An American
Classic!
A Heritage
Event!
54th annual WORLD OPEN (top 6 sections)
July
1-5, 2-5 or 3-5, 2026
GUARANTEED PRIZES: $208,000 in top 6
sections
(See
separate web page flyer for
June 26-28 for Under 1200 and Under 1000 sections with $17,000 guaranteed
prizes)
NEW LOCATION IN WASHINGTON, DC!
This year the
World Open visits Washington, DC at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. The National Zoo
is an 11-minute walk, and the city is home to many historic and cultural
landmarks, including the US Capitol, the White House, the Smithsonian, the
National Gallery, National Mall,
theaters, restaurants and world-class shopping.
9 rounds at:
2500
Calvert Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
About one block from the Red Line Woodley Park/Zoo
Metro Station
(Hotel phone: 202-234-0700)
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 300
(enhanced)
CLICK HERE FOR SCHEDULE OF FREE GRANDMASTER LECTURES AND
GAMES REVIEW (TO BE UPDATED)
Open Section, July 1-5
only: 40/90,
SD/30; d30. FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible.
FIDE now requires at
least one Swiss System (at least 40 players) norm to obtain a title.
Under 2200 through Under 1400 Sections, July 1-5, 2-5 or 3-5: 40/90, SD/30; d30 (4-day
option, rounds 1-2 G/60 d10; 3-day option. rounds 1-5 G/35 d10). U2200 and
U2000 40/90 games are also FIDE rated.
Under
1200 and Under 1000 Sections: see June 26-28.
RATINGS: July FIDE ratings are used for the Open
Section, and July official USCF ratings for the Under 2200 through Under 1400
Sections.
In Under 1400 through Under 2200 Sections: players cannot play below
USCF Online Regular Rating – 100 points.
Unofficial or Regular Online uschess.org ratings are usually used
if otherwise unrated. Players must disclose
foreign, FIDE and other over the board ratings, and these ratings, adjusted if
necessary, may be used if higher than USCF. 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. Click here for more important
rating details.
Open
Section: $20000-10000-5000-2500-1300-1000-800-700-600-500,
clear winner bonus $500, top FIDE 2300-2449 $5000-2500-1500, top FIDE 2200-2299
$5000-2500-1500, top FIDE Under 2200/Unr
$5000-2500-1500. If tie for first, top 2 on tiebreak play speed game 10 pm 7/5
for title & bonus prize.
Under 2200 Section: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400,
top U2100 (no unr) $2000-1000.
Under
2000 Section: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400,
top U1900 (no unr) $2000-1000.
Under 1800 Section: $12000-6000-3000-1500-1000-800-600-500-400-400,
top U1700 (no unr) $2000-1000.
Under 1600 Section: $10000-5000-2500-1300-900-700-600-500-400-400,
top U1500 (no unr) $2000-1000.
Under 1400 Section: $7000-4000-2000-1200-900-700-600-500-400-400,
top U1300 (no unr) $1600-800.
Prize
limits:
1) If
any post-event Regular OTB or Regular Online rating posted 6/29/25-6/29/26, or
current Regular Online rating, is more than 40 points over section maximum,
prize limit $1000.
2)
Players with under 26 lifetime OTB regular rated games as of July 2026 official
list cannot win over $2000 in U1400, $3000 U1600 through U2000. Games rated too
late for July 2026 official list not counted toward 26 game total.
3)
Unrated limits U1400 $500, U1600 $600, U1800 $800, U2000 $1000, U2200
$1500.
4)
Balance of any limited prize goes to next eligible player(s) in line.
Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes: best male+female
combined 2-player team score in Open through Under 1400:
$2400-1200-700-500-300. Team must average under 2200; may play in different
sections or schedules; register at site (no extra fee) before both players
begin round 2. Limit one Mixed Doubles team per player. At least one player on
the team must be rated; teams including an unrated limited to $300 (other prize
limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles Team prizes).
Entry
fee: Online at chessaction.com: $318 by 5/15, $328 by 6/29, $350 online later or at site
until 90 minutes before round 1. No checks, credit cards OK.
GMs in Open: free (players
forfeiting without proper advance notice subject to fine and losing future
entry privileges); $200 deducted from prize.
IMs & WGMs
in Open: Entry fee $100 less, also $100 deducted from prize.
Open Section
entry fee $500 more unless rated 2000/above FIDE or 2200/above by USCF (see peakrating.us).
Seniors
65/up: all entry fees $100 less in U1400 or above sections.
No
checks; credit cards OK.
Re-entry:
$160 ($100 in Under 1200 and Under 1000 Sections), no re-entry from Open to
Open ($500 additional entry fee surcharge also applies to re-entries rated
Under 2200 USCF who are also Under 2000/Unr. FIDE).
Players from the Under 1000 and Under 1200 Sections, June 26-28, may also enter
top 6 sections, but not as a re-entry or a section switch.
$20
fee for switching section after 6/29.
USCF
Membership Required. Special 1 year USCF dues with magazine if paid online with CCA tournament entry:
Adult $54, Senior (age 65+), Young Adult $33, Youth $24.
5-day schedule (Open to
U1400): 7/1 7 pm, 7/2-3 11 am & 6 pm. 7/4-5 10 am & 5 pm.
4-day
schedule (U2200 to U1400): 7/2 11, 2:30 & 6, merges with 5-day
7/2 6 pm.
3-day
schedule (U2200 to U1400): 7/3 11, 1:30, 3:30, 6 & 8:30, merges
with 5-day 7/4 10 am.
All U2200 through U1400 schedules merge and compete for same prizes within the
section.
Half point byes OK all, limit 3 (limit 2 in last 4 rounds), must commit before round 4.
Open Section: FIDE norm not possible
if taking bye.
Entries, re-entries at site close 90 minutes before game.
Foreign player ratings
Prizewinner
tax info
CCA electronic devices policies
Cellphone,
electronic device & anti-cheating rules: see www.devicerules.com.
Players must cooperate with a search for
electronic devices if requested by Director (refusal
to do warrants removal from tournament with no refund). Not all electronic
scoresheets are allowed.
Hotel rates:
$169-169-169-169. Reserve
early, the Chess block may sell out by early June or before.
Use
This Link For World Open Hotel Reservations At The Omni Hotel (Tournament Site)
Room or travel sharing: Post a request to
share on the USCF Forums. If you have difficulty posting, email director@chess.us and we will try to post your request for you.
Parking: Omni Hotel Chess valet parking is about $45/day (subject to availability). We will post possible alternate off-site parking options at chessevents.us closer to the tournament.
Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633, or reserve car online through chesstour.com.
Enter
online: chessaction.com. No mailed entries.
$15 service charge for refunds.
Questions: chesstour.com, chessevents.us,
email: Director@Chess.US.
Entries posted at chessaction.com
(click "entry list" after entering).
Prizes not claimed at site
usually
paid through PayPal (may take about 3 weeks).
Bring
set, board, clock if possible- the tournament is not responsible for
providing equipment.