Boston’s downtown chess scene takes center stage at the BCF Spring Festival on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. The Boylston Chess Foundation runs this five-round Swiss weekend at the Boylston Chess Club and offers two sections that fit a wide range of competitive players. The tournament uses a classical time control that supports serious games while keeping the schedule compact across two days.

Competitors can fight for a fully guaranteed $4,000 main-event prize pool, and the weekend also adds two optional side events with separate prize money. The Open section requires at least 1650 on the March supplement (or a qualifying live MSA rating), while the U1850 section creates a clear target for class competitors. The event also keeps logistics simple with a central club address, fixed round times, and straightforward email procedures for byes and withdrawals.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The main event guarantees $4,000 in prizes across the Open and U1850 sections. The weekend also offers two optional side events with separate prize pools: $500 for Bughouse and $700 for Time Odds Blitz.

Open prizes

U1850 prizes

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs a 5-round Swiss system.

Time control:

• G/90 with a 5-second delay.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

📝 Registration

Players register online.

Website: https://boylstonchess.org/events/1460/spring-festival

Entry fees:

• $80 for BCF members.

• $100 for non-members.

• Players rated under 1500 receive a $30 discount.

• The organizer adds $10 after Wednesday, March 18, 2026.

Titled and high-rated member entry:

• GMs and IMs receive free entry.

• Club members rated at least 2300 receive free entry, and the organizer deducts the entry fee from any prizes won.

Byes and withdrawals:

• Email: td@boylstonchess.org (send at least 30 minutes before the round).

👥 Organizer

The Boylston Chess Foundation operates the Boylston Chess Club in downtown Boston and runs regular rated tournaments with clear section rules and fixed weekend schedules.

Email: info@boylstonchess.org
Website: https://boylstonchess.org/events/1460/spring-festival

🏨 Venue

Boylston Chess Club hosts the tournament at 35 Kingston St, Unit 1, Boston, MA 02111, United States. The playing site sits in central Boston and provides a dedicated club environment for a full five-round weekend.

🚗 How to Get There

You can reach downtown Boston by public transit, rideshare, or car and continue to 35 Kingston St, Unit 1. Plan arrival early on Saturday so you can start Round 1 on time.

Join this downtown Boston classic weekend and compete for guaranteed prizes in two competitive sections.

🧾 Other

Side events (no additional fee for main-event players; otherwise $10 for members and $15 for non-members)

• Bughouse: Saturday at 20:00 · Prize pool: $500 · Format: 4-round Swiss · Time control: G/3 with no delay · The organizer assigns partners randomly each round, and each match consists of four games.

• Time Odds Blitz: Sunday at 18:00 · Prize pool: $700