35th Annual Chicago Open

Register here

Heritage Event, American Classic, Grand Prix, Enhanced Grand Prix, Junior Grand Prix

Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel

Thursday, May 21, 2026 - Monday, May 25, 2026

Event Overview

An American Classic!

A Heritage Event

US Chess Junior Grand Prix

MAY 21-25, 22-25, 23-25 OR 24-25  (Memorial Day Weekend), 2026   ILLINOIS
US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 200 (ENHANCED)
35th annual Chicago Open

Open Section, May 21-25: 9-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30, GM & IM norms possible. U2300 through U1300 Sections, May 22-25 or 23-25: 7-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10). U1000 Section, May 24-25: 7-SS, G/60, d10. Top  3 sections are also FIDE rated. Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Ave, Wheeling IL 60090 (from Chicago, I-294 north to US-45 north; from Milwaukee, I-94 east to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south).  Free parking. $100,000 Guaranteed prize fund!  In 8 sections.  Open: Prizes $10000-5000-2500-1300-1000-800-600-500-400-400, clear or tiebreak winner bonus $300, top FIDE Under 2400/Unr $2000-1000. Under 2300: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300. Under 2100: $5000-2,500-1,200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300. Under 1900: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300. Under 1700: $5000-2500-1200-800-600-500-400-300-300-300. Under 1500: $4000-2000-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. Under 1300: $3000-1500-1000-700-500-400-300-300-300-300. Under 1000: $1500-800-600-400-300-200-200-100-100-100. 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 USCF list cannot win over $500 in U1000, $1000 U1300, $1500 U1500, $2000 U1700, or $2500 U1900; games rated too late for May Official list do not count towards 26-game total.  3) Unrated limits: U1000 $200, U1300 $300, U1500 $400, U1700 $600, U1900 $800, U2100 $1200. Balance of any limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line. Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male+female combined 2-player team score in Rounds 1-7: $2000-1000-500-400-300.  Team must average under 2200, may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) at site before both players begin round 2 (teams with an unrated limited to $500 prize). Open through U1300 entry fee: $207 online at chessaction.com by 3/19, $227 by 5/19, $250 later online or at site until 1 hour before round 1. No checks, credit cards OK. $500 extra charge to play in Open Section unless rated 2300+ USCF or 2000+ FIDE. Open Section EF 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 U1300 entry fee and $100 also deducted from prize. EF deductions cannot lower prize below minimum. 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). EF $100 less to seniors age 65/over in U1300 and above. Under 1000 Section EF: $97 online at chessaction.com by 5/19, all $120 later online or at site until 1 hour before round 1. No checks, credit cards OK. Online EF $5 less to ICA members; join/renew at il-chess.org. USCF membership required. Special 1-year US Chess dues with magazine if paid online with entry: Adult $54, Senior (age 65+) $48, Young Adult $33, Youth $24.  Re-entry: $100, no Open to Open. 5-day schedule (Open Section only): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rds Thu 7 pm, Fri 1 & 7, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 4, Mon 10 & 4. 4-day schedule (U2300 to U1300): Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, Rds. Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 4, Mon 10 & 4. 3-day schedule (U2300 to U1300): Reg. ends Sat 10 am, Rds. Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 4, Mon 10 & 4. 2-day schedule (U1000 Section only): Reg. ends Sun 9 am, Rds. Sun 10, 1, 4 & 7, Mon 10, 1 & 4. 4-day & 3-day schedules merge & compete for same prizes within the section. Byes: OK all, limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rounds), must commit before round 3. Hotel rates: $138-138-138-138, use link at chessevents.us (or call 800-937-8461, 847-777-6500, mention Chess rate); reserve by 5/7 or rate may increase (may sell out before 5/7). Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com. Cannot play in U2300 Section & below with rating below Online Regular Rating - 100 points.  Foreign player ratings (except Open): see foreignratings.com. US player ratings (U2300 & below): May official ratings used; unofficial uschess.org ratings or USCF Online Regular ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. FIDE ratings used for Open Section. Special rules: Players must cooperate with a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. See also devicerules.com. Prizes not claimed at site usually paid by PayPal (may take a couple of weeks). Enter online: chessaction.com. No mail entries. Questions: chesstour.com, chesstour.info, Director@Chess.US. $15 service charge for refunds. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click “entry list” after entry). Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied. Chicago Open Blitz: Sun. 10 pm, enter by 9:00 pm.

Address:

601 North Milwaukee Ave.
(from Chicago, I-294 north to US-45 north; from Milwaukee, I-94 east to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south)
Wheeling, IL 60090
United States

Sections: 8

Grand Prix Points: 200

Prize Fund: $100,000

FIDE Rated: Yes

Handicap Accessible: Yes

Residency Restriction: No

Online Event: No

Organizer Overview

Continental Chess

Email: director@chess.us

Phone: director@chess.us

Website: https://www.chesstour.com