34th annual
EASTERN CLASS CHAMPIONSHIPS
October 16-18 or 17-18, 2026

Sheraton Hartford Hotel at Bradley Airport, Windsor Locks, CT
1 Bradley Airport, Windsor Locks, CT 06096 (visible at airport entrance)
I-91 Exit 40 to Route 20. Chess rate parking: $5/day, $10 overnight.

CLICK HERE FOR PAIRINGS, RESULTS, STANDINGS AND OTHER INFORMATION

$17,000 GUARANTEED PRIZES!

US Chess Grand Prix Points: 100 (enhanced)

A Heritage event!

In 7 sections: 5-SS, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (2-Day Schedule Option, Rounds 1-2: G/60, d10).

· Master (FIDE rated): Open to 2100 and up. $1600-800-400-300, clear winner or 1st on tiebreak $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $500-300.

· Expert (1900–2199) (FIDE rated): $1200-600-300-200.

· Class A (1700–1999/Unr) (FIDE rated): $1200-600-300-200.

· Class B (1500-1799/Unr): $1200-600-300-200.

· Class C (1300-1599/Unr): $1000-500-300-200.

· Class D (Under 1400/Unr): $1000-500-250-150.

· Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $600-300-200-100.

Unrated prize limits: Unrated may not win over $100 in E, $200 D, $300 C or $400 B

Cannot play below Online Regular Rating minus 100 points.

Playing up: These expanded rating class boundaries allow players rated within the top third of each section the option to play up in the next highest section (also see peakrating.us); Under 1200 players may play in Class E or may elect to play up in Class D.

Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: Best male+female 2-player team combined score among all sections: $600-300. Team must average under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) by 2 pm Sat; prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes. No player’s score can count for more than one Mixed Doubles Team.

Schedule and Round Times:

· 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 about 3 weeks).

Entry fee:

· Top 6 sections entry fee: $118 online at chessaction.com by 10/13, $130 later online or at site until 1 hour before round 1. GMs free, $100 deducted from prize.

· Class E: $30 less than top 6 sections.

No checks, credit cards OK. No mailed entries.

Re-entry (no Master to Master) $60.

Online Entry Fee $5 less to CSCA or WMCA members.

All: Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid with online entry: see chessaction.com. US Chess membership required.

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: October official ratings used; unofficial uschess.org ratings or USCF Online Regular ratings usually used if otherwise unrated, or to qualify for a higher Class section (see www.peakrating.us). Foreign player ratings: see foreignratings.com. 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.

Hotel rates: $169-169, reservation link to be posted here (also to be posted at chessevents.us, or call 860-627-5311 and request Chess rate); reserve by 9/25 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!

Enter online: 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). 

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