21st Annual Los Angeles Open 2026 takes place from November 6-8, 2026, at the Hilton Orange County Airport Hotel in Irvine, California, United States. The tournament offers a 5-round Swiss format with both 3-day and 2-day schedule options.
This is a chess tournament in Irvine, United States, in 2026. Players will compete in seven rating sections, with US Chess rating and FIDE-rated play in the top sections.
The event offers a guaranteed $20,000 prize fund, mixed doubles bonus prizes, hotel-based playing conditions, and a Saturday night blitz tournament. In addition, the venue provides a chess parking rate, free Wi-Fi, an airport shuttle, a pool, and a fitness center.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | 21st Annual Los Angeles Open 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 6-8, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Irvine, California, United States |
| 🏛️ Venue | Hilton Orange County Airport Hotel |
| 📌 Address | 18800 MacArthur Blvd, Irvine, CA 92612 |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss tournament |
| 🧩 Sections | Major, Under 2100, Under 1900, Under 1700, Under 1500, Under 1300, Under 1000 |
| ⭐ Rating | US Chess rated; Major and Under 2100 sections are FIDE-rated |
| 🏅 Grand Prix | 120 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points; Junior Grand Prix |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | 40 moves in 80 minutes, then 30 minutes to finish, with 30-second delay |
| ⚡ 2-Day Early Rounds | Rounds 1–2 use G/60 with 10-second delay |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $20,000 guaranteed |
| ♿ Accessibility | Wheelchair-accessible venue |
| 📝 Entry Method | Online entry through Chessaction.com; no mailed entries |
| ⚡ Side Event | Blitz tournament on Saturday night |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The main schedule uses 40 moves in 80 minutes, followed by 30 minutes to finish. Each move also includes a 30-second delay.
The 2-day schedule uses a faster time control for the first two rounds. In those games, players receive 60 minutes for the game, with a 10-second delay.
The tournament uses a 5-round Swiss system. The Major and Under 2100 sections are FIDE-rated. Therefore, players in those sections should check their federation and rating details before the event.
Players may request half-point byes in any round. However, the limit is two byes, and players must commit before Round 2.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a $20,000 guaranteed prize fund. This total includes section prizes, the Major section bonus, rating prizes, and mixed doubles bonus prizes.
Prize Fund Overview
| Prize Area | Amount |
|---|---|
| Major section | $5,300 |
| Under 2100 section | $2,800 |
| Under 1900 section | $2,800 |
| Under 1700 section | $2,500 |
| Under 1500 section | $2,200 |
| Under 1300 section | $2,200 |
| Under 1000 section | $1,000 |
| Mixed Doubles bonus prizes | $1,200 |
| Total guaranteed prize fund | $20,000 |
Major Section Prizes
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | $2,000 |
| 2nd place | $1,000 |
| 3rd place | $600 |
| 4th place | $400 |
| Clear or tiebreak winner bonus | $100 |
| Top USCF Under 2300 | $800 |
| 2nd USCF Under 2300 | $400 |
Other Section Prizes
| Section | Prizes |
|---|---|
| Under 2100 | $1,400, $700, $400, $300 |
| Under 1900 | $1,400, $700, $400, $300 |
| Under 1700 | $1,200, $600, $400, $300 |
| Under 1500 | $1,100, $600, $300, $200 |
| Under 1300 | $1,100, $600, $300, $200 |
| Under 1000 | $500, $250, $150, $100 |
Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st mixed doubles team | $600 |
| 2nd mixed doubles team | $400 |
| 3rd mixed doubles team | $200 |
A mixed doubles team must include two players and average under 2200. Team members may play in different sections or schedules. Registration for this optional prize has no extra fee and must be completed at the site by 2:00 PM on Saturday.
Unrated prize limits apply in several sections. The limits are $100 in Under 1000, $200 in Under 1300, $300 in Under 1500, $400 in Under 1700, and $500 in Under 1900. However, those limits do not apply to mixed doubles prizes.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The tournament has seven sections.
Major is open to players rated 1900 and above. This section is FIDE-rated and includes the largest first prize.
Under 2100 is also FIDE-rated. It gives strong club players a separate section with a guaranteed prize structure.
The other sections are Under 1900, Under 1700, Under 1500, Under 1300, and Under 1000. Each section has its own prize list and rating range.
November official ratings are used. If a player is otherwise unrated, unofficial or online regular US Chess ratings may apply. In addition, players cannot play below their US Chess Online Regular rating minus 100 points.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 6 | Until 18:00 | Registration for 3-day schedule |
| Friday, November 6 | 19:00 | Round 1, 3-day schedule |
| Saturday, November 7 | Until 10:00 | Registration for 2-day schedule |
| Saturday, November 7 | 11:00 | Round 1, 2-day schedule / Round 2, 3-day schedule |
| Saturday, November 7 | 14:00 | Round 2, 2-day schedule |
| Saturday, November 7 | 17:00 | Round 3 |
| Saturday, November 7 | 21:10 | Blitz tournament entry deadline |
| Saturday, November 7 | 21:30 | Blitz tournament |
| Sunday, November 8 | 10:00 | Round 4 |
| Sunday, November 8 | 15:30 | Round 5 |
Players can choose either the 3-day or 2-day schedule. The 3-day schedule starts on Friday evening, while the 2-day schedule starts on Saturday morning.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Entry Platform | Chessaction.com |
| Early Online Entry Fee | $128 by November 3 for the top six sections |
| Later Entry Fee | $150 online or at the site until one hour before Round 1 |
| Under 1000 Entry Fee | $40 less than the top six sections |
| SCCF Member Discount | $5 discount for online entry |
| GM Entry | Free, with $100 deducted from prize |
| Re-entry | $60; Major-to-Major re-entry not allowed |
| US Chess Membership | Required |
| Payment | Credit cards accepted; no checks |
| Mailed Entries | Not accepted |
| Refund Fee | $15 service charge |
Players should enter online before November 3 to use the lower entry fee. In addition, they should keep US Chess membership active before the event.
Special 1-year US Chess membership dues are available with online entry. The listed dues are $54 for adults, $48 for players age 65 and older, $33 for young adults, and $24 for youth players.
👥 Organizer
Continental Chess organizes the 21st Annual Los Angeles Open 2026. The event is part of the Continental Chess tournament circuit and offers a large guaranteed prize fund, Grand Prix points, and FIDE-rated play in the top sections.
🏛️ Venue
Hilton Orange County Airport Hotel – 18800 MacArthur Blvd, Irvine, CA 92612, United States
The tournament takes place at the Hilton Orange County Airport Hotel in Irvine. The hotel venue gives players one practical location for games, lodging, and rest during the weekend.
The hotel offers free wireless internet, a free airport shuttle, a pool, and a fitness center. In addition, players can use the hotel chess parking rate of $20 per day.
Players should bring a chess set, board, and clock if possible, because equipment is not supplied.
🛏️ Accommodation
The official hotel rate is $172 per night. Players should use the event hotel information when booking or call the hotel and request the chess rate.
Reservations should be made by October 16, 2026. After that date, the rate may increase.
The venue is the Hilton Orange County Airport Hotel, so staying on site can reduce travel time between rounds. This is especially useful for players using the full 3-day schedule.
🚆 How to Get There
Players should travel to Hilton Orange County Airport Hotel at 18800 MacArthur Blvd in Irvine, California.
The venue is close to John Wayne Airport, and the hotel offers a free airport shuttle. Therefore, players arriving by air can plan a short final transfer to the playing site.
Drivers can use the hotel address as the destination and use the chess parking rate during the tournament. In addition, players who rent a car can use the event’s listed Avis car rental option.
21st Annual Los Angeles Open 2026 offers a major Southern California chess weekend with seven sections, guaranteed prizes, FIDE-rated opportunities, and a practical hotel venue near the airport.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $20,000
Organizer
♟️ Organizer Identity
Continental Chess Association is a national chess organizer in the United States. Bill Goichberg founded the business in 1964. From 1964 to 1967, it ran events only in the New York City area. In 1968, it expanded beyond that base and adopted the Continental Chess Association name. The official CCA history says the organizer has held more than 2,300 tournaments in 28 states, Washington, DC, and the Bahamas. It also says CCA has awarded more than $24,000,000 in prize money. CCA is not a membership organization, but it is affiliated with US Chess and requires US Chess membership for its tournaments. Over many years, it has been one of the most visible open-event organizers in American chess.
🏆 Tournament Activity
Tournament organization is the center of CCA’s public work. Its official platforms describe a coast-to-coast calendar for players of all ages, from beginners to grandmasters, with online registration and published pairings through ChessAction. The current and recent official schedule includes the Chicago Open, World Open, Continental Open, National Chess Congress, and North American Open. These events form a recognizable annual circuit in American open chess. The official event pages also show the scale of that calendar. In 2025, the World Open advertised $208,000 guaranteed in its top six sections, while the North American Open carried US Chess Grand Prix status. This activity reflects a long-running organizer that focuses on large multi-section Swiss events, established holiday-weekend festivals, and broad national reach.
🌍 Long-Term Impact
CCA’s longer history is unusually important in American chess. Its official history credits the organizer with several early developments that later became standard. In 1966, it became the first organizer to hold USCF-rated scholastic tournaments and elementary school tournaments. It later originated the National High School Championship in 1969, the National Junior High School Championship in 1973, the National Elementary School Championship in 1976, and the National Scholastic K-12 Grade Championship in 1991. The same history also credits CCA with pioneering Swiss international events and norm opportunities in the United States. CCA says that from 1977 to 1993, about half of all Americans who achieved the IM or GM title made one or more norms in a CCA international event. The organizer also launched the World Open in 1973, and its history states that the 1986 World Open drew 1,506 players, a world record for open tournaments that still stands.
Hotels Near the Venue
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