Downtown Reno welcomes competitors to the 13th Annual Reno – Larry Evans Memorial Open, running April 3-5, 2026, in Reno, Nevada, United States. The event delivers a 6-round Swiss with six rating-based sections and a marquee Open Section that earns FIDE and US Chess ratings. Players chase a $27,500 prize fund and fight for standings across a long-weekend schedule inside a major casino-hotel venue.

The tournament offers a 3-day schedule for all sections and a 2-day schedule option for the class sections that starts Saturday and merges into the main round times. The organizer supports ambitious “play up” choices, welcomes unrated players in the D Section, and adds a senior discount for eligible entrants. The weekend also includes optional side events and instructional sessions that add extra value beyond the main rounds.

🗓️ Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

Open Section Prizes

Open Section class prizes (2399 and below)

Open Section class prizes (2299 and below)

The event runs a playoff for $100 plus a trophy when players tie for 1st in the Open Section. Provisionally rated players may win only half of 1st place money, except for Open Section 1st–7th prizes. GMs and IMs who enter for free do not win the Open Section class prizes for 2399 and below unless they pay an entry fee and become eligible.

Expert Section (2000–2199) Prizes

Section A (1800–1999) Prizes

Section B (1600–1799) Prizes

Section C (1400–1599) Prizes

Section D (Under 1400) Prizes

Section D (1199 and below) prizes

Special Prizes

Top Senior (65+)

Club Champion

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament runs a 6-round Swiss across six sections. The Open Section uses 40 moves in 2 hours, then SD/55 minutes with a 5-second delay for all six rounds. The class sections use 40 moves in 2 hours, then SD/1 hour with a 5-second delay on the regular schedule, and the 2-day option uses Game/1 hour with a 5-second delay for Rounds 1–3.

Players may request half-point byes for any round, and the organizer accepts a maximum of two byes in the Open Section. Players must submit bye requests by 9:00 AM Saturday. To balance odd-sized groups, the pairing procedure may move the highest-rated player from the next lower group up to the higher group when applicable.

📂 Sections / Groups

📅 Schedule

Main tournament schedule (3-day)

2-day schedule option (class sections only)

Side events and sessions

📝 Registration

The organizer accepts advance entries by mail and by email using the official entry information. Players who mail an entry must send payment to Weikel Chess, LLC and meet the postmark deadline to avoid late fees. Players who enter by email must send all information by the stated deadline to avoid late fees, and credit card entries add a $7 service charge.

The organizer adds an $11 late fee when players mail or email entries after March 6, 2026, and the organizer adds an $22 late fee for on-site entry. The organizer stops mail entries after March 27, 2026 and stops email entries after March 31, 2026. The organizer offers a $20 discount to seniors age 65+.

👥 Organizer

Weikel Chess, LLC and tournament director Jerry Weikel run the Larry Evans Memorial Open as a flagship Reno event with multiple sections, a 2-day option for class players, and a prize fund that scales with participation.

• Email: wackyykl@aol.com

• Phone: 775-747-1405

• Website: https://sites.google.com/site/renochessclub/lem

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RenoChessClub/

🏨 Venue

J Resort Casino Hotel, 345 N. Arlington Avenue, Reno, NV 89501, United States

J Resort Casino Hotel hosts the tournament in a central downtown Reno location and keeps players close to on-site amenities and the weekend schedule.

🛎️ Accommodation

J Resort Casino Hotel offers discounted room rates for tournament participants: $92.66 Sunday–Thursday and $149.41 Friday–Saturday, with taxes and fees included. Call 1-866-386-7829 and request Group Reservation Code CHESS 42026, and reserve by March 20, 2026 to secure the chess rate. Players under 21 must check in with an adult.

🚗 How to Get There

Fly into Reno-Tahoe International Airport (RNO) and take a short drive to downtown Reno for the tournament venue at 345 N. Arlington Avenue. Drivers can reach downtown Reno via the city’s main highway approaches and arrive directly at the J Resort Casino Hotel.

Bring your fighting chess to Reno and play for a major prize fund in a classic multi-section open that rewards every rating level.