The 5th Annual Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament will take place from December 18–20, 2026, at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento NE Cal Expo in Sacramento, California. Organized by Learning Pawn, the tournament features seven rounds across five rating-based sections, including a dedicated Senior U1800 group for players age 50 and older.
Players can choose either a 3-Day or 2-Day schedule. The 3-Day schedule uses G/90 +30 throughout and is both FIDE Standard and US Chess rated. The 2-Day schedule begins with three faster G/60 +5 games that are US Chess rated only, before joining the 3-Day field for Round 4 and completing the tournament at the longer FIDE-rated time control.
The tournament advertises $10,000 in prizes based on 150 paid entries. The prizes are prorated if attendance is below 150 and are not increased beyond the advertised amounts if participation exceeds 150. Five section winners also receive trophies.
♟️ Event Details
The tournament provides five sections for players ranging from developing competitors to master-level participants. Section placement is based on the higher applicable published US Chess Regular rating or FIDE Standard rating.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Title | 5th Annual Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament |
| 📅 Dates | December 18–20, 2026 |
| 🌎 Country | United States |
| 📍 City | Sacramento, California |
| 🏨 Venue | Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento NE Cal Expo |
| 👥 Organizer | Learning Pawn |
| ♟️ Format | Swiss System |
| 🔢 Rounds | 7 |
| 🧩 Sections | 5 |
| 🗓️ Schedules | 3-Day and 2-Day |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | G/90 +30 |
| ⭐ FIDE Rated | Yes |
| 🇺🇸 US Chess Rated | Yes |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $10,000 based on 150 paid entries |
| ♿ Accessibility | Handicap accessible |
| 🌐 Event Type | Over-the-board |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The full 3-Day schedule uses a classical G/90 +30-second increment in all seven rounds. The 2-Day schedule uses an accelerated time control for its opening three rounds before merging with the main field.
| Schedule | Time Control |
|---|---|
| 3-Day – Rounds 1–7 | G/90 +30 |
| 2-Day – Rounds 1–3 | G/60 +5 |
| 2-Day – Rounds 4–7 | G/90 +30 |
All games on the 3-Day schedule are FIDE Standard and US Chess rated.
For the 2-Day schedule, Rounds 1–3 are US Chess rated only and are excluded from the FIDE rating report. After both schedules merge in Round 4, the remaining games are FIDE Standard and US Chess rated.
The two schedules merge on Saturday, December 19 at 6:30 PM.
🏆 Prize Fund
The tournament advertises $10,000 in cash prizes based on 150 paid entries. This is not a guaranteed $10,000 prize fund.
All advertised prizes are prorated according to:
Paid entries ÷ 150
If the tournament has more than 150 paid entries, the published prizes do not increase above the advertised amounts.
Cash prizes are divided equally among tied players, and each player may receive only one cash prize.
2100+ Section
The top section accounts for $4,250 of the published prize structure.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $2,000 |
| 2nd | $800 |
| 3rd | $450 |
| 4th | $250 |
| 5th | $200 |
| 6th | $150 |
| 7th–10th | $100 each |
1800–2099 Section
This section has $2,200 in advertised prizes based on the full 150-entry calculation.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $800 |
| 2nd | $400 |
| 3rd | $250 |
| 4th | $200 |
| 5th | $150 |
| 6th–7th | $100 each |
| 8th–9th | $75 each |
| 10th | $50 |
1500–1799 Section
The section carries $1,600 in advertised cash awards.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $500 |
| 2nd | $300 |
| 3rd | $200 |
| 4th | $150 |
| 5th | $100 |
| 6th–9th | $75 each |
| 10th | $50 |
Under 1500 Section
U1500 offers $1,150 in advertised prizes, including an additional U1000 award.
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $300 |
| 2nd | $200 |
| 3rd | $150 |
| 4th | $100 |
| 5th | $75 |
| 6th–10th | $50 each |
| Top U1000 | $75 |
The Top U1000 prize cannot be combined with another cash prize.
Senior U1800 Section
The Senior U1800 section offers $800 in published prizes and is limited to qualifying players age 50 and older.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $300 |
| 2nd | $150 |
| 3rd | $100 |
| 4th | $75 |
| 5th | $50 |
| 6th–10th | $25 each |
The first-place finisher in every section also receives a trophy.
🧩 Sections / Groups
Five sections provide rating-based competition. Players are assigned according to the higher applicable published US Chess Regular rating or FIDE Standard rating.
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| 2100+ | Rating 2100 or higher |
| 1800–2099 | Rating 1800–2099 |
| 1500–1799 | Rating 1500–1799 |
| U1500 | Below 1500 or unrated |
| Senior U1800 | Below 1800 and age 50+ |
For the Senior U1800 section, a player must have been born on or before December 1, 1976.
Players may play up subject to rating verification and payment of the $30 play-up fee.
The organizer reserves the right to correct section placement or combine sections when operationally necessary.
🗓️ Schedule
All five sections follow the same seven-round framework. The 3-Day schedule begins Friday evening, while the accelerated 2-Day option starts Saturday morning.
3-Day Schedule
The full schedule uses G/90 +30 for all seven rounds.
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, December 18 | Round 1 | 6:30 PM |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 2 | 9:00 AM |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 3 | 1:30 PM |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 4 | 6:30 PM |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 5 | 8:30 AM |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 6 | 1:00 PM |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 7 | 5:30 PM |
2-Day Schedule
The first three rounds use G/60 +5. Players then merge with the 3-Day field and switch to G/90 +30.
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 1 | 9:00 AM |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 2 | 11:30 AM |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 3 | 2:00 PM |
| Saturday, December 19 | Round 4 | 6:30 PM |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 5 | 8:30 AM |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 6 | 1:00 PM |
| Sunday, December 20 | Round 7 | 5:30 PM |
The schedules merge at Round 4 on Saturday at 6:30 PM.
📝 Registration
Entry fees depend on both the player’s section and registration date. The lowest rates apply through November 30.
2100+ and 1800–2099
| Registration Period | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Through November 30 | $150 |
| December 1–17 | $180 |
| Late / Onsite | $200 |
1500–1799
| Registration Period | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Through November 30 | $120 |
| December 1–17 | $150 |
| Late / Onsite | $170 |
U1500 and Senior U1800
| Registration Period | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Through November 30 | $100 |
| December 1–17 | $130 |
| Late / Onsite | $150 |
For the 3-Day schedule, the late/onsite rate applies beginning December 18. For the 2-Day schedule, it applies beginning December 19.
The play-up fee is $30.
A current US Chess membership is required.
Players must also have a valid FIDE ID before participating in a FIDE-rated round.
Titled Players
GM, WGM, IM, and WIM players receive free entry in the 2100+ section with advance registration.
However, $150 is deducted from any prize won.
Tournament entry fees can be paid by Zelle or PayPal to:
Official tournament information and registration:
https://learningpawn.com/5th_annual_jai_jagannath_chess_fide_tournament/
👥 Organizer
Learning Pawn organizes the Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament as part of its tournament program in the Greater Sacramento area.
| Contact | |
|---|---|
| 👥 Organizer Name | Learning Pawn |
| 👤 Contact Person | Brahma Mohanty |
| ✉️ Email | learningpawn@gmail.com |
| ☎️ Phone | +1 916-612-9711 |
📍 Venue
The tournament takes place at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento NE Cal Expo, a hotel with meeting facilities, complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, and on-site parking.
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento NE Cal Expo – 2224 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95821, United States
The organizer plans to offer a discounted participant room rate, with final booking details to be published separately.
🚆 How to Get There
The hotel is located on Auburn Boulevard near Interstate 80, providing convenient road access from Sacramento and the surrounding region.
| Transport | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚗 Car / Rideshare | Use 2224 Auburn Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95821 |
| 🅿️ Hotel Parking | $10 per day for registered hotel guests |
| 🔁 Parking Re-Entry | Included |
| ✈️ Sacramento International Airport | Main commercial airport serving Sacramento |
| 🚐 Airport Shuttle | Not provided by the hotel |
Players arriving at Sacramento International Airport should arrange a taxi, rideshare, rental car, or other ground transportation because the hotel currently does not provide an airport shuttle.
ℹ️ Other Information
The tournament’s default time is 30 minutes after the scheduled start of a round. A player arriving later than the applicable default time may lose the game unless the tournament director rules otherwise.
Players should bring their own chess set and chess clock.
For FIDE-rated rounds, the applicable FIDE Laws of Chess apply. Phones and smartwatches must be switched off and stored according to tournament staff instructions.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| ⏰ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| ♟️ Chess Set | Players should bring one |
| ⏱️ Chess Clock | Players should bring one |
| 📱 Electronic Devices | FIDE rules apply in FIDE-rated rounds |
| 🏆 Section Winner Trophy | Yes |
The organizer has not yet published the final bye policy and bye deadlines.
Learning Pawn reserves the right to make necessary operational adjustments, including correcting section placement and combining sections when appropriate, while remaining consistent with US Chess and FIDE regulations.
Official tournament page:
https://learningpawn.com/5th_annual_jai_jagannath_chess_fide_tournament/
US Chess listing:
https://new.uschess.org/5th-annual-jai-jagannath-chess-tournament
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $10,000
Organizer
♟️ About Learning Pawn
Learning Pawn is a chess academy and tournament organization serving Fair Oaks, Sacramento, and the Greater Sacramento area of California, United States. The organization combines chess education with an extensive calendar of US Chess- and FIDE-rated competition. Its principal Chess Center operates in Fair Oaks, while larger tournaments also use partner venues throughout the Sacramento region and elsewhere in California.
Learning Pawn provides youth and adult classes, structured chess training, school chess clubs, camps, private development programs, and regular tournaments. Its competition calendar ranges from scholastic and grade-level events to multi-day Classical tournaments with FIDE-rated sections. The organization places tournament experience alongside instruction, allowing developing players to progress from training and school programs into rated competition.
Brahma Mohanty is the principal operational contact for Learning Pawn’s current tournament program. He manages player communication alongside Madhusmita Rout, while certified arbiters support FIDE-rated events. Learning Pawn maintained a particularly active schedule throughout 2026, including the Dwarakanath, Learning Pawn, Badrinath, State Capitol, Rameswaram, All California School Level, River City, and Give Less & Get More tournaments. Its year concludes with the flagship 5th Annual Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament in Sacramento.
🎓 Chess Training and Development
Learning Pawn operates a dedicated Chess Center in Fair Oaks for players who want structured improvement as well as regular competition.
Its programs include youth classes, adult instruction, small-group training, camps, and school partnerships. The academy organizes students by playing level and combines lessons with homework, game review, and practical tournament experience.
School programs form another important part of its work. Learning Pawn partners with educational institutions to provide on-campus chess clubs and after-school activities.
The organization also serves players outside its academy structure. Its tournaments are open to the broader chess community, including beginners, scholastic players, adult club competitors, and experienced FIDE-rated players.
🏆 Tournament Program
Learning Pawn has developed one of the more active independent tournament calendars in the Sacramento area.
Its recurring events include the Learning Pawn Chess Tournament, Badrinath Chess Tournament, State Capitol Chess Tournament, Rameswaram Chess Tournament, River City Chess Tournament, All California School Level Chess Tournament, Give Less & Get More Tournament, and Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament.
The organization runs both scholastic and open competitions. Some events focus on grade or rating categories, while others provide longer Classical formats suitable for experienced players.
Learning Pawn also uses FIDE-rated sections in selected tournaments. Therefore, its schedule gives players opportunities to build both US Chess and international ratings.
🌟 2026 Chess Activity
Learning Pawn maintained a substantial calendar throughout 2026 from its Fair Oaks base.
The year began with the 4th Annual Dwarakanath Chess Tournament. It continued with the All California Grade Level ChessOmatics event, the All Girls California Chess Tournament, and the 4th Annual Learning Pawn Chess Tournament.
Spring and summer brought the Greater Sacramento Grade Level Championship, Badrinath, State Capitol, Rameswaram, and All California School Level events.
The 4th Annual River City Chess Tournament is scheduled for September 26–27. Afterward, the 4th Annual Give Less & Get More USCF Chess Tournament will take place on November 21–22.
This schedule demonstrates Learning Pawn’s dual focus on regular local competition and larger annual championship events.
♟️ Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament
The Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament has developed into one of Learning Pawn’s principal annual events.
The fourth edition took place in December 2025 in Sacramento. Learning Pawn then expanded the tournament significantly for its fifth edition.
The 5th Annual Jai Jagannath Chess Tournament is scheduled for December 18–20, 2026 at Holiday Inn Express & Suites Sacramento NE Cal Expo.
The tournament is both FIDE Standard-rated and US Chess-rated. It uses a seven-round Swiss system and offers separate sections for 2100+, 1800–2099, 1500–1799, U1500, and Senior U1800.
Players can choose between two-day and three-day schedules. The longer rounds use 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment, while the accelerated schedule begins with shorter games before merging into the main tournament.
Learning Pawn also provides waived entry fees for eligible GM, WGM, IM, and WIM players in the top section. FA Scott Mason handles FIDE-related questions for the event.
🏛️ Organization and Chess Center
Learning Pawn describes itself as a chess organization serving the Greater Sacramento community through both education and tournament activity.
Its Fair Oaks Chess Center provides a permanent hub for classes and regular events. The center also allows Learning Pawn to run tournaments directly rather than relying exclusively on temporary venues.
For larger events, the organization uses partner locations such as hotels and community facilities. This approach allows Learning Pawn to expand capacity while maintaining its regular Fair Oaks training base.
Brahma Mohanty is the most useful public tournament contact. Madhusmita Rout also handles Learning Pawn communication and can be reached through the organization’s general contact number.
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