Top international competitors travel to Missouri for the 2026 Saint Louis Masters, held from February 24 to March 2, 2026 in Saint Louis, USA. The Saint Louis Chess Club hosts this 9-round Swiss invitational with a $100,000 prize fund, offering grandmasters, international masters, and rising titled players an ideal environment for FIDE title norm opportunities. The organizers structure the field to meet all FIDE requirements for norm-eligible Swiss events, while the newly updated tournament hall provides world-class playing conditions.

The schedule features one or two classical games per day between February 25 and March 1, framed by an arrival day on February 24 and departure on March 2. With a focused field, professional standards, and a substantial prize pool, the Saint Louis Masters stands out as one of the strongest Swiss invitationals of the 2026 season.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The tournament offers a $100,000 prize fund, distributed among top finishers in the final standings. The fund supports the creation of a highly competitive, norm-oriented field.
(Exact breakdown communicated directly to invited players.)

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The event uses a classical time control of 90 minutes for the game with a 30-second increment from move one.

The Saint Louis Masters runs as a 9-round Swiss invitational. The organizers balance federations, titles, and ratings to satisfy all FIDE requirements for Swiss tournaments that allow GM/IM/WGM/WIM norms, including:

• Sufficient titled players
• Required diversity of federations
• Limits on same-federation pairings
• High average rating of the field

Players must complete all nine rounds to remain norm-eligible.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

The tournament operates strictly by invitation only. The Saint Louis Chess Club invites a core group of grandmasters, international masters, and other titled players who match the event’s norm-oriented structure.

Players interested in being considered may submit an invitation request by email:

Email: info@saintlouischessclub.org

Due to limited capacity and strict FIDE composition rules, not all requests can be accepted.

👥 Organizer

The Saint Louis Chess Club organizes and hosts the event, handling invitations, regulations, pairings, and all operational responsibilities.

Website: https://saintlouischessclub.org
Address: 4663 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA

🏨 Venue

All games take place at the Saint Louis Chess Club, a premier international chess venue featuring professional playing rooms, updated equipment, comfortable analysis areas, and a dedicated spectator-friendly environment.

🚗 How to Get There

Players travel to Saint Louis, Missouri, then continue to the Saint Louis Chess Club on Maryland Avenue. The event structure recommends arrival on February 24 and departure after the final ceremony on March 2.

Ambitious titled players attending the 2026 Saint Louis Masters enjoy a concentrated week of elite-level chess, norm opportunities, and top-tier conditions in one of the world’s most respected chess centers.

🧾 Other

• The event follows all FIDE rules for classical tournaments.
• Players must comply with the Saint Louis Chess Club’s fair-play, electronic device, and conduct policies.