Mid-America Open – Friday March 20 – Sunday March 22, 2026

https://www.chesstour.com/mao26.htm

30th annual
MID-AMERICA OPEN
March 20-22 or 21-22, 2026
Clayton Plaza Hotel, Saint Louis-Clayton

CLICK HERE FOR PAIRINGS, STANDINGS, GAME LOCATIONS AND OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION

$20,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES!

A Heritage Event
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (enhanced)

30th annual Mid-America Open. 5-Round, Swiss-System, 40/80, SD/30; d30. (2-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10). Clayton Plaza Hotel St. Louis-Clayton, 7750 Carondelet Ave., Clayton, MO 63105 (I-64 W/US 40-W Exit 32B, 1.2 miles north on Hanley Rd).  Free parking.

In 6 sections:

• Major Section (FIDE rated): Open to 1900/over (see peakrating.us). Prizes: $2000-1000-600-400, clear win or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $800-400.
• Under 2100 Section (FIDE rated): $1500-700-500-300.
• Under 1900 Section: $1500-700-500-300.
• Under 1700 Section: $1400-700-500-300.
• Under 1500 Section: $1200-600-400-300.
• Under 1200 Section: $900-500-300-200.

Prize limits:

    Unrated limit: U1200 $150, U1500 $300, or U1700 $500.

    Cannot play below USCF Online Regular rating minus 100 points.

Mixed Doubles Team Bonus Prizes! Best male+female 2-player team combined score among all sections: $800-400-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat; individual prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles prizes.

3-day schedule: Rounds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Fri 6 pm
2-day schedule: Rounds. Sat. 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun. 10 & 3:30. Registration ends Sat. 10 am

Half point byes OK all, limit 2; must commit before Round 2.

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

Top 5 sections entry fee: $123 online at chessaction.com by 3/17, $140 later or at site until 1 hour before round 1.  GMs free, $100 from prize.

Under 1200 Section entry fees: all $20 less than top 5 sections entry fee above.

No checks, credit cards OK. No mailed entries.

Re-entry (no Major to Major) $60.

Online entry fee $3 less to MCA members (join or renew at mochess.org).

All: USCF membership required. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with online entry at chessaction.com: 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: March official ratings used. Unofficial uschess.org ratings or Online Regular Ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to qualify for Major (see www.peakrating.us ). 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.   

Chess Discount hotel rates, use this link (also posted at chessevents.us): $124 king, $128 plaza or Executive Double Queen, $134 (3 guests) $139 (4 guests), includes free full hot buffet breakfast, or call 314-726-5400 or 888-331-1600 and request Chess Tournament rate; reserve by Feb. 27 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- none supplied!

US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.

Entry: chessaction.com. No mailed entries. $15 service charge for refunds.

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

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

BLITZ TOURNAMENT SATURDAY NIGHT  9:30 pm, enter on site Saturday by 9:10 pm.