The 31st Space Coast Open lands in Cocoa Beach, blending serious chess with a relaxed Atlantic shoreline atmosphere.
Multiple schedules, generous prizes, and family‑friendly amenities make it a Florida favorite.
Event Details
| 📅 Dates | 29 May – 1 June 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA |
| 🏟️ Venue | International Palms Resort & Conference Center |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | US Chess & (Open) FIDE rated |
| 🧩 Tournament System | Swiss System |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 7 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 40/90, SD/30 + 30s |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $12,000 guaranteed |
Prize Fund
| Section | Awards |
|---|---|
| Open | Top + U2200 prizes |
| U2000 | Top + class prizes |
| U1600 | Top + class prizes |
| U1200/Scholastic | Top + scholastic awards |
Time Control & Tournament System
- 7‑round Swiss; 3‑day or 4‑day schedules
- Time control: 40/90, SD/30, +30s
- Tiebreaks: Solkoff → Modified Median → Cumulative
Sections / Groups
- Open (FIDE)
- U2000
- U1600
- U1200/Scholastic
Schedule
| Date | Event / Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, May 29 | Registration & Rd 1 | 19:00 |
| Sat, May 30 | Rounds 2–3 | 10:00 / 17:00 |
| Sun, May 31 | Rounds 4–5 | 10:00 / 17:00 |
| Mon, Jun 1 | Rounds 6–7 & Awards | 09:00 / 15:00 |
Registration
$100–$140 advance; $160 on site. US Chess required; FIDE ID for Open.
Organizer
Space Coast Chess Foundation — a long‑standing promoter of chess in Florida.
- Email: info@spacecoastchess.org
- Website: spacecoastchess.org
Venue
International Palms Resort — beachside property with meeting space.
Accommodation
Player discounts at host hotel; many nearby hotels & motels.
How to Get There
- By Air: Orlando (MCO) ~1 hr
- By Car: I‑95 & SR‑528 Beachline
Chess by the beach — competition meets classic Florida getaway.
Organizer
Space Coast Chess Foundation is a Florida-based chess organizer headquartered in Merritt Island and focused on the Space Coast region. Founded in 2011, it operates as a nonprofit and supports both community play and scholastic development. Moreover, it has built a strong presence in East Central Florida through consistent event delivery and local outreach.
The organization runs open chess tournament events, monthly competitions, and major festival-style weekends for players across rating levels. It is especially known for the long-running Space Coast Open and for staging FIDE-rated tournament and US Chess events in classical formats. In addition, it organizes the 2026 Harvey Lerman Florida State Championship linked to your prompt.
Beyond tournament operations, the foundation promotes junior chess and community access to the game through scholastic programs and chess resources. Therefore, its role extends beyond a single event and into wider chess community building across the region. At the same time, its player-focused approach has made it a recognizable tournament organizer in Florida chess.
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