The Atlantic City Open – APRIL 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 2026
https://www.chesstour.com/aco26.htm
The Atlantic City Open
A NEW CCA Event!
(Replaces the Princeton Open and Open at Foxwoods) during Easter Weekend
$40,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES!
GM & IM NORMS POSSIBLE, TOP 3 SECTIONS ARE ALSO FIDE RATED!
FIDE requires at least one Swiss System (at least 40 players) norm to obtain a title.
APRIL 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 2026 – Easter Weekend
US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 200 (ENHANCED)
9 rounds (Open Section), 7 rounds (other sections), Swiss-System, Tropicana Casino And Resort, 2831 Boardwalk (near the corner of Slowa and Pacific Avenues), Atlantic City, NJ 08401. Free self-parking.
5-Day schedule, April 1-5: Open Section only, FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible, 40/80, SD/30; d30.
4-Day schedule, April 2-5: Under 2200 Under 1100 Sections, 40/80, SD/30; d30.
3-Day schedule, April 3-5: Under 2200 Under 1100 Sections, Rounds 1-2 G/60, d10, then merges with 4-Day.
$40,000 prize fund unconditionally guaranteed!
In 7 sections.
Open Section: $5000-2500-1500-1200-1000-800-500, clear or tiebreak winner $200 Bonus, Top FIDE U2300/Unr $2000-1000. Open Section minimum prizes, if entered online by 3/2 and playing all 9 games with no byes: foreign GMs $800, foreign IMs/foreign WGMs $400.
Under 2200/Unr: $2000-1000-600-500-300-200. FIDE rated.
Under 2000/Unr: $2000-1000-600-500-300-200. FIDE rated.
Under 1800/Unr: $2000-1000-600-500-300-200.
Under 1600/Unr: $1600-800-500-300-200-100.
Under 1400/Unr: $1200-600-400-300-200-100.
Under 1100/Unr: $800-400-300-200.
Unrated Prize limits: Under 1100 $200, Under 1400 $400, Under 1600 $500, Under 1800 $800.
Mixed Doubles Bonus Team Prizes: Best male+female 2-player team combined score in Rounds 1-7 among all sections: $1200-600-400-300. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; individual prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes.
Open Section Entry Fee: $218 online at chessaction.com by 3/30, $240 later online or at site, by 6 pm 4/1, US IMs/WGMs, foreign players rated 2000+ FIDE $100 less, GMs, foreign IMs/foreign WGMs in Open free. Players with federation “FID” may not be considered as foreign players by FIDE. $500 extra charge to play in Open Section unless rated 2200+ USCF or 2000+ FIDE (see peakrating.us for using peak rating to play up).
Under 2200 through Under 1400 Section Entry Fee: $188 online at chessaction.com by 3/30, $210 later or at site, until 1 hour before round 1.
Seniors age 65 and above in Under 1400 Section and above: $50 less.
Under 1100 Section Entry Fee: $80 less than Under 1400 through Under 2200 Entry Fee.
Re-Entry (no Open to Open): $100.
No checks, credit cards OK.
USCF membership required. Special 1-year US Chess dues with magazine if paid online with online entry: Adult $54, Senior (age 65+) $48, Young Adult $33, Youth $24.
5-Day schedule (Open Section only), Rounds: Wed 7 pm; Thu 1 & 7 pm; Fri 11 am & 5 pm; Sat 10 am & 4 pm; Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm. Registration ends Wed 6 pm.
4-Day schedule (no 4-Day Open), Rounds: Thu 7 pm; Fri 11 am & 5 pm; Sat 10 am & 4 pm; Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm. Registration ends Thu 6 pm.
3-Day schedule (no 3-Day Open), Rounds: Fri 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm; Sat 11 am & 5 pm; Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm. Registration ends Fri 10 am.
4-Day and 3-Day schedules merge and compete for same prizes within section.
Half point byes: OK all rounds, limit 2; must commit before round 3.
Ratings: FIDE ratings used in Master Section, April official USCF ratings in other sections. Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if necessary, may be used, if higher than USCF.
Unofficial uschess.org ratings and USCF Online Regular Ratings usually used if otherwise unrated in Under 2200 Section and below (see peakrating.us). Cannot play in Under 2200 Section and below at rating below USCF Online Regular Rating minus 100 points. Prizes not claimed at site are usually paid by PayPal (may take a couple of weeks).
Foreign player rating info Prizewinner tax info CCA electronic devices rules
PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, or in your hotel room or car, or in a bag at your table.
For all tournaments, adjusted FIDE or foreign ratings, if higher than USCF, may be used. Players must disclose FIDE or foreign ratings when entering, or may later be expelled. Other over the board ratings such as club, league, scholastic, state or province, etc, adjusted if appropriate, may be used at our discretion if above USCF. No rating below the latest official USCF rating, on the list corresponding to the ending date of the tournament, will be used. For 9 round events offering title norm possibilities, FIDE ratings are used. Click here for further details.
Hotel Chess rates (use this link): Sun-Thu $59; Fri $149; Sat $209 (reservations link also posted at chessevents.us), or call 609-340-4000, mention Chess rate; reserve by 3/17 or rate may increase (the Chess rate rooms may sell out before 3/17).
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633.
Bring set, board, clock if possible– playes are responsible for supplying their own equipment.
Enter Online: ChessAction.com. No mail entries. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click “entry list” after entering).
All entries: $15 service charge for refunds; no charge if credited to future entry fees.
US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.
Questions: Director@Chess.us, chesstour.com
Blitz tournament: Sat. 9:30 pm, enter at site Sat. by 8:45 pm.