60th American Open Chess Championship
The 60th American Open Chess Championship is a landmark edition of one of the United States’ most historic tournaments, taking place November 24–30, 2025 in Garden Grove, California. This milestone event will be hosted at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, minutes away from Disneyland and the Anaheim resort area.
The American Open combines tradition and modern competition: a nine-round Swiss in the Open section, multiple class divisions, plus a robust program of side events including scholastic, blitz, and action tournaments. With a $36,800 guaranteed prize fund, FIDE-rated sections, and US Chess Grand Prix points, this championship continues its proud legacy as one of the most prestigious Thanksgiving-week chess events in America.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | November 24–30, 2025 |
| 📍 Location | Hyatt Regency Orange County, 11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840, USA |
| ♟️ Format | 9-Round Swiss (Championship section) plus side events |
| 💵 Entry Fee | Early registration discounts available (exact schedule TBA). On-site entries accepted with surcharge. |
| 🏆 Prize Fund | $36,800 guaranteed across all sections |
| ⭐ Rating | US Chess rated; Championship section FIDE-rated |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open to all US and international players |
🏆 Prize Fund & Breakdown
Main advertised prize fund: $36,800 (guaranteed).
| Section | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | $3,000 | $1,500 | $1,000 | $500 | FIDE-rated, top prizes, Grand Prix points |
| Class A (U2000) | $2,000 | $1,000 | $600 | $400 | Special U1900 bonus prizes |
| Class B (U1800) | $2,000 | $1,000 | $600 | $400 | Special U1700 bonus prizes |
| Class C (U1600) | $2,000 | $1,000 | $600 | $400 | Special U1500 bonuses |
| Class D (U1400) | $1,500 | $800 | $600 | $400 | U1300/U1200 bonus awards |
| Unrated (in U1400) | — | — | $350 | $150 | Unrated eligible only for these prizes |
| Scholastic | Trophies, medals | — | — | — | Awards by grade and rating categories |
| Blitz & Action | Cash prizes | — | — | — | Guaranteed side-event prize pools |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
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Championship section: 40 moves in 90 minutes, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with 30-second increment (FIDE standard).
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Class sections: Similar controls; exact details follow the tournament handbook.
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Blitz: G/3 + 2 delay.
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Action: G/30 + 5.
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Pairings follow Swiss-system rules, with accelerated pairings possible in early rounds.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Rounds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship | Open to all | 9 rounds | FIDE-rated; top cash prizes |
| Class A (U2000) | Players <2000 | 9 rounds | US Chess rated |
| Class B (U1800) | Players <1800 | 9 rounds | US Chess rated |
| Class C (U1600) | Players <1600 | 9 rounds | US Chess rated |
| Class D (U1400) | Players <1400 | 8 rounds | Special bonus prizes for U1300 & U1200 |
| Scholastic | Juniors (Novice, JV, Varsity) | 5 rounds | Awards by rating and grade |
| Blitz | Open | 5 rounds | Saturday evening |
| Action | Open | 5 rounds | Sunday |
📅 Schedule
Main Event (Championship & Class Sections)
| Date | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Mon, Nov 24 | 5:00 PM | Registration & Round 1 |
| Tue, Nov 25 | 10:00 AM | Round 2 |
| Wed, Nov 26 | 10:00 AM | Round 3 |
| Thu, Nov 27 | 10:00 AM | Round 4 |
| Fri, Nov 28 | 10:00 AM | Round 5 |
| Sat, Nov 29 | 10:00 AM | Round 6 |
| Sun, Nov 30 | 10:00 AM | Round 7; Awards Ceremony |
Side Events
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Blitz Tournament: Saturday, Nov 29 – 7:00 PM
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Action Tournament: Sunday, Nov 30 – 2:30 PM
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Scholastic Tournaments: Saturday–Sunday, Nov 29–30
📝 Registration
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Online Registration: available at americanopen.org.
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Early Bird Discounts: reduced fees for entries received before November 1.
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On-site Registration: accepted with surcharge (cash/credit).
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Refund Policy: withdrawals before November 15 are partially refundable.
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Side Events: Blitz, Action, and Scholastic require separate entries.
👥 Organizer
The American Open Chess Championship is presented by the American Open Chess Committee in collaboration with US Chess. The event has been held annually since 1965 and celebrates its 60th anniversary in 2025.
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Email: info@americanopen.org
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Phone: (714) 643-8827
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Website: https://americanopen.org
🏨 Venue
Hyatt Regency Orange County
11999 Harbor Blvd, Garden Grove, CA 92840, USA
A four-star property with multiple restaurants, swimming pools, family amenities, and large conference spaces. Located in the Anaheim/Disney resort area.
🛎️ Accommodation
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Special group rate: $160/night (plus taxes/fees) for players and families.
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Block of rooms reserved for American Open participants; early booking strongly recommended (Thanksgiving week usually sells out).
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Rate includes complimentary Wi-Fi; parking discounts may apply.
🚗 How to Get There
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By Air: John Wayne Airport (SNA) ~15 minutes; Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ~30 minutes.
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By Train: Amtrak/Metrolink station in Anaheim, 10 minutes by taxi or rideshare.
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By Car: Accessible from I-5, CA-22, and SR-91; venue has on-site parking.
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Local: Hotel shuttles and rideshare services available.
Join hundreds of players for the 60th American Open this November—celebrating six decades of chess tradition in Southern California with big prizes, top competition, and a festival atmosphere!
