Chess players can compete in North Texas at the DFW Spring FIDE from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Irving, Texas, United States. Texas Chess Center runs this weekend Swiss tournament with a FIDE-rated top section and a clear five-round schedule that fits both local and traveling players. The event uses a classical control of G/90 + 30 seconds per move, which supports serious, high-quality games.
Competitors can choose between a traditional three-day schedule that starts Friday night or a compact two-day schedule that starts Saturday morning. The tournament offers three sections, including a US Chess-rated U1400 section with trophies. A guaranteed cash prize list in the top two sections makes this event a practical choice for players who want rated games and a straightforward weekend format.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | Friday, March 20, 2026 – Sunday, March 22, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Texas Chess Center (Irving), 4343 W Royal Lane #114, Irving, TX 75063, United States |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss system |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated (event); U1400 section: US Chess-rated |
| 📂 Sections | Championship · U1800 · U1400 (US Chess-rated only) |
| ⏱️ Time control | G/90 + 30-second increment per move |
| 💳 Entry fee | Championship: $108 by February 6, 2026; $123 by March 10, 2026; $138 late · U1800: $88 by February 6, 2026; $103 by March 10, 2026; $118 late · U1400: $78 by February 6, 2026; $93 by March 10, 2026; $108 late |
| 💰 Prize fund | $1,540 (guaranteed cash prizes) |
🏆 Prize Fund
Championship (cash)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $640 |
| 2nd | $320 |
| 3rd | $160 |
U1800 (cash)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $240 |
| 2nd | $120 |
| 3rd | $60 |
U1400 (US Chess-rated)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st–3rd | Trophies |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament runs a 5-round Swiss format with G/90 + 30-second increment per move.
Pairing and event rules:
The organizers use US Chess monthly ratings for pairings.
The tournament uses a one-hour default time for late arrival.
The event offers re-entry at half of the late-fee price.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | Championship section | Cash prizes for places 1–3 |
| U1800 | Under 1800 | Cash prizes for places 1–3 |
| U1400 | Under 1400 | US Chess-rated only; trophies for places 1–3 |
📅 Schedule
3-day schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | 19:00 | Round 1 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 14:00 | Round 2 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 19:00 | Round 3 |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 10:00 | Round 4 |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 15:00 | Round 5 |
2-day schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 09:00 | Round 1 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 14:00 | Round 2 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 19:00 | Round 3 |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 10:00 | Round 4 |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 15:00 | Round 5 |
📝 Registration
Players register by section and pay the posted entry fee based on the pricing deadlines.
Championship entry fees:
$108 when you register by Friday, February 6, 2026
$123 when you register by Tuesday, March 10, 2026
$138 late
U1800 entry fees:
$88 when you register by Friday, February 6, 2026
$103 when you register by Tuesday, March 10, 2026
$118 late
U1400 entry fees (US Chess-rated only):
$78 when you register by Friday, February 6, 2026
$93 when you register by Tuesday, March 10, 2026
$108 late
👥 Organizer
Texas Chess Center runs this event and manages entries and on-site tournament operations at its Irving location.
Phone: 469-498-7296
Website: https://www.texaschesscenter.com
🏨 Venue
Texas Chess Center (Irving) hosts the tournament at 4343 W Royal Lane #114, Irving, TX 75063, United States. The playing site provides a dedicated tournament space designed for a full five-round weekend schedule.
🚗 How to Get There
You can reach Irving by car and travel to the Texas Chess Center (Irving) location at 4343 W Royal Lane #114. Plan arrival around your selected schedule so you can start on time for Round 1.
Play five serious rounds in Irving and take a shot at guaranteed prizes in a focused weekend FIDE event.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $1,540
Organizer
The Texas Chess Center stands as a cornerstone of chess excellence, offering a vibrant ecosystem that blends high-level competition, top-tier coaching, and community enrichment. Operating in multiple locations throughout North Texas—including Plano, Frisco, Irving, and Houston—the Center organizes over 250 official tournaments annually, ranging from scholastic events and FIDE-rated championships to weekly Swiss tournaments and blitz series. Notable events include the Texas Youth Championship, weekend FIDE-rated open tournaments, scholastic-only challenges, and seasonal rapid and blitz cups.
The Center works closely with elite coaches and grandmasters, including GM Chris Repka, GM Jeffery Xiong, and FM Sharvesh Deviprasath, delivering training that supports both recreational learners and competitive prodigies. With outreach programs in over 70 public and private schools across districts like Coppell, Plano, and McKinney, the Texas Chess Center fosters a culture of intellectual growth and strategic development. Their mission is clear: make chess accessible to everyone—children and adults alike—through an integrated model of education, events, and opportunity.