Possible over-the-board Antichess tournament near Kansas City International Airport (MCI)

Hi! I’m floating the idea of an over-the-board Antichess tournament near Kansas City International Airport (MCI) and reaching out to players to see whether there’s genuine interest.

The tentative plan is a Friday-afternoon arrival and start, with tournament play Friday evening. We’d continue Saturday morning and early afternoon, aim to finish play and awards by around 4:30 p.m., and leave Saturday evening open for departures. That would mean one hotel night and no Sunday play.

I’d also want time to meet, socialize, and analyze games with people we usually only know online. Nothing is booked or scheduled yet.

Would you realistically consider coming? If so, where would you travel from, and does that Friday–Saturday outline work for you?

32 of the top 500 players (who don't have a block on their PM) receive a direct message from me. I have reached out to everyone in the top list 500 players (as of 18 Sep 2006) which have their country's flag in their profile. So basically, every player in North America in the top 500.

That does not mean that if you're not in the top 500, we don't want you. It just means I got tired of hovering over every profile to see their country affiliation and stopped at 500.

If you are interested, I'll get more serious in trying to bring it all together.

If you're not on the list and want to attend, please let me know.

Here's the list I've invited so far:
@sin-sunny
@firebatprime
@CaptainPencil
@mdunlop
@bwmtone
@Penguinept
@Martin124
@forhayley
@CinderWasps
@Dreadful
@RayRaysunsun
@pCATARAK
@BombCT
@OSCARSM80
@TophBeifongAntichess
@Qued
@jjrubiks
@iLostMyCat
@KnightRider_E
@TheUnknownGuyReborn
@Plane_380
@Plane_350
@littleplotkin
@jessebin
@xxxRAPxxx
@kozya
@Mr-Best
@Abracadacabracadabra
@Your_Utmost_Nemesis
@ArdillaDelMal
@SergioPerez04
@VS_Hulk
@Bladi_AM
@cr4z3chess1
@AceIDF
@lion2006-45
@joer45

Possible OTB Antichess Event Near Kansas City International Airport — Tentative Schedule

I’m gauging interest in an in-person Antichess tournament near MCI. Nothing is booked yet, but here’s the Friday–Saturday schedule I’m considering:

Friday

• Through midafternoon: arrivals and check-in
• Around 4:00 p.m.: player meeting and rules
• Approximately 4:30–8:30 p.m.: tournament play
• After play: optional casual games, analysis, and socializing

Saturday

• Approximately 9:00 a.m.–noon: tournament play
• Noon–1:00 p.m.: lunch
• Approximately 1:00–4:00 p.m.: final rounds or playoffs
• By approximately 4:30 p.m.: awards finished
• Saturday evening: departures

The goal is meaningful competition, time to meet people we usually only know online, one hotel night, and no Sunday play. I’d look for a venue close to MCI with airport-shuttle access if possible.

Would this schedule work for you? If you might realistically attend as a player or spectator, please share where you’d travel from. The date, format, and time control would be decided after we see the level of interest.

I would make an effort to attend.

I'm considering splitting the fields after day one so that people aren't getting smoked by ASGM/AGMs the whole time. I think it would be fun for some of the 1800+ players to have a chance at playing some higher rated players on Friday, but having the format split on day two so that everyone is still competitive and having fun.

I'm also considering asking some of the higher rated players to be available at some point just for newer players to gain some insight as to how to become better. So... if you're an ASGM, AGM, or AIM and you'd be willing to pass on some keys to the game, I'd love to arrange an opportunity for maybe a breakout session or two for aspiring antichess players... some ideas may be:

1. Keys to Queen Races
2. Tips on Cleaning (forcing sequences for forced mates)
3. Traps! Don't fall for this
4. Maintaining the Initiative

... Feel free to add your own session you'd be interested in, and who you might be interested in learning from...

... also, if you're interested in providing some insight, let me know that too.

Maybe it might be good to start the clinics at 1pm on Friday so that players can learn a new skill from some of the best, and then immediately try to apply them in the tournament. I know I watched a video from @FireBatPrime before playing in the Antichess World Championship last year, and it was a huge help. Maybe we can even get @TheUnknownGuyReborn in for something...

Love the initiative, but the harsh truth is that i dont think many players would be interested or would be unwilling to attend due to transportation costs or so.

Don't mean to discourage or anything and frankly love the initiative, there is nothing like this for racing kings and nice to see some action for OTB tournament:)

@movelikejelly said ^

Love the initiative, but the harsh truth is that i dont think many players would be interested or would be unwilling to attend due to transportation costs

Thanks—I appreciate the encouragement, and travel costs are a fair concern. That’s why I’m checking interest before making any firm plans. Keeping it near the KC airport and fitting play into Friday and Saturday may make the trip workable for some people. Even a modest turnout could make for a great weekend of antichess, learning, and finally meeting fellow players in person.

@movelikejelly said ^

Don't mean to discourage or anything and frankly love the initiative, there is nothing like this for racing kings and nice to see some action for OTB tournament:)

I agree—seeing more variants played OTB would be great. That’s exactly why I’m testing interest in an antichess event. Travel costs are a real consideration, so I’m checking whether enough players could make a KC weekend work before committing to a venue or date.