SouthPark Charlotte welcomes competitors to the 2026 Spring Southeastern FIDE from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Charlotte Chess Center runs this Grand Prix weekend alongside its Spring GM/IM Norm Invitational and delivers a high-quality playing environment for experienced tournament players. The event enforces a 1500+ rating minimum and applies FIDE rules across all sections.
This tournament offers three FIDE-rated Swiss sections with a classical control of G/90 + 30 seconds per move and a clear five-round schedule. The organizers guarantee $5,500 in prizes, including $5,000 in the main event and a free $500 Saturday-night blitz for eligible participants. A 125-player cap and defined “play-up” rules keep the sections competitive and structured.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Charlotte, North Carolina, United States |
| 🏨 Venue | Hilton Garden Inn – Southpark, 4808 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210 |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss system |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated and US Chess-rated (all sections) |
| 📂 Sections | Championship · Under 2100 · Under 1800 |
| ⏱️ Time control | G/90 + 30-second increment per move |
| 💳 Entry fee | $149 by Wednesday, March 4, 2026 · $165 after Wednesday, March 4, 2026 |
| 💰 Prize fund | $5,500 guaranteed (main event $5,000 + free blitz $500) |
| 👤 Eligibility | US Chess membership required · US Chess rating minimum 1500+ required |
| 👥 Capacity | 125 players (organizers may accept entries beyond the cap based on space constraints) |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | 100-point rule for playing up · No spectators in the playing area or nearby hallways/restrooms |
🏆 Prize Fund
Main event prize fund (guaranteed $5,000)
Championship (FIDE-rated)
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 |
| 2nd | $500 |
| 3rd | $300 |
| Top U2250 | $350 |
Under 2100 (FIDE-rated)
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $700 |
| 2nd | $350 |
| 3rd | $200 |
| Top U1950 | $250 |
Under 1800 (FIDE-rated)
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $600 |
| 2nd | $300 |
| 3rd | $200 |
| Top U1650 | $250 |
The organizers award plaques to first place in all sections.
Free Saturday blitz prize fund (guaranteed $500; one section)
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $200 |
| 2nd | $100 |
| 3rd | $60 |
| Top U2300 | $80 |
| Top U2100 | $60 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament runs a five-round Swiss event in each section and applies FIDE rules.
Time control:
G/90 with a 30-second increment per move.
Section eligibility rules:
The tournament requires a US Chess rating of at least 1500 to participate.
The 100-point rule applies for playing up, and the organizers honor peak ratings since February 1 for eligibility.
Byes and changes:
Players may take up to two optional half-point byes when they request them before Round 1.
The organizers score all byes requested during the tournament as 0 points.
Players must submit schedule changes, byes, and withdrawals at least one hour before the relevant round.
Forfeits and penalties:
Players who forfeit (no-show) without notice receive a $100 fine.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | Championship section | FIDE-rated and US Chess-rated |
| Under 2100 | Under 2100 | FIDE-rated and US Chess-rated |
| Under 1800 | Under 1800 | FIDE-rated and US Chess-rated |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 20, 2026 | Friday | 18:00 | Round 1 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 10:30 | Round 2 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 16:30 | Round 3 |
| March 21, 2026 | Saturday | 21:00 | Free blitz tournament (eligible players) |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 10:30 | Round 4 |
| March 22, 2026 | Sunday | 16:00 | Round 5 |
📝 Registration
Players register online and pay the entry fee based on the published deadline.
Entry fee:
$149 when you register by Wednesday, March 4, 2026
$165 when you register after Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Titled-player policy:
GM, IM, and WGM players receive free online entry.
The organizer deducts $145 from a titled player’s prize when the titled player registers after Sunday, February 23, 2026.
The organizer does not deduct the entry amount from prize winnings when the titled player registers by Sunday, February 23, 2026.
Blitz registration:
The organizer runs the free blitz on Saturday at 21:00.
Players register for blitz on site only on Saturday from 16:30 to 20:45.
Players in the Spring Southeastern FIDE Championship or Spring Norm Invitational receive free blitz entry.
Other players may enter blitz on site for $30.
Blitz format: 6 rounds (single section); US Chess regular ratings used for pairings and prizes; US Chess and FIDE blitz rated; US Chess membership required.
Withdrawals and refunds:
The organizer refunds withdrawals by Friday, March 14, 2026 minus a $10 transaction fee.
The organizer refunds withdrawals from Saturday, March 15 to Tuesday, March 18, 2026 minus a $20 transaction fee.
The organizer refunds 50% after Tuesday, March 18, 2026 until 75 minutes before Round 1.
The organizer requires all withdrawals during the event at least 75 minutes before the affected round.
Registration link:
Website: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/events/springfide
👥 Organizer
Charlotte Chess Center organizes Southeastern FIDE events and delivers FIDE-rated, professionally run tournaments with clear eligibility standards and fair-play controls.
Email: events@charlottechesscenter.org
Website: https://www.charlottechesscenter.org/
🏨 Venue
Hilton Garden Inn – Southpark hosts the tournament at 4808 Sharon Road, Charlotte, NC 28210, United States in the heart of the SouthPark area. The venue location places players within walking distance of nearby dining and shopping options, and it supports a full five-round weekend schedule.
🛎️ Accommodation
Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte SouthPark
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| King room | $134 per night |
| Two Queens | $149 per night |
| Phone | (704) 362-5080 |
Homewood Suites Charlotte SouthPark (conjoined hotel)
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| King Suite | $152 per night |
🚗 How to Get There
You can reach the SouthPark area of Charlotte and travel to 4808 Sharon Road by car or rideshare. Plan arrival before Round 1 on Friday evening so you can start the event on time.
Bring your best classical form to SouthPark and fight for major prizes across three competitive FIDE-rated sections.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $5,500
Organizer
The Charlotte Chess Center serves as the Carolinas’ premier hub for competitive and scholastic chess, fostering growth since its founding in 2011. Each year, CCC organizes flagship tournaments such as the Charlotte Open, the Carolinas Classic, the U.S. Masters Chess Championship, and the Charlotte Summer Open, drawing hundreds of players from across the Southeast. These events feature USCF- and FIDE-rated sections, norm-eligible formats, and high-level prize funds, ensuring both rising talents and seasoned masters enjoy world-class competition under professionally managed conditions.
Beyond its major tournaments, the Center sustains an active calendar of year-round programs: weekly classes for all ages, intensive summer camps, master-level lectures, scholastic leagues, and a thriving membership community. CCC partners with schools, libraries, and regional clubs to deliver outreach initiatives, online coaching, and regular casual play nights—creating a chess ecosystem that supports beginners through titled professionals and cements Charlotte’s reputation as a chess destination.