Weekly Pre-Tournament Update: Food Options, Register for Side Events

Post date: May 08, 2016 6:35:21 PM

Dear 2016 Ice Harbor Participants,

Our tournaments is fast approaching. I have been providing a weekly update to registrants and this will be the last one before the tournament. If you are newly registered, these past updates are posted on our tournament website at www.iceharborchess.com.

Registration Update

As of this writing, we have 143 participants registered online and I have 7 more manual registrations yet to process. So we should have a record 150 players or more. Click here for the current entry list.

Food Update

We are having catered breakfast and lunch Saturday and Sunday at the tournament hall in the Grand River Center. Those who placed an order should have received yesterday an invoice to be paid via PayPal. An envelop with vouchers for the meals will be available at the registration desk of the chess tournament. Please pick them up when you arrive.

We did have to order extra meals to meet our minimum requirement. So, if you are a late registrant, changed your mind, or simply forgot to order, you can still place a food order while quantities last. Any unsold meal vouchers will be available for purchase at the tournament registration counter at the tournament, including Saturday morning breakfast.

Click here to see the menu options and place your order

Since the event center will be serving food, there is not a concession stand this year (which received generally poor reviews in the past and why we have gone with catered food). There are nice vending machines for drinks and a restaurant, Tony Roma, in the adjoining hotel. We have also placed a map of nearby restaurants on the Ice Harbor Website. Just click on the link for "Food Options" on the left column of the website.

Side Events (Blitz, Bughouse, Friends & Family)

We have a variety of chess events in addition to the main event. Each of these side events require separate registration. All side events have a $5 entry fee. You may register online at www.onlineregistration.cc or at the tournament. We will accept registrations up to 1 hour prior to the start of each event with a completed onsite entry form. Players competing in one or both of the bughouse tournaments must also complete an onsite form identifying their partner at the tournament registration desk. I have found that chess players often find a partner during the event. So don't worry if you don't currently have a partner. However, tournament staff are happy to match players up on site. Click on the following tournament links to register in advance for these side events through www.onlineregistration.cc.

Tournament Logistics

The first round starts on Saturday at 10 am. If you have registered and paid, it is not necessary to check in. A voluntary information meeting will be held at 9:45 am before the start of the first round with additional instructions for players, parents, and coaches.

We have three different scholastic schedules running throughout the weekend. The start times for each round is posted on the tournament website and will be posted in the tournament hall. All sections first rounds on Sunday begin at 9 am. A tournament brochure will be provided at the tournament for each player. The brochure contains a tournament schedule, area attractions, a past winners list, as well as score sheets for players to record moves.

We are anxious to see you this coming weekend. It is our goal to make this tournament a wonderful chess experience. Please let me know if you have any questions or need assistance with your visit to Dubuque.

Sincerely,

Jim Hodina

Ice Harbor Tournament Organizer