Make your summer chess schedule count at the 13th Annual Washington International, July 25-29, 2026, in Rockville, Maryland, United States, a five-day festival that pairs strong sections with serious playing conditions at a single hotel venue. The organizer runs a 9-round Swiss with Game/90 plus 30-second increment and offers three sections that cover elite championship play, a FIDE-rated premier field, and a large under-1800 competition. A $51,000 cash prize fund and a full set of guaranteed awards make this event a clear target if you want classical ratings, meaningful prizes, and a dense round schedule.
The tournament takes place at the Rockville Hilton, steps from the Twinbrook Metro stop, with boards, sets, and clocks provided for every player. The organizer adds practical extras such as a free continental breakfast before the Saturday and Wednesday morning rounds and broadcasts the top boards live. If you stay at the hotel using the group rate, you can stack multiple published discounts on your entry fee, and the event supports first-time players, families, and seniors with additional cumulative reductions.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | July 25-29, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Rockville, Maryland, United States |
| ♟️ Format | 9-round Swiss system |
| ⭐ Rating | Championship: FIDE ratings used for pairings and prizes · Premier: FIDE rated · Contenders: US Chess rated (not FIDE rated) |
| 📂 Sections | Championship · Premier · Contenders |
| ⏱️ Time control | Game/90 with 30-second increment (move 1) |
| 💳 Entry fee | Championship: $249–$484 (GM/WGM/IM: free with conditions) · Premier/Contenders: Early entry fee $329 (published surcharges and date-based increases apply) |
| 💰 Prize fund | $51,000 guaranteed cash prizes |
| 👤 Eligibility | Championship: minimum 2200 US Chess or 2000 FIDE · Premier: US Chess 1750+ and under 2300 US Chess and under 2100 FIDE · Contenders: under 1800 US Chess and US Chess over 1000 |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | The organizer provides boards, sets, and clocks, posts cumulative entry-fee discounts, and sets a 60-minute forfeit time for all sections |
🏆 Prize Fund
The organizer guarantees cash prizes across all sections and limits players to one prize each, except for Mixed Doubles.
Championship Section (Guaranteed Prizes: $27,250)
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | 8,000 |
| 2nd | 4,000 |
| 3rd | 2,000 |
| 4th | 1,600 |
| 5th | 1,250 |
| 6th | 1,100 |
| 7th | 1,000 |
| 8th | 900 |
| 9th | 500 |
| 10th | 450 |
| Under 2500 (1st–2nd) | 1,450 / 850 |
| Under 2350 (1st–2nd) | 1,350 / 775 |
| Under 2200 (1st–2nd) | 1,300 / 725 |
| Mixed Doubles (any section, 1st–2nd) | 400 / 250 |
Premier Section (Guaranteed Prizes: $14,450)
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | 4,500 |
| 2nd | 2,500 |
| 3rd | 1,300 |
| 4th | 1,000 |
| Place prizes (as listed) | 850 / 600 / 400 / 250 |
| Under 2000 (1st) | 1,700 |
| Under 2000 (2nd) | 900 |
| Under 2000 (3rd) | 500 |
| Under 2000 (4th) | 300 |
| Under 2000 (5th) | 200 |
| Mixed Doubles (any section, 1st–2nd) | 400 / 250 |
Contenders Section (Guaranteed Prizes: $8,800)
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | 3,000 |
| 2nd | 1,600 |
| 3rd | 1,000 |
| 4th | 600 |
| 5th | 450 |
| 6th | 150 |
| Under 1600 (1st) | 1,100 |
| Under 1600 (2nd) | 500 |
| Under 1600 (3rd) | 300 |
| Mixed Doubles (any section, 1st–2nd) | 400 / 250 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The organizer runs all sections as a 9-round Swiss with Game/90 and a 30-second increment from move 1. The organizer uses FIDE ratings for pairings and prizes in the Championship section and uses US Chess ratings for pairings and prizes in the Premier and Contenders sections. The organizer sets a 60-minute forfeit time for late arrival across all sections, and the Chief Arbiter may grant emergency exceptions.
The organizer limits the Championship section to four ½-point byes and requires bye requests two hours before Round 4. The organizer requires players to complete all nine rounds to qualify for published titled-player conditions.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | Minimum 2200 US Chess or 2000 FIDE | FIDE ratings used for pairings and prizes; guaranteed prizes and rating-category awards |
| Premier | US Chess 1750+ and under 2300 US Chess and under 2100 FIDE | FIDE rated; guaranteed prizes plus Under 2000 awards |
| Contenders | Under 1800 US Chess and US Chess over 1000 | Not FIDE rated; guaranteed prizes plus Under 1600 awards |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 25, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 AM | Registration closes |
| July 25, 2026 | Saturday | 11:00 AM | Round 1 |
| July 25, 2026 | Saturday | 5:00 PM | Round 2 |
| July 26, 2026 | Sunday | 11:00 AM | Round 3 |
| July 26, 2026 | Sunday | 5:00 PM | Round 4 |
| July 27, 2026 | Monday | 11:00 AM | Round 5 |
| July 27, 2026 | Monday | 5:00 PM | Round 6 |
| July 28, 2026 | Tuesday | 11:00 AM | Round 7 |
| July 28, 2026 | Tuesday | 5:00 PM | Round 8 |
| July 29, 2026 | Wednesday | 11:00 AM | Round 9 |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Online registration | https://mdchess.com/index.php?Itemid=1548&catid=1&id=78&option=com_eventbooking&view=event |
| Registration forms | Individual: https://mdchess.com/index.php?Itemid=1548&event_id=78&option=com_eventbooking&task=register.individual_registration · Group: https://mdchess.com/index.php?Itemid=1548&event_id=78&option=com_eventbooking&task=register.group_registration |
| Payment methods (online) | PayPal · Credit card (Authorize.net) |
| Championship base entry fees | GM/WGM/IM: free (the organizer deducts $200 from prize for entries after June 25, 2026) · Non-US FIDE over 2000: $249 · FIDE 2000+: $379 · FIDE under 2000 with US Chess at least 2200: $484 |
| Premier & Contenders base entry fee | Early entry fee: $329 |
| Published surcharges | Premier: add $50 for players under 1800 · Contenders: add $50 for players under 1200 |
| Published entry-fee increases | The organizer increases all fees after June 25, July 11, July 21, and July 23, 2026, and closes registration at 9:00 AM on July 25, 2026. |
| Cumulative discounts | $50 hotel discount (group rate) · $50 senior discount (born before July 26, 1976) · $25 first-time Washington International discount · $25 family discount · $25 recruiter rebate for each first-time WI player you recruit |
| Mail registration | Mail registrations to Maryland Chess Association, c/o Mike Regan, 1827 Thornton Ridge Road, Towson, MD 21204 (Championship mailed entries should include player name, FIDE rating, and FIDE country). |
👥 Organizer
The Maryland Chess Association organizes the Washington International as a flagship classical event in the DC metro area, running three sections under one roof with consistent round times, guaranteed prizes, and a clear discount structure for hotel guests, seniors, first-time players, and families. The organizer emphasizes strong playing conditions, supplies all equipment, and enforces strict tournament rules for electronic devices and forfeits.
Email: washintl@mdchess.com
Website: https://washintl.mdchess.com/
🏨 Venue
Rockville Hilton, 1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, United States
The tournament plays at the Rockville Hilton in Rockville, Maryland. The venue sits next to the Twinbrook Metro stop and keeps all sections in the same playing location. The organizer provides a free continental breakfast before the Saturday and Wednesday morning rounds.
🛎️ Accommodation
The organizer publishes a Rockville Hilton group rate and offers an entry-fee discount for hotel guests who book at that rate. The organizer limits room availability and recommends booking early.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Hotel rate | $130 per night (rooms limited) |
| Entry-fee hotel discount | $50 discount when you stay at the Hilton using the group rate (minimum 3 nights; maximum two discounts per room) |
| Booking link | https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/iadmrhf-90c-db965d43-852b-419e-b9d0-917a1d6cd0c4/ |
| Titled-player conditions | The organizer lists multi-night hotel conditions for eligible GMs and certain non-US titled players and requires players to complete all nine rounds to qualify. |
🚗 How to Get There
Use the DC Metro to reach the Twinbrook stop and walk to the Rockville Hilton. If you drive, use the hotel parking and validate your ticket at the front desk as the organizer instructs for day and overnight parking.
Sharpen your classical focus and turn nine rounds in Rockville into your strongest midsummer result.
🧾 Other
Electronic devices: Do not bring electronic devices (cell phones and smart watches) into the playing venue areas the organizer lists under its event rules. The organizer may scan players for devices, monitor traffic by video, and provide phone lockers for storage. If you possess a device in the restricted areas, the organizer forfeits your game and may expel you from the tournament.
Rule variations: If both players miss the start of the round, the tournament director starts White’s clock. If you forfeit a round, you must pay a $50 fine before you play a future tournament the organizer runs under the Maryland Chess Association or Baltimore Chess. The organizer sets the no-show forfeit time at one hour for all sections and prohibits the electronic scorekeeping devices ChessNoteR and eNotate at this tournament.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $51,000
Organizer
The Maryland Chess Association (MCA) has championed chess in the Old Line State since 1971, producing a diverse roster of marquee events and grassroots programs. Each year, MCA organizes the Maryland Open, the Potomac Open, the Maryland Scholastic Championships, and the Chesapeake Open, drawing players from scholastic competitors to grandmasters. Beyond these flagship tournaments, MCA hosts the Maryland Sweet 16, Washington International, and a statewide Grand Prix circuit that awards points and prizes at dozens of local Swiss-system events.
Committed to broad-based outreach, MCA runs year-round scholastic leagues, online coaching sessions, adult classes, and free community tournaments in partnership with libraries and schools. Their certified Tournament Directors and FIDE-rated arbiters ensure professional pairings, clear communication, and fair-play oversight. MCA’s member services include a quarterly newsletter, rating supplement, and support for local clubs, making them the central hub of chess activity across Maryland and the D.C. metro area.