An American Classic!
A Heritage Event!
57th annual National Chess Congress
Nov. 27–29
or 28–29 (Thanksgiving Weekend), 2026, Loews Philadelphia Hotel
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 200 (Enhanced)
6
rounds, 40/80, SD/30; d30 (2-day option,
rounds 1-3 G/40 d10). U800 and U600
sections play separate 2-day schedule
only, Nov. 28-29, G/40 d10.
Loews
Hotel, 1200 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
$45,250 GUARANTEED PRIZE
FUND, PLUS 20 PLAQUES AND CCA FREE ENTRIES!
In 10 sections. See peakrating.us
for playing up into Premier.
Premier: open to
2000/above. $4000-2400-1200-800-500, clear win or 1st on tiebreak $200 bonus,
top USCF U2400 $2000-1000. FIDE rated.
Under 2200: $2500-1300-700-500-300. FIDE rated.
Under 2000: $2500-1300-700-500-300. FIDE rated.
Under 1800: $2400-1200-600-400-300.
Under 1600: $2000-1000-600-400-300.
Under 1400: $1600-800-500-300-200.
Under 1200: $1400-700-400-300-200.
Under 1000: $1200-600-400-300-200.
Under 800, Under 600 (each section): Plaques to top 10,
6 months free entry to all CCA OTB tournaments to 1st, 3 months to 2nd through
4th. Note: Some Continental Chess tournaments have minimum rating requirements
or charge extra fees, based on rating, to play in the top sections. The CCA Free Entry prizes do not cover any
additional surcharges for playing in the top sections.
Unrated may not win
over $200 in U1000, $300 in U1200, $400 in U1400, $500 in U1600, $600 in U1800,
or $700 in U2000.
Cannot play with rating below Online Regular rating minus
100 points.
Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: Best
male-female 2-player "team" combined score among all sections:
$2000-1000-600-400. Team must average under 2200; may play in different
sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) before both players begin round
2; at least one player on team must be rated, teams including an unrated
limited to $400. Limit one Mixed Doubles team per player.
Dr. Aleksandr and FM Alisa Melekhina Father/Daughter Additional
$250 Bonus Prize for top-scoring father/daughter team,
donated by FM Alisa Melekhina!
Top 8 sections entry fee: $138 online at chessaction.com by 11/24, $160 later or at site until one hour before round 1.
GMs free, $120 deducted from prize. Re-entry $60, no Premier to Premier.
Under 800 or Under 600 entry fee: $52 online at chessaction.com
by 11/24, $70 later online or at site until 9 am 11/29.
All: No checks,
credit cards OK.
USCF membership required. Special
1-year USCF dues with
magazine if paid online with entry: Adult $54, Senior (65+) $48, Young Adult
$33, Youth $24.
Foreign
player rating info
Prizewinner
tax info
CCA electronic
devices policies
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: November official USCF ratings used. Unofficial or Online Regular uschess.org 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 also above.
Bring set, board, clock if
possible- none supplied.
3-day schedule: Reg. ends Fri
11 am, rds. Fri 12 & 6, Sat 12 & 6, Sun 10 & 3:30.
2-day top 8 sections schedule: Reg. ends Sat.
9 am, rds. Sat 10, 12:45, 3:30 & 6, Sun 10 & 3:30.
Under
800 & Under 600 schedule only: Reg. ends Sat 9 am, rds. 10, 12:45 &
3:30 each day.
Half point byes OK all rounds;
limit 3, must commit before round 3.
Hotel
Chess room rates (hotel room reservations link to be posted here): $127-127-152-177,
hotel link also to be posted at chessevents.us (or call 215-627-1200 and
mention Chess rate); reserve by 11/13 or rate may increase.
Parking: Hotel parking chess
rate 10% off regular rate (about $60/day). Gateway Garage, 1540 Spring St (3/5
mile from Loews), about $12/day Sat & Sun, about $30/day other days.
Car
rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through
chesstour.com.
Enter Online:
Chessaction.com. No mail entries. $15 service charge for refunds.
Questions: chesstour.com,
Director@chess.us. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click on "entry list" after entering).
Bring set, board, clock if possible- none supplied.
BLITZ TOURNAMENT Sat. 10:30 pm; enter onsite Sat. by 10
pm.