***** QUALIFY ***** Rules and Registration information for the 2 qualifying events for the ICC GRANDMASTER Knockout Tournament! "message BlueWalker" with questions. YOU could be one of two players who will join six invitees to play in the ICC Grandmaster Knockouts ($2000 prize fund). ALL ICC MEMBERS are eligible to enter one of these tournaments: 1) Advance-to-Planet Chess Master Qualifier tournament on September 21. Open to players rated under 2200 or unrated for BOTH blitz and standard. The top eight finishers plus ties for eighth place advance to September 28 Planet Chess Master Qualifier. 2) Planet Chess Master Qualifier September 28. Open to any player who has not played in the September 21 tournament with an established rating 2200 and over on ICC (blitz or standard), and advancers from the September 21 tournament. The top two finishers qualify for ICC Grandmaster Knockouts October 5-13. 1) Advance-to-Planet Chess Master Qualifier tournament on September 21. Open to players rated under 2200 or unrated for BOTH blitz and standard. The top eight finishers plus ties for eighth place advance to September 28 Planet Chess Master Qualifier. 2) Planet Chess Master Qualifier September 28. Open to any player who has not played in the September 21 tournament with an established rating 2200 and over on ICC (blitz or standard), and advancers from the September 21 tournament. The top two finishers qualify for ICC Grandmaster Knockouts October 5-13. REGISTRATION Registration opens Thursday, September 12. To play in either event, please read the agreement below. By registering, you agree to the terms of the agreement. Please read it before registering. To register, please send a message to "TD" to say which event you are entering. The deadlines for registering are 5 PM EDT Friday, September 20 for the September 21 tournament and 5 PM EDT Friday, September 27 for the September 28 tournament. In order to play, you must be a registered member of ICC. If you are not a member, you may join for a seven-day free trial at any time by telnetting to chessclub.com and typing "r". If you want to play, but your membership has expired and you are not eligible for a seven-day free trial, please log onto ICC and ask an admin for a free two-day extension after 5 PM EDT the Thursday before the tournament starts. Even if you obtain a two-day extension shortly before the registration deadline, you must separately register for the tournament by 5 PM EDT Friday. The tournament director will look up the ratings to be used for the tournament after the close of registration. The higher established rating, blitz or standard, will be used for the tournament. The tournament director will have the authority to use an estimated rating for the tournament in unusual circumstances. AGREEMENT: By registering for either of these tournaments, I agree to the following: 1. I agree not to use any outside help in playing the games, including but not limited to, assistance from computers, other people, books or notes. 2. I agree that all decisions of the Tournament Director, ICC, and ICC's administrators and representatives are final. Specifically, I agree that ICC and its representatives have the right to decide who it will invite to the Grandmaster Knockouts. 3. I agree that ICC has the right to disqualify anyone it chooses. 4. I agree not to withdraw from the tournament without notifying the Tournament Director as soon as possible before the next round. I agree to "message" the Tournament Director with the result of each game I play at its conclusion. I will include the names AND the player numbers of the players in my messages. 5. I understand that this is an on-line tournament. This offers me the chance to play competitively against people who live thousands of kilometers from me. It also means that lag on the Internet or other problems could result in my not being able to complete one or more games. 6. I understand that the purpose of these tournaments is to have fun and I will play in that spirit. COMPUTER PLAY Computers are NOT elig