A US Chess Heritage Event!
34th annual
SOUTHERN OPEN
July 17-19 or 18-19, 2026
Florida
$20,000 PRIZE FUND GUARANTEED!
US Chess Grand Prix
Points: 150 (enhanced)
5-Round Swiss, 40/80,
SD/30; d30 (2-day option, rounds 1-2 G/60 d10), NEW HOTEL
SITE: Holiday Inn Resort Kissimmee By The Parks, 3011 Maingate Lane, Kissimmee, FL 34747 (close
to Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando and Sea World, with free early morning
shuttle). Free Chess parking.
In 5 sections, top 2 sections FIDE rated.
· Major Section (1900/up): $2000-1200-800-500, clear/tiebreak
1st $100 bonus, top USCF U2300 $1000-500. FIDE rated. See peakrating.us.
· Under 2100 Section: $1600-800-500-300, top
Under 1900/Unrated. $600-300. FIDE rated.
· Under 1800 Section: $1400-700-400-300, top
Under 1600 (no unrated) $500-250.
· Under 1500 Section: $1200-600-400-200, top
Under 1300 (no unrated) $400-200.
· Under 1200 Section: $800-400-200-150, top
Under 1000 (no unrated) $200-100.
Unrated
may
not win over $100 in Under 1200, $200 in Under 1500, or $400 in Under 1800.
The balance of any
limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.
MIXED DOUBLES BONUS PRIZES: Best male+female
2-player combined score among all sections: $800-400-200. Team rating must average
under 2200; may play in different sections and schedules; register (no extra
fee) by 2 pm Sat.
Cannot play below USCF Online Regular Rating minus 100
points.
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.
Top 4 sections entry fee: $128 online at chessaction.com by 7/14, $150 later until 1 hour before Round 1, or at site (no
checks, credit cards OK). GMs, IMs & WGMs free, $120 deducted from prize.
Under 1200 section entry fee: $40 less
than above.
US Chess membership required. Special
1-year USCF dues with
magazine if paid online with entry: Adult $54, Senior (age 65+) $48, Young
Adult $33, Youth $24.
Re-entry
$60; not available to go from Major to Major.
CCA electronic devices policies Prizewinner
tax info
Foreign player rating info
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 US
Chess ratings used. Unofficial 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.
3-day
schedule: Reg ends Fri 6 pm, rounds Fri 7
pm, 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.
All: Half point byes OK all, limit 2, must commit before round 2.
Hotel
rates, use this link (hotel link
also posted at chessevents.us): $125-125-125-125 (or call 407-396-1400,
mention Chess); reserve by 6/26 or rate may increase.
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, AWD D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Bring set, board, clock if
possible- none supplied.
Awards: Prizes not claimed at site are
usually paid through PayPal (may take about 3 weeks).
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 may be able to post it for you.
Enter online: chessaction.com. No mailed entries. $15 service charge for refunds.
Questions: https://chesstour.com, Director@Chess.US.
Entries posted at chessaction.com (click "entry list"
after entering).
BLITZ TOURNAMENT Saturday 9:30 pm, enter
Saturday night on site only by 9:10 pm.