How to remove Hayward main drain cover?

[fre1102]

I put this thing on maybe five years ago, but I'll be darned if I remember how, or how to remove it. I *thought* the whole thing just unscrewed, but I can't budge it. Are there keys in those star holes I need to depress?

 

[PoolStored]

It is pressed in. Two screws go in the two holes that look like this portion of the picture. Screws are already out. You now need to pull the cover vertically. Some fish a couple piece of rope through opposing holes and pull evenly upward to get them out. You need to devise a way to pull vertically. It is tight, likely because of dirt/age etc.