The 43rd Annual Reno Western States Open 2026 takes place from October 2–4, 2026, at the J Resort Casino Hotel in Reno, Nevada. The tournament is an established American Classic and Heritage Event and features six rating-based sections.
Players can compete in the Open, Expert, A, B, C, or D Section. The Open Section is FIDE rated, while all sections are US Chess rated. In addition, the tournament awards 150 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points.
The advertised prize fund is $27,500 based on 275 entries, with $17,000 guaranteed. The tournament weekend also includes simultaneous exhibitions, a blitz tournament, a lecture, and a game-analysis session with titled players.
📌 Event Details
| Event Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | October 2–4, 2026 |
| ⚡ Two-Day Option | October 3–4, 2026 – class sections only |
| 📍 Location | Reno, Nevada, United States |
| 🏨 Venue | J Resort Casino Hotel – 345 N. Arlington Avenue, Reno, NV 89501, United States |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Weikel Chess, LLC |
| ♟️ Format | Classical – Swiss system |
| 🔢 Rounds | 6 |
| 🧩 Sections | Open, Expert, A, B, C, D |
| ⏱️ Time Control | Open: 40/2, SD/55, d5; Class Sections: 40/2, G/60, d5 |
| ⭐ Rating | US Chess rated; Open Section also FIDE rated |
| 🏅 Grand Prix | 150 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $27,500 based on 275 entries; $17,000 guaranteed |
| 👤 Tournament Director | NTD Jerome V. “Jerry” Weikel |
| ♿ Accessibility | Handicap-accessible venue |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://sites.google.com/site/renochessclub/wso |
| 📄 Tournament Details | https://sites.google.com/site/renochessclub/wso/tournament |
| 📝 Entry Form | https://sites.google.com/site/renochessclub/wso/entryform |
| 🔗 US Chess Listing | https://new.uschess.org/43rd-annual-reno-western-states-open |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The 43rd Annual Reno Western States Open 2026 uses a six-round Swiss system. However, the Open Section and class sections have different time controls.
♚ Open Section
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Schedule | Three-day schedule only |
| Rounds | 6 |
| Time Control | 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 55 minutes to finish |
| Delay | 5 seconds per move |
| Rating | US Chess and FIDE |
The Open Section does not offer the accelerated two-day schedule.
♟️ Class Sections – Three-Day Schedule
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Sections | Expert, A, B, C, D |
| Rounds | 6 |
| Time Control | 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 1 hour to finish |
| Delay | 5 seconds per move |
| Rating | US Chess |
⚡ Class Sections – Two-Day Schedule
The two-day option is available only for the Expert, A, B, C, and D Sections.
| Rounds | Time Control |
|---|---|
| Rounds 1–3 | Game in 60 minutes with a 5-second delay |
| Rounds 4–6 | 40 moves in 2 hours, followed by 1 hour to finish, with a 5-second delay |
Players on the two-day schedule complete three accelerated games on Saturday. They then merge with the regular three-day schedule for Round 4 at 6:00 PM.
🌓 Half-Point Byes
Half-point byes are available for any round when properly requested.
Bye requests must be submitted by 9:00 AM on Saturday, October 3.
Open Section players may receive a maximum of two half-point byes.
🔀 Pairing Rules
When a section has an odd number of players, the tournament director may move the highest-rated player from the next lower section upward when appropriate.
Pairings are not normally changed simply to alternate colors. However, adjustments may be made to avoid three consecutive games with the same color or an excessive color imbalance.
The tournament director may also use CCA ratings where appropriate.
🏆 Prize Fund
The tournament offers an advertised prize fund of $27,500 based on 275 entries.
A total of $17,000 is guaranteed. The guarantee consists of the full first-through-seventh-place Open prizes plus 50% of all other advertised cash prizes.
🥇 Open Section – Overall Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st | $2,000 |
| 🥈 2nd | $1,000 |
| 🥉 3rd | $900 |
| 4th | $800 |
| 5th | $700 |
| 6th | $600 |
| 7th | $500 |
If players tie for first place, a playoff determines the championship trophy and $100 from the prize fund.
⭐ Open Section – Rating Prizes
| Rating Category | Prizes |
|---|---|
| 2399 and Below | 1st – $1,000 · 2nd – $500 |
| 2299 and Below | 1st – $1,000 · 2nd – $500 |
♟️ Class Section Prizes
| Section | Prize Breakdown |
|---|---|
| Expert | 1st $2,000 · 2nd $1,000 · 3rd $500 · 4th $300 · 5th $200 |
| A | 1st $1,800 · 2nd $900 · 3rd $500 · 4th $300 · 5th $200 |
| B | 1st $1,700 · 2nd $800 · 3rd $400 · 4th $300 · 5th $200 |
| C | 1st $1,500 · 2nd $700 · 3rd $400 · 4th $300 · 5th $200 |
| D | 1st $1,000 · 2nd $500 · 3rd $300 · 4th $200 |
🎯 Section D – 1199 and Below
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $400 |
| 2nd | $200 |
| 3rd | $100 |
👴 Additional Prizes
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Top Senior – Age 65+ | $200 |
| Club Championship – 1st | $600 |
| Club Championship – 2nd | $300 |
Prize Conditions
Unrated players receive free tournament entry but are not eligible for cash prizes.
Provisionally rated players may receive no more than half of the first-place cash prize in their section. However, this restriction does not apply to the first-through-seventh-place Open prizes.
GMs and IMs who use the free-entry offer are not eligible for the Open rating prizes for players rated 2399 and below. They may instead pay the applicable entry fee and become eligible for those prizes.
🏅 Trophies
Trophies are listed for the:
- Open Champion
- 1st–3rd places in the Expert Section
- 1st–3rd places in Section A
- 1st–3rd places in Section B
- 1st–3rd places in Section C
- 1st–3rd places in Section D
- Top unrated player
- Top senior
- Club Champion
♟️ Sections / Groups
The tournament consists of six rating-based sections.
| Section | Rating Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Open | 2200+; lower-rated players may play up |
| Expert | 2000–2199 |
| Section A | 1800–1999 |
| Section B | 1600–1799 |
| Section C | 1400–1599 |
| Section D | 1399 and below, including unrated players |
Players may enter a higher section. However, lower-rated players entering the Open Section must pay the applicable Open entry fee.
Unrated players normally compete in Section D, although they may choose to play up.
📅 Schedule
All times are local time in Reno, Nevada.
🎭 Side Events
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Wed, Sep 30 · 7:00 PM | GM Sergey Kudrin clock simultaneous exhibition with game analysis – $30; bring a chess clock |
| Thu, Oct 1 · 6:00–7:15 PM | Free lecture with IM John Donaldson |
| Thu, Oct 1 · 7:30 PM | GM Nick de Firmian simultaneous exhibition – $20 |
| Thu, Oct 1 · 7:30 PM | Blitz Tournament – G/5, d0 – $25 |
| Sat, Oct 3 · 3:00–4:30 PM | Free game and position analysis with IM John Donaldson |
The blitz tournament uses Game/5 with no delay. The organizer allocates 80% of the blitz entry fees to the blitz prize fund.
♟️ Three-Day Main Tournament
| When | Activity |
|---|---|
| Fri, Oct 2 · 12:00 PM | Round 1 |
| Fri, Oct 2 · 7:00 PM | Round 2 |
| Sat, Oct 3 · 10:00 AM | Round 3 |
| Sat, Oct 3 · 6:00 PM | Round 4 |
| Sun, Oct 4 · 9:00 AM | Round 5 |
| Sun, Oct 4 · 4:00 PM | Round 6 |
⚡ Two-Day Schedule – Class Sections Only
| When | Activity |
|---|---|
| Sat, Oct 3 · 10:30 AM | Round 1 |
| Sat, Oct 3 · 12:45 PM | Round 2 |
| Sat, Oct 3 · 3:00 PM | Round 3 |
| Sat, Oct 3 · 6:00 PM | Round 4 – merge with three-day schedule |
| Sun, Oct 4 · 9:00 AM | Round 5 |
| Sun, Oct 4 · 4:00 PM | Round 6 |
The Open Section is available only on the three-day schedule.
📝 Registration
A current US Chess membership is required.
Players may register in advance by mail, email, or phone. On-site registration is also available during the published registration periods.
💵 Three-Day Entry Fees
| Section / Category | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Open – 2200+ | $194 |
| Open – 2000–2199 | $250 |
| Open – 1999 and Below | $300 |
| Expert | $194 |
| Section A | $193 |
| Section B | $192 |
| Section C | $191 |
| Section D | $180 |
| GM / IM | Free if entered by September 4 |
| Unrated Player | Free tournament entry* |
*Unrated players must purchase or extend their US Chess membership for one year and are not eligible for cash prizes.
⚡ Two-Day Entry Fee
| Schedule | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Expert, A, B, C, D – Two-Day Schedule | $190 |
There is no two-day Open Section.
💲 Discounts & Additional Fees
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Senior Discount – Age 65+ | $20 off |
| Late Fee after September 4 | +$11 |
| Entry at Tournament Site | +$22 |
| Section Change | $10 |
| Credit Card Service Charge for Mailed Entry | $7 |
GMs and IMs must enter by September 4 to receive free entry.
⏰ Registration Deadlines
| Registration | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Entry without Late Fee | September 4, 2026 |
| Last Day to Mail Entry | September 25, 2026 |
| Last Day to Email Entry | September 29, 2026 |
| Three-Day On-Site Registration | Oct 1 · 5:00–8:00 PM |
| Additional Three-Day Registration | Oct 2 · 9:00–10:00 AM |
| Two-Day On-Site Registration | Oct 3 · 9:00–10:00 AM |
Class-section entries received after 10:00 AM on Friday may have to accept a first-round half-point bye at the tournament director’s discretion.
📮 Advance Entry by Mail
Make the check or money order payable to Weikel Chess, LLC and send it to:
Weikel Chess, LLC
6578 Valley Wood Drive
Reno, NV 89523
United States
Do not mail entries after September 25, 2026.
📧 Advance Entry by Email
Send the completed entry information to:
Do not email entries after September 29, 2026.
📞 Advance Entry by Phone
+1 775-747-1405
After September 30, the organizer requests that players use the following cell numbers:
+1 775-336-7377
+1 775-354-8728
🔗 Official Entry Form
https://sites.google.com/site/renochessclub/wso/entryform
♟️ US Chess Membership
Unrated players receive free tournament entry. However, they must purchase or extend a one-year US Chess membership even if they already have an active membership.
| Membership | One-Year Fee |
|---|---|
| Adult | $54 |
| Senior | $48 |
| Young Adult | $33 |
| Youth | $24 |
Optional printed Chess Life costs an additional $12 where applicable.
New memberships and renewals can also be processed at the tournament site.
👤 Organizer
| Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer Name | Weikel Chess, LLC |
| Contact Person | Jerome V. “Jerry” Weikel |
| wackyykl@aol.com | |
| Phone Number | +1 775-747-1405 |
📍 Venue
J Resort Casino Hotel – 345 N. Arlington Avenue, Reno, NV 89501, United States
The tournament takes place at the J Resort Casino Hotel in downtown Reno. The property was formerly known as the Sands Regency Hotel Casino.
The venue is handicap accessible.
Venue Website:
https://www.jresortreno.com/
🚗 How to Get There
J Resort is located in downtown Reno and is only a short road transfer from Reno-Tahoe International Airport.
| Transport | Details |
|---|---|
| ✈️ By Air | Reno-Tahoe International Airport is the main airport serving Reno. |
| 🚌 Hotel Shuttle | J Resort shuttle operates from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Call +1 775-348-2255. |
| 🚕 Taxi / Rideshare | Available directly from Reno-Tahoe International Airport. |
| 🚆 By Train | Amtrak California Zephyr serves Reno Station in downtown Reno. |
| 🚗 By Car | Use 345 N. Arlington Avenue, Reno, NV 89501 as the destination. |
| 🅿️ Parking | Free covered self-parking is available at J Resort. |
ℹ️ Other Information
🏨 Official Tournament Hotel
The tournament venue itself offers discounted accommodation for tournament participants.
| Stay Period | Tournament Rate |
|---|---|
| Sunday–Thursday | $104.01 per night |
| Friday–Saturday | $138.06 per night |
The published tournament rates apply to single or double occupancy and include applicable taxes and fees.
🔑 Hotel Booking Details
| Booking Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Hotel | J Resort Casino Hotel |
| Reservations | +1 866-386-7829 |
| Group Code | Westernchess1026 |
| Chess-Rate Deadline | September 18, 2026 |
| Deposit | First-night deposit required by September 18 |
| Guests Under 21 | Must check in with an adult |
| Website | https://www.jresortreno.com/ |
Players without a confirmed reservation at the special tournament rate will pay the hotel’s prevailing rate.
♟️ Playing Equipment
The organizer provides chess sets.
Players should bring their own chess clocks.
Participants in the Sergey Kudrin clock simultaneous exhibition should also bring a chess clock.
🔼 Playing Up
Players may enter a higher-rated section.
However, lower-rated players entering the Open Section must pay the applicable Open entry fee.
📊 Provisional Ratings
Provisionally rated players may receive no more than half of the first-place cash prize in their section.
This restriction does not apply to the first-through-seventh-place Open prizes.
🔄 Section Changes
Changing sections costs $10.
🚭 Smoking
Smoking is not permitted in the tournament playing room.
🏅 American Classic & Heritage Event
The Western States Open carries the US Chess designation “An American Classic and Heritage Event.”
The tournament also awards 150 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $27,500
Organizer
♟️ About Weikel Chess, LLC
Weikel Chess, LLC is an experienced over-the-board chess tournament organizer based in Reno, Nevada, United States. Led by National Tournament Director Jerome V. “Jerry” Weikel, the organization specializes in large US Chess-rated tournament weekends that bring together grandmasters, international masters, experienced club players, juniors, seniors, and amateur competitors. Its tournaments combine serious competition with clearly defined rating sections, substantial prize funds, and structured playing conditions.
Weikel Chess works closely with the wider Reno chess community, while RenoChess.org serves as the main online information hub for its major tournaments. The organization handles tournament registration, player communication, section placement, pairings, tournament direction, prize administration, and on-site operations. Moreover, its flagship events regularly include FIDE-rated competition alongside US Chess rating and Enhanced Grand Prix points.
The organization has extensive experience with multi-section tournaments that accommodate players across a broad rating range. In addition to the main classical competitions, Weikel Chess frequently adds lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, blitz tournaments, and game-analysis sessions with titled players. Therefore, its Reno events function as complete chess weekends rather than only standalone tournaments.
🏆 Reno Western States Open
One of the principal events organized by Weikel Chess is the Reno Western States Open, a long-running tournament with an established place on the American chess calendar.
The 43rd Annual Reno Western States Open 2026 takes place from October 2–4, 2026, at the J Resort Casino Hotel in Reno. The event features six sections: Open, Expert, A, B, C, and D.
All sections receive US Chess rating, while the Open Section is also FIDE-rated. Furthermore, the tournament carries 150 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points and advertises a $27,500 prize fund based on participation.
The tournament also offers side events before and during the main competition. The 2026 program includes a clock simultaneous exhibition, instructional lectures, blitz chess, a grandmaster simul, and game-analysis sessions. Consequently, visiting players can combine tournament competition with additional opportunities to learn from experienced titled players.
♜ Reno Larry Evans Memorial Open
Weikel Chess also organizes the annual Reno Larry Evans Memorial Open, named in honor of American Grandmaster Larry Evans.
The tournament follows a structure similar to the Western States Open and provides several rating-based sections. In addition, class players can choose between different schedules, allowing competitors to select the format that best fits their travel plans.
The 13th Annual Reno – Larry Evans Memorial Open 2026 took place in April 2026. It offered six sections, US Chess rating, FIDE-rated competition where applicable, Enhanced Grand Prix points, and a substantial advertised prize fund.
Side activities have traditionally formed an important part of the Larry Evans Memorial weekend. These include lectures, simultaneous exhibitions, blitz tournaments, and game-analysis sessions. Therefore, the tournament continues the broader event model that has become characteristic of major Weikel Chess weekends in Reno.
🎯 Tournament Direction and Player Experience
Jerry Weikel holds the rank of US Chess National Tournament Director, one of the highest tournament-directing classifications within the United States Chess Federation.
Weikel Chess publishes detailed tournament regulations covering time controls, section eligibility, entry fees, prize structures, half-point byes, schedules, registration deadlines, and other competition rules. Moreover, the organization coordinates discounted accommodation with its tournament hotels for visiting players.
The tournaments typically provide separate rating classes so players can compete for prizes against opponents of similar strength. At the same time, the Open Section gives strong players an opportunity to face titled competitors and earn FIDE-rated results.
Weikel Chess also maintains traditional advance-registration options by email and mail. During tournament weekends, dedicated telephone numbers provide players with direct access to the organizer for last-minute logistical questions.
🥇 Jerome V. “Jerry” Weikel
Jerome V. “Jerry” Weikel combines tournament-directing experience with a long competitive chess background in Nevada.
Reno Chess Club records identify Weikel as a three-time Nevada State Chess Champion and a seven-time Reno Chess Club Champion. He has also served in leadership positions within the Reno Chess Club, including several periods as club president.
His involvement in Reno chess extends across decades. Historical tournament records document Weikel directing and organizing major Reno competitions, club championships, memorial events, regional tournaments, and other rated competitions.
This combination of organizer, tournament director, club leader, and competitive player gives Weikel Chess extensive practical knowledge of tournament operations. As a result, the organization continues to provide established annual chess events for players traveling to Northern Nevada from across the United States.
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