36th Annual North American Open 2026
36th Annual North American Open 2026 takes place from December 26 – 30, 2026, at Horseshoe Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. The event is an American Classic, a US Chess Heritage Event, and an enhanced Grand Prix tournament.
This is a chess tournament in Las Vegas, United States, in 2026. Players can choose from the 5-day Open schedule or shorter 4-day and 3-day schedules in the rating sections.
The tournament offers $130,000 in guaranteed prizes across eight sections. In addition, the Open section offers possible GM and IM norms, while the top sections also provide FIDE-rated competition.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | 36th Annual North American Open 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | December 26 – 30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| 🏛️ Venue | Horseshoe Casino Resort – 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89103, United States |
| ♟️ Format | Swiss-system tournament |
| 🧩 Sections | Open, U2300, U2100, U1900, U1700, U1500, U1300, U1000 |
| ⭐ Rating | US Chess-rated; selected top sections also FIDE-rated |
| 🏅 Norms | GM and IM norms possible in the Open section |
| 🏆 Grand Prix | 300 enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | 40 moves in 90 minutes, then 30 minutes to finish, with 30-second delay |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $130,000 guaranteed |
| 📝 Online Entry | ChessAction.com |
| 👥 Organizer | Continental Chess Association |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The Open section uses 40 moves in 90 minutes, then 30 minutes to finish, with a 30-second delay. It runs as a 9-round Swiss tournament from December 26–30.
The other sections use the same main time control in the 4-day schedule. However, the 3-day option uses G/60 with 10-second delay for the first two rounds before merging into the main schedule.
The Open section is FIDE-rated and offers possible GM and IM norms. In addition, the U2300 and U2100 sections also count for FIDE rating.
Players may request half-point byes. The limit is three byes overall, with a maximum of two byes in the last four rounds. Players must commit to byes before Round 3.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a guaranteed prize fund of $130,000.
Prize Fund Overview
| Section | Main Prize Information |
|---|---|
| Open | $10,000 first prize |
| U2300 | $7,000 first prize |
| U2100 | $7,000 first prize |
| U1900 | $7,000 first prize |
| U1700 | $6,000 first prize |
| U1500 | $5,000 first prize |
| U1300 | $4,000 first prize |
| U1000 | $1,500 first prize |
| Total guaranteed prize fund | $130,000 |
Open Section Prizes
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | $10,000 |
| 2nd place | $5,000 |
| 3rd place | $3,000 |
| 4th place | $2,000 |
| 5th place | $1,300 |
| 6th place | $1,000 |
| 7th place | $800 |
| 8th place | $700 |
| 9th place | $600 |
| 10th place | $500 |
| Clear winner or first on tie-break | $300 bonus |
| Top FIDE U2400 / unrated | $3,000, $2,000, $1,000 |
Rating Section Main Prizes
| Section | Prizes |
|---|---|
| U2300 | $7,000, $4,000, $2,000, $1,200, $800, $600, $500, $500, $400, $400 |
| U2100 | $7,000, $4,000, $2,000, $1,200, $800, $600, $500, $500, $400, $400 |
| U1900 | $7,000, $4,000, $2,000, $1,200, $800, $600, $500, $500, $400, $400 |
| U1700 | $6,000, $3,000, $1,500, $1,000, $800, $600, $500, $500, $400, $400 |
| U1500 | $5,000, $2,500, $1,300, $1,000, $700, $600, $500, $400, $300, $300 |
| U1300 | $4,000, $2,000, $1,000, $800, $600, $500, $400, $400, $300, $300 |
| U1000 | $1,500, $1,000, $600, $400, $300, $300, $300, $200, $200, $200 |
The event also offers Mixed Doubles bonus prizes of $2,000, $1,000, $500, $300, and $200. Teams must combine one male and one female player, and the combined team score counts from Rounds 1–7.
Prize limits apply to unrated players and players with limited over-the-board game history. Therefore, players should review rating and prize-limit rules before choosing a section.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The event has eight sections.
Open is the main championship section. It runs from December 26–30 and offers 9 rounds, FIDE rating, and possible GM and IM norms.
U2300 and U2100 are strong rating sections. Both offer FIDE rating and 7-round schedules.
U1900, U1700, U1500, U1300, and U1000 give club players and developing players clear rating-based options. These sections run with 4-day or 3-day schedule choices.
Players should choose their section carefully. December FIDE ratings apply in the Open section, while December official US Chess ratings apply in the other sections.
📅 Schedule
5-Day Schedule — Open Section Only
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 26 | 10:00 | Registration closes |
| Saturday, December 26 | 11:00 | Round 1 |
| Saturday, December 26 | 18:00 | Round 2 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 11:00 | Round 3 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 18:00 | Round 4 |
| Monday, December 28 | 11:00 | Round 5 |
| Monday, December 28 | 18:00 | Round 6 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 10:00 | Round 7 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 16:30 | Round 8 |
| Wednesday, December 30 | 10:00 | Round 9 |
4-Day Schedule — U2300 Through U1000
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 26 | 17:00 | Registration closes |
| Saturday, December 26 | 18:00 | Round 1 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 11:00 | Round 2 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| Monday, December 28 | 11:00 | Round 4 |
| Monday, December 28 | 18:00 | Round 5 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 10:00 | Round 6 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 16:30 | Round 7 |
3-Day Schedule — U2300 Through U1000
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, December 27 | 10:00 | Registration closes |
| Sunday, December 27 | 11:00 | Round 1 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 14:30 | Round 2 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| Monday, December 28 | 11:00 | Round 4 |
| Monday, December 28 | 18:00 | Round 5 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 10:00 | Round 6 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 16:30 | Round 7 |
Players should select the correct schedule before entering. In addition, they should allow enough time for registration, hotel check-in, and first-round preparation.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Online entry through ChessAction.com |
| Top Seven Sections Early Entry Fee | $245 by September 20, 2026 |
| Top Seven Sections Regular Entry Fee | $275 by December 23, 2026 |
| Late Entry Fee | $300 from December 24 to one hour before Round 1 |
| U1000 Entry Fee | $150 less than the top seven sections |
| Open Section Surcharge | $800 unless the player is US Chess-rated 2300+ or FIDE-rated 2100+ |
| Older Player Discount | $100 less for players aged 65+ in U1300 and higher sections |
| Re-entry | $120; Open-to-Open re-entry not available |
| US Chess Membership | Required for most players |
| Mail Entries | Not accepted |
| Refund Service Charge | $15 |
| Organizer Email | Director@Chess.US |
Players should enter online and confirm their section, schedule, and rating information before travel. Moreover, players must disclose FIDE, foreign, and other relevant over-the-board ratings when entering.
US Chess membership is required for most players. Special one-year US Chess membership rates may be available during online entry.
👥 Organizer
Continental Chess Association organizes the 36th Annual North American Open 2026. The organization runs major US Chess tournaments across the United States and brings this traditional post-Christmas event to Las Vegas.
Email: Director@Chess.US
Website: https://www.chesstour.com
🏛️ Venue
Horseshoe Casino Resort – 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89103, United States
The tournament takes place at Horseshoe Casino Resort on the Las Vegas Strip. The resort venue gives players one central location for tournament play, hotel stays, restaurants, entertainment, and local transport.
Free parking is listed for hotel guests and tournament participants. However, players should still check current parking and resort policies before arrival.
🛏️ Accommodation
A special chess hotel rate is listed at Horseshoe Casino Resort. Players should use the tournament hotel link when available or call the hotel reservation numbers and request the chess rate.
Hotel Reservation Phone: +1 800 833 3308
Hotel Phone: +1 702 739 4111
The listed hotel rate is $139, with an optional additional charge for resort-fee benefits. Players should reserve early because the chess room block may sell out before the tournament period.
🚆 How to Get There
Players should travel to Horseshoe Casino Resort – 3645 Las Vegas Blvd S, Las Vegas, NV 89103, United States.
Harry Reid International Airport is close to the Las Vegas Strip. Therefore, air travelers can reach the venue by taxi, rideshare, shuttle, rental car, or public transport.
Drivers should use the full venue address for navigation. Since the event takes place during a busy holiday period, players should allow extra time for traffic, parking, and hotel check-in.
ℹ️ Other Information
Players should bring a chess set, board, and clock if possible, because equipment may not be supplied.
The event uses Continental Chess Association electronic-device rules. Players should review these rules before arriving and keep phones and electronic devices away from play.
A blitz tournament is scheduled for December 29 at 22:30. Players can enter online before the published deadline to receive the lowest fee.
Prizes not claimed at the site are usually paid later by PayPal. Therefore, prize winners should make sure their payment details are accurate before leaving the event.
36th Annual North American Open 2026 offers one of the strongest year-end chess tournaments in the United States, with major guaranteed prizes, FIDE-rated sections, and a classic Las Vegas tournament setting.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $130,000
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.
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