20th Annual SPICE Cup Open 2026
20th Annual SPICE Cup Open 2026 takes place at Hilton Bellevue from November 4 to 9. Moreover, the Washington Chess Federation and Susan Polgar Foundation celebrate the twentieth edition with a strong nine-round international Swiss tournament. The single-section format places titled players, norm seekers, and qualified competitors in one field.
The tournament uses G/90+30 and receives both FIDE standard and US Chess rating. In addition, the published field requirements set a minimum of 2000 FIDE or 2200 US Chess, subject to organizer acceptance. GM, IM, WGM, and WIM norms can become available when the final field and individual performance satisfy every FIDE condition.
The organizer guarantees a $12,500 prize fund. Therefore, the official event provides the complete published amount and a detailed multi-day schedule. Hilton Bellevue provides the playing venue, participant accommodation, meeting space, and practical access from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
📌 Event Details
| 📅 Dates | November 4–9, 2026 |
| 🌍 Location | Bellevue, Washington, USA |
| 📍 Venue | Hilton Bellevue – 300 112th Avenue SE, Bellevue, WA 98004, USA |
| 🏢 Organizer | Washington Chess Federation and Susan Polgar Foundation |
| ♟️ Format | Single-section nine-round international Swiss tournament |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | G/90+30 |
| 📊 Rating | US Chess and FIDE standard; title norms possible under full FIDE conditions |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $12,500 |
| 📧 Contact | WashingtonChessFederation@gmail.com +1 206-769-3757 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Every round uses G/90+30. Moreover, the organizer submits the tournament for both FIDE standard and US Chess rating. The published rules allow up to two half-point byes and apply a 60-minute default time.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official event page guarantees a $12,500 cash prize fund. Consequently, the verified amount is the complete verified US-dollar total. The official prize table controls place and category distribution.
| Prize Category | Verified Award |
|---|---|
| Guaranteed cash prize fund | $12,500 |
| Distribution | Overall and published category prizes |
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility / Dates | Format |
|---|---|---|
| SPICE Cup Open | Minimum 2000 FIDE or 2200 US Chess, subject to acceptance | 9-round FIDE- and US Chess-rated Swiss |
| Title Norms | Players meeting all FIDE performance conditions | GM, IM, WGM, and WIM opportunities |
🗓️ Schedule
| Date / Stage | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| November 4 | 15:00–16:30 / 17:00 | Check-in and Round 1 |
| November 5 | 10:00 / 16:00 | Rounds 2 and 3 |
| November 6 | 10:00 / 16:00 | Rounds 4 and 5 |
| November 7 | 11:00 | Round 6 |
| November 8 | 11:00 / 17:00 | Rounds 7 and 8 |
| November 9 | 16:00 / 20:00 | Round 9 and closing ceremony |
📝 Registration
Players should register through the official SPICE Cup website. In addition, applicants should provide accurate FIDE and US Chess IDs, ratings, title, federation, contact, and payment details. Players below the stated minimum need explicit organizer acceptance.
👤 Organizer
| 🏢 Organizers | Washington Chess Federation and Susan Polgar Foundation |
| WashingtonChessFederation@gmail.com | |
| ☎️ Phone | +1 206-769-3757 |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://www.spicecup.org/ |
| 🌐 US Chess Event Page | https://new.uschess.org/20th-annual-spice-cup-open |
📍 Venue
Hilton Bellevue hosts the tournament at 300 112th Avenue SE. Furthermore, the hotel provides guest rooms, meeting facilities, restaurants, parking, and regional road access. Players should use the tournament room block and verify any parking or resort charges.
🚗 How to Get There
| Travel Option | Practical Information |
|---|---|
| By Air | Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is the principal regional gateway. |
| Airport Transfer | Rental cars, taxis, app-based services, and regional transit connect Sea-Tac with Bellevue. |
| By Bus | King County Metro and Sound Transit serve downtown Bellevue and nearby districts. |
| By Car | Use 112th Avenue SE and the hotel parking instructions. |
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
| Accommodation Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Hilton Bellevue | Official playing venue and tournament hotel. Official website |
| Seattle Marriott Bellevue | Downtown Bellevue alternative with local transport access. |
| Red Lion Hotel Bellevue | Nearby accommodation along the same regional corridor. |
ℹ️ Other Information
- The event uses one strong international section.
- The minimum rating is 2000 FIDE or 2200 US Chess, subject to organizer acceptance.
- The organizer guarantees $12,500.
- Title norms require the final field and individual performance to meet all FIDE rules.
✅ Final Checks Before Travel
- First, verify the accepted-player list, section, rating identifiers, and payment status.
- In addition, review the published round schedule, default time, bye rules, tie-breaks, and device policy.
- Moreover, save the venue route and organizer contact before travel.
- Finally, recheck accommodation, parking, meals, and cancellation conditions.
🔗 Official Resources
| Resource | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Official SPICE Cup Website | https://www.spicecup.org/ |
| US Chess Announcement | https://new.uschess.org/20th-annual-spice-cup-open |
| Washington Chess Federation | https://www.nwchess.com/ |
| Hilton Bellevue | https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/seabthf-hilton-bellevue/ |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $12,500
Organizer
♟️ About the Washington Chess Federation
The Washington Chess Federation, commonly known as WCF, is the statewide chess organization for Washington State. Founded in 1946, it supports and promotes chess-related activities throughout the state. The federation is also recognized by US Chess as its official Washington State Chapter. Therefore, it connects local players, clubs, tournament directors, organizers, and scholastic programs with the national chess structure. WCF supports players of different ages and strengths through membership services, tournament organization, state championships, community information, and cooperation with regional chess organizations. National Master Josh Sinanan serves as president and acts as the federation’s principal contact for the SPICE Cup.
🏆 State Championships and Tournament Organization
Washington Chess Federation organizes and supports a broad range of over-the-board competitions. Its principal events include the Washington State Championship, Washington Open, Washington Women’s Championship, Washington Senior Championship, Washington Class Championships, Washington G/60 Championship, Washington Rapid and Blitz Championships, and related invitational competitions. Moreover, the federation coordinates representative qualification for national US Chess invitational events. It also supports the Washington Chess Club League and provides information about chess clubs and competitive opportunities throughout the state. Many WCF events receive US Chess, Northwest, or FIDE rating. As a result, players can compete locally while also pursuing rating development, state titles, national qualification, and international recognition.
🌍 SPICE Cup and Chess in Washington
WCF co-hosts the 20th Annual SPICE Cup Open 2026 with the Susan Polgar Foundation. The event takes place at Hilton Bellevue and brings a major international norm tournament to Washington State. The federation manages the primary event contact, registration support, participant communication, venue coordination, and several practical aspects of tournament delivery. In addition, WCF President Josh Sinanan serves as the published contact for further information. The federation’s involvement connects the SPICE Cup with the established chess community of Washington and the wider Pacific Northwest. Alongside the SPICE Cup, WCF helps organize the Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and Boys in Bellevue. Therefore, its partnership with the Susan Polgar Foundation supports both elite international competition and opportunities for young players.
♟️ About the Susan Polgar Foundation
The Susan Polgar Foundation is a nonprofit chess organization founded by Grandmaster Susan Polgar in 2002. The foundation promotes the educational, social, and competitive benefits of chess across the United States. It places particular emphasis on creating opportunities for children and young players, especially girls. Through its programs, the organization presents chess as both a competitive sport and a practical educational tool. It highlights skills such as critical thinking, concentration, planning, decision-making, discipline, memory, and perseverance. Susan Polgar serves as the foundation’s president and founder, while Paul Truong serves as co-founder and vice president.
🏆 Tournaments and Player Development
The foundation has developed and supported several established national chess events. These include the Susan Polgar Foundation Girls’ Invitational, the Susan Polgar Foundation National Open for Girls and Boys, the Susan Polgar World Open Championship for Girls and Boys, and the Get Smart! Play Chess! tournament series. In addition, it supports elite competitions such as the SPICE Cup and SPICE Spring Invitational. These events provide competitive opportunities for scholastic players, strong juniors, titled players, and international norm seekers. Moreover, several foundation programs offer recognition, scholarships, training opportunities, and pathways for talented players to continue their development. The foundation also provides educational materials and promotes the inclusion of chess in schools and community programs.
🌍 SPICE Cup and Chess Promotion
The Susan Polgar Foundation co-hosts the 20th Annual SPICE Cup Open 2026 with the Washington Chess Federation. The SPICE Cup has developed into a respected international competition for strong players and title-norm seekers. The 2026 edition features a nine-round Swiss tournament with both FIDE and US Chess rating. Furthermore, GM, IM, WGM, and WIM norms may become available when the final field and individual performances meet all FIDE requirements. The foundation contributes the SPICE Cup tradition, international profile, and connection with Susan Polgar’s wider chess-development work. Meanwhile, the Washington Chess Federation manages major parts of the local organization and participant communication in Bellevue. Together, the two organizations combine elite competition with broader chess promotion and player development.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
