The 11th Annual George Washington Open 2027 will take place from February 26–28, 2027, at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott in Dulles, Virginia, United States. Organized by the Continental Chess Association, this established American chess tournament offers a $17,000 guaranteed prize fund, five competitive sections, and 120 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points.

Players can choose between a three-day schedule beginning Friday evening and a two-day schedule starting Saturday morning. Both options feature five Swiss-system rounds, with the two groups merging on Saturday afternoon. Furthermore, the Major and Under 2100 sections are FIDE rated, offering internationally rated competition alongside US Chess-rated play.

The tournament welcomes players across a wide range of rating levels, from developing competitors to titled masters. In addition to substantial individual prizes, participants can compete for $1,000 in Mixed Doubles team awards. The host hotel’s airport location, special accommodation rate, and complimentary shuttle service make the event particularly convenient for players traveling to the Washington, D.C., area.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament follows a five-round Swiss-system format. Players select either the three-day or two-day schedule when registering, and both groups merge for Round 3 on Saturday.

Under the main time control, players receive 80 minutes to complete their first 40 moves. They then receive 30 additional minutes for the remainder of the game. A 30-second delay applies from the first move.

The accelerated two-day schedule uses 60 minutes per player with a 10-second delay for the opening two rounds. Afterward, players switch to the main classical time control.

Pairings and section eligibility are determined using the organizer’s published rating rules. The official February 2027 US Chess ratings will apply, while relevant unofficial or US Chess Online Regular ratings may be considered for otherwise unrated players.

Players may not enter a section below their US Chess Online Regular rating minus 100 points. Additionally, Continental Chess minimum-rating and peak-rating rules may affect section eligibility.

🏆 Prize Fund

The 11th Annual George Washington Open 2027 guarantees $17,000 in prizes across five sections, a Major-section championship bonus, and Mixed Doubles team awards.

🥇 Major Section

Total published Major prizes: $5,000

The Major section is FIDE rated and requires a minimum rating of 1900, subject to the organizer’s eligibility rules.

🥈 Under 2100 Section

Total: $3,500

This section is also FIDE rated. Unrated players are not eligible for the Under 1900 class prizes.

🥉 Under 1800 Section

Total: $3,050

The Under 1600 rating-category awards are unavailable to unrated players.

🏅 Under 1500 Section

Total: $2,550

Unrated participants cannot receive the Under 1300 class prizes.

🎖️ Under 1200 Section

Total: $1,900

The Under 1000 class prizes are restricted to rated players.

👫 Mixed Doubles Bonus Prizes

Players may also participate in a Mixed Doubles competition by forming a two-person team consisting of one male and one female player.

The combined team score determines the standings. Team members may compete in different sections or follow different tournament schedules.

The average team rating must be below 2200. Registration is free, but teams must register by 2:00 PM on Saturday, February 27.

Unrated Player Prize Limits

Unrated competitors may participate in eligible sections, although special prize limits apply.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The tournament offers five rating-based sections. Participants should select their group based on official ratings and Continental Chess eligibility requirements.

Major

The Major section is the tournament’s strongest division and is intended for players rated at least 1900. It includes the largest first prize, additional Under 2300 awards, and a $100 championship bonus.

Eligible GMs, IMs, and WGMs may receive free entry under the organizer’s published conditions.

Under 2100

The Under 2100 section provides FIDE-rated competition for players below 2100. Furthermore, it awards additional cash prizes to the highest-finishing eligible Under 1900 competitors.

Under 1800, Under 1500 & Under 1200

The remaining three sections provide opportunities for lower-rated players to compete against opponents of comparable strength. Each has its own overall prizes and additional rating-category awards.

Players seeking to compete above their current rating category should review the Continental Chess minimum-rating and peak-rating policies before entering.

📅 Schedule

All times are local to Dulles, Virginia (Eastern Standard Time).

3-Day Schedule — February 26–28

All five rounds use the main classical time control.

2-Day Schedule — February 27–28

Rounds 1 and 2 use the accelerated G/60; d10 time control. From Round 3 onward, both schedules follow the same classical time control and round times.

Saturday Evening Blitz

A separate blitz tournament is scheduled for Saturday, February 27, at 9:30 PM.

Players may register at the venue until approximately 9:10 PM. The organizer will provide the applicable blitz entry information and competition details.

📝 Registration

Players should register through the official Continental Chess online registration platform.

Official Registration:
https://www.chessaction.com/

Select the 2027 George Washington Open from the available tournament list.

Entry Fees — Major, U2100, U1800 & U1500

Entry Fees — Under 1200

Hotel Guest Discount

Players who book a room at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott using the tournament’s chess rate can receive an additional $10 discount on their tournament entry fee.

To qualify, players must register online by February 5, 2027, and supply their tournament hotel confirmation number.

Discount Code: HOTEL

This discount applies to all sections when the stated conditions are satisfied.

Special Entry Conditions

GMs, IMs, and WGMs may enter the Major section without paying the standard entry fee. However, $100 will be deducted from any prize they win.

Other registration conditions include:

• Re-entry Fee: $60.
• Major-to-Major Re-entry: Not permitted.
• On-Site Registration: Available until one hour before the player’s first round.
• Payment at Venue: Credit cards accepted; checks not accepted.
• Mail Registration: Not accepted.
• Refund Service Charge: $15.

A valid US Chess membership is required. Players needing membership or renewal may explore the organizer’s membership options when registering.

Refunds & Withdrawals

Players unable to attend should notify Continental Chess before their first round. The organizer’s general refund policy requires advance notice, normally at least two hours before play begins.

Participants may apply an eligible unused entry fee toward a future tournament or request a refund subject to the $15 service charge.

Once a player begins their first-round game, the organizer does not provide a full or partial entry-fee refund.

👤 Organizer

Organizer Name: Continental Chess Association

Email: Director@Chess.US

Website: https://www.chesstour.com/

Continental Chess Association has organized competitive chess tournaments across the United States since the 1960s. Its events serve players of different ages and skill levels, including beginners, experienced competitors, and grandmasters.

The organization runs major open tournaments, class championships, and US Chess-rated events in numerous states.

📍 Venue

Washington Dulles Airport Marriott – 45020 Aviation Drive, Dulles, VA 20166, United States.

The Washington Dulles Airport Marriott is located directly on the grounds of Washington Dulles International Airport. The hotel offers tournament and conference facilities, restaurants, guest rooms, and convenient transportation connections.

Its proximity to the airport is especially useful for participants traveling from other U.S. states or internationally. Moreover, the property provides a complimentary airport shuttle, reducing the need for a rental car.

Hotel Website:
https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/iadap-washington-dulles-airport-marriott/overview/

🏨 Official Tournament Accommodation

The organizer advertises a special chess tournament room rate at the host hotel.

To request the discounted rate, players should use the organizer’s hotel booking instructions or call the hotel and mention the chess tournament.

Reservations should be made by February 4, 2027. After this date, the special rate may increase or rooms in the tournament allocation may become unavailable.

The organizers encourage participants to stay at the host property. Room bookings at the special chess rate help support the tournament’s hotel arrangements.

Parking for Tournament Participants

The published chess parking arrangement provides:

Players should identify themselves as chess tournament participants to request these rates. The hotel’s ordinary parking charges may differ.

🚆 How to Get There

By Air

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) is the nearest airport and is located on the same airport property as the tournament hotel.

The hotel provides complimentary shuttle transportation between Washington Dulles International Airport and the property.