61st Cincinnati Open will take place in Blue Ash, Ohio, United States, on April 9–11, 2027, with a published $17,500 prize pool based on 280 paid entries. The event is organized by Cincinnati Scholastic Chess, which has run scholastic and all-ages chess competitions in Greater Cincinnati for many years.

This is a five-round Classical Swiss with eight independent sections: FIDE Elite, FIDE Expert, FIDE Class, U1901, U1601, U1301, U1001 and Senior (50+). All sections count for US Chess Regular ratings; the top three are also FIDE Standard-rated except for rounds 1–2 on the two-day schedule. The main time control is G/90 with a 30-second delay; two-day rounds 1–2 use G/60 with a five-second delay.

Players may select either a three-day or two-day schedule. US Chess membership is required; those entering FIDE sections also need a FIDE ID. Advance entry starts at $120, with higher fees nearer the event and on site. A separate Saturday-night Blitz tournament is advertised; its playing control and rating status are not yet specified in the posted main-event regulations.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The two schedules converge after the opening two rounds. The clock setting uses a delay, not an increment, so the published controls must be entered accurately.

🏆 Prize Fund

The official $17,500 prize fund is calculated for 280 paid entries. If fewer players enter, the fund is adjusted proportionally, with at least 50% of the advertised prizes paid. Tied players share prizes. Below is the full published division-by-division breakdown.

FIDE Elite

FIDE Expert

FIDE Class

U1901

U1601

U1301

U1001

Senior (50+)

*Senior award clarification: the official 2027 flyer prints one senior class rating threshold as “U18001”, apparently an editing error. Its $300 prize is reproduced without guessing the correct cutoff; confirm that threshold with the organizer before publication. The Senior category replaces its 3rd–5th overall prizes with three rating-category awards.

Grandmasters and international masters, including WGM and WIM titleholders, may enter without a chess entry fee; if they win a prize, the organizer deducts $120 from the payout.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The eight sections pair players independently. The organizer uses the published rating ranges below and allows specific one-section play-ups for an additional $20. The Senior section is open only to players born in 1977 or earlier.

The official page permits specific higher unofficial ratings and FIDE-to-US Chess conversion where the published conditions apply. Players without an accepted US Chess Regular or Quick rating are treated as unrated and cannot receive a prize above their section’s second-place amount.

📅 Schedule

Both schedules finish on Sunday, April 11, 2027. Players should select their preferred schedule when entering; the 2-day opening rounds use the faster control described above. All times below are local to Blue Ash, Ohio.

Three-Day Schedule

Two-Day Schedule

A separate Blitz tournament is announced for Saturday, April 10 at 9 PM; on-site Blitz registration closes at 8:45 PM. Detailed Blitz rules and fee were not included in the main flyer.

📝 Registration

Register through the official Cincinnati Open 2027 entry form, or use the organizer’s 2027 mail-in entry form. The main event requires current US Chess membership; participants in FIDE divisions must also secure a FIDE ID before play.

For postal registration, use the 2027 entry form and send the completed form and check payable to Cincinnati Scholastic Chess to Cincinnati Open, 6434 Pace Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45213, United States. This is the 2027 event’s mail-in address; it should not be confused with an older organizer contact address.

Questions about this edition: info@chesscincinnati.com (send email) or text/call Keith at +1 513 312 4543. The external registration page appears here for direct entry; the MyChess.Events sidebar registration remains internal.

🏛️ Organizer

Cincinnati Scholastic Chess has organized school-age chess in Greater Cincinnati since 2007 and revived the all-ages Cincinnati Open in 2012. The organizer publishes the edition-specific rules and entry forms on its official website.

📍 Venue

The playing venue is the Embassy Suites by Hilton Cincinnati Northeast Blue Ash at 4554 Lake Forest Drive, Blue Ash, OH 45242, United States. All eight sections use the same tournament hotel. The organizer has not specified the exact ballroom or meeting-room number in the published 2027 regulations.

🏨 Accommodation

The tournament takes place at an Embassy Suites hotel, which is the most direct accommodation choice. Other options below are in the Blue Ash area. Affiliate links are prefilled for April 8–12, 2027; adjust the dates to fit your travel plans. Prices and room availability should be checked when booking.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

These are established Blue Ash restaurants suitable for tournament meals or an extra break. BLU is inside the playing hotel; the other options are in the surrounding neighborhood, so check your preferred driving or walking route.

🚆 How to Get There

Blue Ash is a Cincinnati suburb served primarily by local roads. Confirm your route to the Embassy Suites on Lake Forest Drive before traveling, and allow time for parking and registration.

✈️ By Air

The principal regional airport is Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. From the airport, arrange a rental car, taxi or rideshare to Blue Ash. For arrival and ground-transport options consult the official airport website.

🚗 By Car and Parking

The hotel is at 4554 Lake Forest Drive in Blue Ash, near major Cincinnati interstate connections. Check the Hilton hotel location page for directions and current parking information. Do not rely on a city-center Cincinnati pin, as the venue is in a different municipality.

🚌 Public Transport

Cincinnati’s Metro network serves the wider metropolitan area. Review Metro schedules and route planning for available service toward Blue Ash, and plan the final connection to Lake Forest Drive; the event organizer has not published a dedicated tournament shuttle.

ℹ️ Other Information

The organizer supplies pieces, boards, clocks and scoresheets. Players in FIDE sections must use the organizer’s scoresheets, sign them correctly and return a copy to the arbiter after every game.

Useful Official Links