 Interplay US Championships is also recognized by the world chess authority, FIDE, and part of Ms. Jarecki's duties are to ensure that the games follow international tournament requirements as well as American ones. Here she gives us a look at what conditions at the site are like for the players and staff.

Chandler is a quiet suburb about 10 -15 miles southeast of Phoenix proper. It's warm here in August, no doubt, but not as hot as usual for the season. Daytime temperatures have been hanging around 103 degrees, plus or minus 5 or so (a few weeks ago it was 120), unless there is a cooling thunderstorm which generally drops it almost 20 degrees. Evenings and nights run around 80 degrees. The dryness of the air makes the difference between this being comfortable and intolerable.

The Sheraton San Marcos is a friendly southwestern-style hotel with large comfortable rooms, a large pool, adjacent tennis courts and golf course with mountains east and west about 30 miles distant. It is laid out with winding paths and tropical plantings including a variety of palm trees and flowering shrubs. The air conditioning is excellent and the surroundings are quiet. The pool is just about vacant during the midday because of the heat but many of the players enjoy a swim after their games in the evening.

The playing room is spacious with plenty of spectator seating. There is no undue tension in the atmosphere and the players and staff seem relaxed and able to focus on the business at hand without extraneous pressures. Lighting in the room is very good but, although no one has complained, the a.c. is a bit noisy especially when it goes on and off. Rather, I should say, it results in a deafening silence when it goes off.

Even with all the care taken to prepare for this premier tournament there are glitches, in this case the beautiful, expensive, weighted, lacquered wooden chess sets. The pieces were so shiny you could just about see your reflection in them. All of us were taken aback when we first saw them as they were being unpacked and set out on the first-class Druecke boards. With the tournament due to begin the next day this caused a real dilemna. We even decided that we might have to begin with USCF plastic sets until replacements could be sent from the office in New Windsor.

Then GM Yasser Seirawan came to the rescue, suggesting a "spray of some kind that would dull the finish". An early morning call to the nearest arts and crafts store, a dash over there to pick up a couple of cans of matte acrylic spray and a few hours outside in the broiling sun carefully spraying a dulling finish on each and every piece solved the problem to everyone's satisfaction and the TDs' delight. Thanks again to Yaz!

Yesterday [Tuesday, 26 August] was the first free day for all the players. A group drove north to Flagstaff to breathe the cool mountain air and take a ski lift up to the highest elevations. Passing thunderstorms closed the lift so most of them stayed overnight and made the lift trip early this morning. Northern Arizona is one of the most beautiful areas in the country, even excluding the Grand Canyon. A group of teenagers decided the water slide was more to their liking. Others just relaxed or slept.

Rachel and Myron Lieberman, Phoenix natives, generously invited the entire tournament, including staff, out to dinner at the Landmark Restaurant. Twenty-seven of us had a private room and free run of a huge hot and cold "salad" bar. It was a great idea and a wonderful, sociable get-together for all.

Our thanks to Ms. Jarecki for her look at the event from the participants' point of view!