The Growth Chess Winter Open 2027 will take place from January 22–24, 2027 at the Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin. Organized by Growth Chess Center, the tournament offers three sections for a wide range of playing strengths and a published $3,000 cash prize fund.
The Premier and Reserve sections offer both 3-day and 2-day schedules, allowing players to choose between a Friday start or a Saturday start. The Booster section is a separate one-day Saturday tournament for players rated under 1201.
A separate US Chess-rated Saturday Night Blitz tournament will also be held during the weekend after Round 3 of the main event.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | January 22–24, 2027 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Wisconsin |
| City | Johnson Creek |
| Venue | Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center |
| Sections | Premier, Reserve, Booster |
| Main Prize Fund | $3,000 cash prizes |
| Rating | US Chess rated |
| FIDE Rated | No |
| Organizer | Growth Chess Center |
| Registration | https://www.kingregistration.com/register/GCWO26 |
| Official Listing | https://new.uschess.org/growth-chess-winter-open |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The Premier and Reserve sections are played as 5-round Swiss tournaments. Players may choose either the 3-day or 2-day schedule.
Premier & Reserve – 3-Day Schedule
The 3-day schedule uses one time control throughout the event:
G/90 + 30-second increment from move one.
Premier & Reserve – 2-Day Schedule
The 2-day schedule uses two different time controls:
| Rounds | Time Control |
|---|---|
| Rounds 1–2 | G/60 d5 |
| Rounds 3–5 | G/90 + 30 sec/move |
The 2-day and 3-day schedules merge beginning with Round 3.
Accelerated pairings may be used.
Booster
The Booster section is a 4-round Swiss tournament using:
G/30 + 5-second increment.
🏆 Prize Fund
The published prize fund for the Growth Chess Winter Open is $3,000, based on the target number of players in each section.
Players may receive only one cash prize. If a player qualifies for more than one award, the highest-value prize is paid.
Tied prizes are divided equally.
Premier – $1,500 Based on 40 Players
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | $500 |
| 2nd Place | $300 |
| 3rd Place | $200 |
| U2200 | $250 |
| U2000 | $250 |
The Premier prize fund is based on 40 players.
Players rated under 1800 may enter Premier with a $20 play-up fee. Of that fee, $10 is added directly to the Premier prize fund.
Reserve – $1,000 Based on 40 Players
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | $350 |
| 2nd Place | $250 |
| 3rd Place | $150 |
| U1600 | $125 |
| U1400 | $125 |
The Reserve prize fund is based on 40 players.
Booster – $500 Based on 20 Players
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | $200 |
| 2nd Place | $125 |
| 3rd Place | $75 |
| U1000 | $50 |
| Top Unrated | $50 |
The Booster prize fund is based on 20 players.
Because each section prize fund is attendance-based, the final amounts may be adjusted according to the number of entries in that section.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The tournament is divided into three rating-based sections.
Premier
Premier – 1800+ or Play-Up
The section is open to all players. Players rated under 1800 may enter Premier by paying an additional $20 play-up fee.
Players rated 2200+ receive free entry if they commit by January 10. However, $50 is deducted from any prize won.
Reserve
Reserve – Under 1801
The Reserve section is designed for players with a US Chess rating below 1801.
Booster
Booster – Under 1201
The Booster is a one-day Saturday section for players rated below 1201.
📅 Schedule
Premier & Reserve – 3-Day Schedule
| Date | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 22 | 6:00 PM | Round 1 |
| Saturday, January 23 | 10:00 AM | Round 2 |
| Saturday, January 23 | 4:00 PM | Round 3 |
| Sunday, January 24 | 10:00 AM | Round 4 |
| Sunday, January 24 | 3:30 PM | Round 5 |
Premier & Reserve – 2-Day Schedule
| Date | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 23 | 10:00 AM | Round 1 |
| Saturday, January 23 | 1:00 PM | Round 2 |
| Saturday, January 23 | 4:00 PM | Round 3 |
| Sunday, January 24 | 10:00 AM | Round 4 |
| Sunday, January 24 | 3:30 PM | Round 5 |
Both schedules merge beginning with Round 3 on Saturday.
Booster – Saturday Only
| Time | Round |
|---|---|
| 10:00 AM | Round 1 |
| 11:15 AM | Round 2 |
| 1:00 PM | Round 3 |
| 2:15 PM | Round 4 |
The Booster section is completed entirely on Saturday, January 23.
📝 Registration
All entrants must be current members of the US Chess Federation.
US Chess membership can be purchased before the tournament or at the tournament site.
Premier & Reserve Entry Fees
| Registration Date | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| By January 10 | $75 |
| By January 17 | $85 |
| After January 17 | $105 |
Players rated under 1800 who choose the Premier section pay an additional $20 play-up fee.
Players rated 2200+ may receive free entry if committed by January 10. If such a player wins a prize, $50 is deducted from the prize.
Booster Entry Fees
| Registration Date | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| By January 10 | $40 |
| By January 17 | $55 |
| After January 17 | $70 |
Reentry
Players who begin in the 3-day Premier or Reserve schedule may reenter the 2-day schedule for $50.
The reentry deadline is 9:00 AM Saturday.
A player who reenters starts the 2-day schedule with a new tournament score. The Friday game remains US Chess rated.
Byes
Players in Premier or Reserve may request one half-point bye in Rounds 1–4.
Bye requests must be submitted before the beginning of Round 2.
Refund Policy
More than 24 hours before Round 1, players may receive a refund minus a $5 administrative fee or transfer their entry once to a comparable Growth Chess tournament within three months.
Less than 24 hours before Round 1, players may receive a 50% refund or make one comparable tournament transfer within three months.
After Round 1 begins, entry fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Official registration:
https://www.kingregistration.com/register/GCWO26
👤 Organizer
Organizer Name: Growth Chess Center
Email: info@growthchess.com
Phone: +1 608-852-0126
Website: https://www.growthchess.com/
📍 Venue
Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center – 725 Paradise Ln, Johnson Creek, WI 53038, United States
The tournament is held at the Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center, located just off Interstate 94 between Madison and Milwaukee.
The hotel offers conference facilities as well as free parking, complimentary breakfast, Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, and other guest amenities.
Special tournament room-block information has not yet been published by the organizer.
🚆 How to Get There
Johnson Creek is located between Madison and Milwaukee along Interstate 94.
For players flying into Wisconsin, Dane County Regional Airport (MSN) in Madison is the closer major airport. The venue is approximately a 40-minute drive from the airport under normal conditions.
Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) is another practical option and is approximately a 50–55 minute drive from the venue.
Because public transportation options around Johnson Creek are limited, renting a car or arranging private transportation is generally the most practical option for players arriving from outside the area.
ℹ️ Other Information
Saturday Night Blitz
A separate US Chess-rated Growth Chess Winter Blitz will take place on Saturday, January 23, 2027 at the same venue.
Play begins at 8:00 PM or shortly after the conclusion of Winter Open Round 3, whichever is later.
The event uses a 4-round Swiss with double rounds at G/3+2.
The published Blitz prize fund is $300 based on 20 players.
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st Place | $100 |
| 2nd Place | $60 |
| 3rd Place | $40 |
| U2000 | $35 |
| U1800 | $35 |
| U1600 & Below / Unrated | $30 |
Blitz entry is $25 by January 22 and $30 on January 23.
Blitz registration:
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/MWB27
US Chess Membership
All participants in the Winter Open must have an active US Chess membership.
Players who do not already have one may purchase or renew their membership before the event or at the tournament site.
Prize Rules
Players are eligible for only one cash prize in each tournament.
When a player qualifies for more than one prize, the highest-value prize is awarded. Tied cash prizes are divided equally.
Hotel Information
The venue itself is a hotel, which can be convenient for players competing over multiple days.
The organizer states that special tournament room-block information is coming soon. Players planning to stay on-site should therefore check the official registration page for updated lodging information before booking.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $3,000
Organizer
♟️ About Growth Chess Center
Growth Chess Center is a chess academy, tournament organizer, and community chess hub based in Madison, Wisconsin. Operated by Growth Chess LLC, the organization provides chess classes, private coaching, school programs, camps, club activities, community events, and a substantial calendar of US Chess-rated tournaments.
Growth Chess was founded by Andrew Schley, who serves as Founder and Head Coach. Schley has worked in chess education and tournament development since 2011 and has coached students and teams at several major chess organizations across the United States. His previous roles include Head Coach and owner at International Academy of Chess in Wisconsin, Lead Coach at Bay Area Chess, Head Scholastic Coach at the Mechanics’ Institute, and Coach & Club Liaison at Chess.com.
The organization began expanding its Madison-area program in 2023, with the goal of creating a dedicated chess community for players of different ages and skill levels. Its current physical chess center is located on Regent Street in Madison.
🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities
Tournament organization is a major part of Growth Chess Center’s activity. The organization hosts regular US Chess-rated scholastic and open tournaments in Madison and at larger Wisconsin venues.
Its calendar includes monthly cash-prize Opens, scholastic Swiss tournaments, Rapid and Blitz events, collegiate championships, Madison Area Chess Club competitions, seasonal weekend Opens, and state championship events.
Growth Chess has also become involved in some of Wisconsin’s most important state competitions. Its tournament program includes the Wisconsin Closed State Championship, collegiate championships, women’s events, and larger weekend tournaments with multiple schedules and rating sections.
The center also supports the Madison Area Chess Club, which meets weekly for rated tournament play and casual chess. This gives local players access to consistent competition between larger weekend events.
🌱 Chess Education & Development
Chess education remains central to Growth Chess Center’s work. The organization runs after-school programs, center classes, private lessons, camps, tournament training, and school-based chess clubs.
Growth Chess works with schools across the Greater Madison area and provides trained coaches, equipment, curriculum, registration support, and ChessKid memberships. Its school programs are designed for both beginners and experienced scholastic players.
The center also operates dedicated tournament-training groups for players who want more structured preparation. Training covers tactics, master-game analysis, endgames, tournament preparation, and regular competitive play.
Andrew Schley’s background in elementary education strongly influences this model. Growth Chess combines competitive improvement with a broader focus on confidence, decision-making, sportsmanship, resilience, and community.
🥇 Recognition & Community Growth
Growth Chess Center received significant national recognition in 2025, when US Chess named Growth Chess Club of Madison the Medium Chess Club of the Year. The award recognized the organization’s contribution to chess activity and community development.
The organization’s community role extends beyond formal classes and tournaments. Growth Chess partners with local groups and community events to introduce chess to new players and provide accessible playing opportunities throughout the Madison area.
Membership programs also provide tournament discounts, chess-club access, merchandise benefits, and additional training opportunities.
❄️ Growth Chess Winter Open 2027
The Growth Chess Winter Open 2027 takes place from January 22–24, 2027, at the Comfort Suites Johnson Creek Conference Center in Johnson Creek, Wisconsin.
The tournament features Premier, Reserve, and Booster sections and a published $3,000 cash prize fund. Premier and Reserve players may choose between two-day and three-day schedules, while the Booster section is played entirely on Saturday. A separate Saturday Night Blitz tournament is also included in the weekend program.
The event continues Growth Chess Center’s model of offering multiple rating categories and flexible schedules so that players with different ratings and travel requirements can participate in the same tournament weekend.
📚 History & Development
Growth Chess entered the Madison chess community after Andrew Schley returned to Wisconsin following years of coaching in Milwaukee and California.
The organization’s early goals were to provide high-quality chess education, organize tournaments for players of every level, and establish a permanent chess center in Madison. Those goals developed into a physical center, an expanding tournament calendar, school partnerships, regular club activity, and statewide championship involvement.
Today, Growth Chess Center serves both scholastic and adult players and combines education with regular competitive opportunities. Its programs range from first-time beginner classes to training for nationally competitive players and major US Chess-rated tournaments.
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