Western Class Championships – Friday March 6 – Sunday March 8, 2026
https://www.chesstour.com/wcc26.htm
33rd annual
WESTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 6-8 or 7-8, 2026 in Southern California
$20,000 PRIZE FUND UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED
5-round Swiss-System, Hilton Orange County Airport, Irvine, CA
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 120 (enhanced)
5-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (2-day option, rds. 1-2 G/60, d10), Hilton Orange County Airport, 18800 Macarthur Blvd, Irvine, CA 92612. Parking: $20 chess rate. Free wireless, pool, whirlpool, airport shuttle, fitness center.
PRIZES $20,000 GUARANTEED. In 7 sections.
Master Section (2100/up): $2000-1000-500-300, clear or tiebreak winner $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $800-400. FIDE rated.
Expert Section (1900-2199): $1500-700-400-200. FIDE rated.
Class A Section (1700-1999): $1500-700-400-200. FIDE rated
Class B Section (1500-1799/Unr): $1500-700-400-200.
Class C Section (1300-1599/Unr): $1200-600-300-200.
Class D Section (1100-1399/Unr): $1000-500-300-200.
Class E Section (Under 1200/Unr): $600-300-200-100.
These overlapping class rating boundaries already include players rated in the top half of the section below.
Mixed Doubles Team Bonus Prizes: Best male+female 2-player combined score among all sections: $500-300-200. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register at site (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat; individual prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles team prizes.
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.
Ratings: March official USCF ratings used. USCF Online Regular ratings or unofficial uschess.org ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to play up (see 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.
Prize Limits: Unrated may not win over $100 in E, $200 D, $300 C, $400 B. Cannot play below USCF Online Regular Rating minus 100 points. Balance of any limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.
Top 6 sections entry fee: $138 online at chessaction.com by 3/3, $160 online or at site until 1 hour before round 1. No checks, credit cards OK. GMs free, $120 deducted from prize.
Class E Section entry fee: all $40 less than top 6 sections entry fee.
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. Re-entry (no Master to Master): $60. Online entry fee $5 less to SCCF members; join/renew at scchess.com.
3-day schedule: Reg. Fri to 6 pm, rounds begin Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.
2-day schedule: Reg. Sat to 10 am, rounds begin Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm.
Both schedules: Half point byes OK all rounds, limit 2, must commit before round 2.
Prizes not claimed at site usually sent by PayPal (may take a couple of weeks).
Hotel rates: $172-$172-$172-$172 Fri-Sun (higher other das), use link below (also posted at chessevents.us ) or call 949-833-9999 (mention Chess rate); reserve by 2/14 or rate may increase. Chess rate room block could sell out before 2/14.
HILTON HOTEL RESERVATIONS LINK
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.US
Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. US Chess Junior Grand Prix points available.
Entry: chessaction.com, No mail entries. Refunds: $15 service charge. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click “entry list” after entering).
BLITZ TOURNAMENT Saturday 9:30 pm, enter by 9:10 pm.