18th annual

CHICAGO CLASS

July 18-20 or 19-20, 2025
Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, Wheeling, Illinois

$30,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES

JULY 18-20 OR 19-20, 2025  ILLINOIS

US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 150 (ENHANCED)   

18th annual Chicago Class.  5 rounds, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (2-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10), Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel, 601 North Milwaukee Avenue, Wheeling IL 60090 (from Chicago, I-294 north to US-45 north; from Milwaukee, I-94 to Lake Cook Rd to US-45 south). Free parking.

In 7 sections: 

·      Master (2100/up): $3000-1500-800-500, clear win or 1st on tiebreak $100, top USCF U2400 $1200-600. FIDE rated.

·      Expert (1900-2199): $2000-1000-600-400. FIDE rated.

·       Class A (1700-1999/Unr): $2000-1000-600-400. FIDE rated.

·      Class B (1500-1799/Unr): $2000-1000-600-400.

·      Class C (1300-1599/Unr): $1700-900-500-300.

·      Class D (Under 1400/Unr): $1400-700-500-300.

·      Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $800-400-300-200.


Prize limits: Unrated may not win over $100 in E, $200 D, $300 C, $400 B, or $500 A. Balance of any limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.

 

Cannot play below USCF Online regular rating – 100 points.


Playing up: See www.peakrating.us.

 

These expanded rating class boundaries already include players rated in the top half of the traditional USCF Class one section below. 

World Open rule: Players who scored 8 or more points in 2025 World Open U2200 or below must enter higher section than in World Open.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male+female 2-player team combined score among all sections: $1000-600-400-300. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat. 

Top 6 sections entry fee: $148 online at chessaction.com by 7/16, all $170 at site, or online until an hour before round 1. GMs free. $130 deducted from prize.

Class E Section entry fee:  all $50 less than above.  

All: No checks at site, credit cards OK.  Online EF $5 less to ICA members; join/renew at il-chess.org.

Special 1 year US Chess dues with magazine if paid with entry. Online at chessaction.com, Adult $54, Young Adult $33, Youth $24. US Chess membership required.

Re-entry $60; no Master to Master section.
 

Foreign player rating info                       Prizewinner tax info                      CCA electronic devices policies

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: July official regular USCF ratings used. Unofficial or Online Regular USCF ratings usually used if otherwise unrated. 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 foreignratings.com.

3-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rounds. Fri 7, Sat 11 am & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm. 
2-day schedule: Reg. ends Sat 10 am, rounds. Sat 11 am, 2 pm & 5 pm, Sun 10 am & 3:30 pm. 
Half point byes: OK all rounds, limit 2, must commit before round 3. 

Hotel rates (use this link): $135-135-135-135, hotel reservations link is also posted at chessevents.us (or call 847-777-6500, 800-937-8461, mention Chess); reserve by 6/27 or rate may increase.

Room or travel sharing: Post your sharing request at the US Chess Forums.
If you have trouble posting, email your request to Continental Chess and we will post for you.

Prizes not claimed at site are usually paid through PayPal (may take over a week).

Entry:
chessaction.com. No mailed entries. $15 service charge for refunds. Questions: Director@Chess.US, chesstour.com, chesstour.info. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list" after entering).

Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied.

BLITZ SIDE EVENT SATURDAY NIGHT:   Enter at site Saturday by 9:10 pm.



Home           More tournaments