Chicago Open – Thursday May 21 – Monday 25, 2026  (Memorial Day Weekend)

https://www.chesstour.com/chio26.htm

35th annual
CHICAGO OPEN
May 21-25, 22-25, 23-25, or 24-25, 2026  (Memorial Day Weekend)

Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, IL
601 N Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling, IL 60090
From Chicago, I-294 N to US-45 N; from Milwaukee, I-94 E to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 S. Free parking.

$100,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES!

US Chess Grand Prix Points: 200 (enhanced)

An American Classic!

A Heritage event!

Open Section, May 21-25: 9-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30. GM & IM norms possible.

Under 2300 through Under 1300 Section, May 22-25 or May 23-25: 7-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10).

AND BACK AGAIN THIS YEAR Is The Under 1000 Section, May 24-25: 7-SS, G/60, d10!

In 8 sections:

• Open (FIDE rated): $10000-5000-2500-1300-1000-800-600-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak winner bonus $300, top FIDE Under 2400/Unrated $2000-1000.
• Under 2300 Section (FIDE rated): $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300.
• Under 2100 Section (FIDE rated): $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300.
• Under 1900 Section: $ 5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300.
• Under 1700 Section: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300.
• Under 1500 Section: $4000-2000-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300.
• Under 1300 Section: $3000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300.
• Under 1000 Section: $1500-800-600-400-300-200-200-100-100-100.

Open Section minimum prize guarantee: if entering online by 5/1 and playing all 9 games (no byes): foreign GM $800, foreign IM/WGM $400, foreign FM $200 (FIDE might not count players with federation “FID” as foreign).

Prize limits:

1. If any post-event Regular OTB or Regular Online rating posted 5/20/25-5/20/26, or current Online Regular rating, was more than 40 points over section maximum, prize limit $800
2. Players with under 26 lifetime games rated as of May 2026 official list cannot win over $500 in U1000, $1000 U1300, $1500 U1500, $2000 U1700, or $2500 U1900; games rated too late for May 2026 Official list do not count towards 26-game total.
3. Unrated limits: U1000 Section $200, U1300 Section $300, U1500 Section $400, U1700 Section $600, U1900 Under Section $800, U2100 $1200. Balance of any limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.

Cannot play below Online Regular Rating minus 100 points in Under 2300 through Under 1000 Sections.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Team Prizes: Best male+female 2-player team combined score in Rounds 1-7 among all sections: $ 2000-1000-500-400-300. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) before both players begin round 2; teams with an unrated player limited to $500 prize.

Schedules and Round Times:

• Open (5-Day schedule only): Rounds: Thu 7pm; Fri 1 pm & 7 pm; Sat 11 am & 5 pm; Sun 10 am & 4 pm; Mon 10 am & 4 pm. Registration ends Thu 6 pm.
• U2300 to U1300 (4-Day schedule): Rounds: Fri 7 pm; Sat 11 am & 5 pm; Sun 10 am & 4 pm; Mon 10 am & 4 pm. Registration ends Fri 6 pm.
• U2300 to U1300 (3-Day schedule): Rounds: Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm; Sun 10 am & 4 pm; Mon 10 am & 4 pm. Registration ends Sat 10 am.
• U1000 (2-Day schedule only): Rounds: Sun 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm & 7 pm; Mon 10 am, 1 pm, & 4 pm. Registration ends Sun 9 am.

Half point byes OK all, limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rounds); must commit before round 3.

Prizes not claimed at tournament are usually paid by PayPal (may take a couple of weeks).

Entry fee:

• Open through U1300: $207 online at chessaction.com by 3/19, $227 by 5/19, $250 later online or at site, until 1 hour before round 1.
• $500 extra charge to play in Open section unless rated 2300+ USCF or U2000+ FIDE.
• Open Section for titled players: GMs & foreign Ims/WGMs free (players forfeiting without proper advance notice subject to fine and losing future entry privileges), $200 deducted from prize. US IMs/WGMs & foreign FMs $100 less than Open through Under 1300 entry fee and also $100 deducted from prize.
• Entry fee $100 less to seniors age 65 and over in U1300 Section and above.
• Under 1000 section entry fee only: $97 online at chessaction.com by 5/19, $120 later online or at site, until 9 am Sun.

No checks, credit cards OK. No mailed entries.

Re-entry (no Open to Open) $100.

Online Entry Fee $5 less to ICA members (Illinois Chess Association), is an optional state membership, NOT the same as USCF national membership).  You can join/renew the ICA at il-chess.org.

All: 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.

Foreign player rating info     Prizewinner tax info    CCA electronic devices policies

PLAYERS MAY NOT POSSESS CELLPHONES DURING PLAY. Please leave your phone home, 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.

Ratings: US player ratings (2300 Section and below), May 2026 official ratings used; unofficial uschess.org ratings or USCF Online Regular ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to qualify for Open (see www.peakrating.us). Foreign player ratings (except Open): see foreignratings.com. FIDE ratings used for Open Section.  Players must reveal foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if necessary, may be used if higher than USCF. See also above.   

Hotel rates: $138-138-138-138, use this reservation link (also posted at chessevents.us, or call 847-777-6500 or 800-937-8461 and request Chess rate); reserve by 5/7 or rate may increase, rooms may sell out earlier.

Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.

Bring set, board, clock if possible- players are responsible for supplying their own chess equipment.

Enter Online: chessaction.com. No mail entries. $15 service charge for refunds.

Questions: Director@chess.us,  chesstour.com.

US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.

Entries posted at chessaction.com (click “entry list” after entering).

BLITZ TOURNAMENT SUNDAY NIGHT  10:00 pm, enter by 9:00 pm.