A US Chess Heritage Event!
56th annual
CONTINENTAL OPEN
August 13-16, 14-16 or 15-16, 2026
Woburn, Massachusetts (NEW
LOCATION for the Continental Open!):
Hilton Boston/Woburn Hotel, 2 Forbes Road, Woburn, MA 01801 (about 11½ miles from Downtown Boston).
Free parking.
7-round Swiss in
7 sections.
$30,000
GUARANTEED PRIZES!
US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 150 (enhanced)
TOP 5 SECTIONS, AUGUST 13-16 OR 14-16: 40/80, SD/30; d30
(3-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10).
PREMIER SECTION,
open to 2000/up (see peakrating.us). Prizes $3000-1500-800-400-300, clear or
tiebreak win $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $1300-700. FIDE rated.
UNDER 2100, UNDER 1900, UNDER 1700
SECTIONS: Prizes each section $2000-1000-500-300-200. Under
2100 Section is also FIDE rated.
UNDER 1500 SECTION: Prizes $1400-800-400-300-200.
UNDER 1300 AND UNDER 1100 SECTIONS,
AUGUST 16-17 only: G/60,
d10.
UNDER 1300 SECTION: Prizes
$1400-800-400-300-200.
UNDER 1100 SECTION:
Prizes $800-500-300-200-100.
MIXED DOUBLES BONUS PRIZES: Best male+female 2-player team combined score among all sections: $1000-500-300. Team rating must average under 2200; may play in different sections and
schedules; register for Mixed Doubles at site (no extra fee) before both
players begin round 2.
World Open rule: Players who scored 8 or more points in 2026
World Open U2200 or below must enter higher section than in World Open.
Unrated prize limits: $100 in U1100, $200 U1300, $300 U1500, $400 U1700, $500 U1900, $600 U2100. Balance of any limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.
Foreign player ratings: see foreignratings.com. US player ratings: Official August USCF
ratings used. Unofficial or Online Regular USCF ratings usually used if
otherwise unrated. Cannot play with rating below USCF Online Regular Rating minus 100 points.
Top 6 sections entry fee: $158 online by 8/11, $180 later online or at
site, until 1 hour before round 1 GMs free, $150 from prize.
Under 1100 section
entry fee: all $40 less.
No checks, credit cards OK.
Online EF $5 less to MACA members; join at masschess.org.
Special 1-year USCF
dues with magazine if paid online at chessaction.com: Adult $54, Senior (age
65+) $48, Young Adult $33, Youth $24. USCF membership required.
Re-entry: $80, no Premier to
Premier. U1100 to U1100 $60.
4-day schedule (Premier to
U1500): Reg. ends Thu 6 pm, Rounds Thu 7 pm; Fri 11 am
& 5 pm; Sat-Sun 10 am & 4 pm.
3-day schedule (Premier to
U1500): Reg. ends Fri 10 am, Rounds Fri 11, 2 & 5, merges
with 4-day at 5 pm Friday.
2-day schedule (U1300,
U1100 only): Reg. ends Sat 9 am,
Rounds Sat 10 am; 1 pm, 4 pm & 7 pm; Sun 10 am, 1 pm & 4 pm.
4-day & 3-day
schedules merge and compete for same prizes within each section. Byes: OK all,
limit 2, must commit before round 3.
Hotel
Chess rates (use this link): $169-169-169-169, link is also posted at chessevents.us (or
call 781-932-0999, mention Chess); reserve by 7/23 or rate may increase.
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.
Room or travel sharing: Post a request to share on the USCF Forums. If you have trouble
posting, email your request to Continental Chess and we might be able to post
it for you.
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD
#D657633, or reserve car online at chesstour.com.
Electronic devices: See devicerules.com. Not all electronic scoresheets are
allowed.
Prizes not claimed at site usually paid through PayPal
(may take about 3 weeks).
Enter online: chessaction.com. No mailed
entry. $15 service charge for refunds.
Questions:
chesstour.com, Director@Chess.us.
Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list"
after entering).
BRING
SET, BOARD, CLOCK IF POSSIBLE- NONE SUPPLIED.
SATURDAY NIGHT
BLITZ TOURNAMENT! Enter at site Saturday night by 9:10 pm.