The 2027 Charlotte February Open takes place on February 26–28, 2027, at Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/SouthPark in North Carolina, United States. Charlotte Chess Center organizes this five-round Swiss chess tournament in the SouthPark neighborhood, close to local hotels, cafés and shopping.

The competition offers Championship, Under 2050 and Under 1600 sections, with a $6,000 guaranteed cash prize fund. All sections count toward US Chess and FIDE ratings, except for the short opening games in the two-day schedule. Moreover, players can choose a three-day or accelerated two-day entry, subject to the organizer’s rating rules.

The three-day format uses G/110+10 for Championship and G/100+10 for the rating-limited sections. Entry fees start at $139, while the tournament has a published cap of 145 competitors. The organizer currently marks online registration as closed, so check the official event page for any changes.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Charlotte February Open uses five Swiss-system rounds across three sections. In the three-day schedule, the Championship group plays G/110 with a 10-second increment. Meanwhile, the Under 2050 and Under 1600 groups use G/100 with a 10-second increment. Therefore, players should allow several hours for each classical game.

The two-day schedule begins on Saturday morning, with shortened Rounds 1–2 before all players merge into the same Swiss event for Round 3. The organizer’s time-control section states G/25+10 for these games, while a schedule note calls them G/30+10. Consequently, competitors choosing two days should confirm the exact opening-round clock directly with Charlotte Chess Center.

All sections count toward US Chess Regular and FIDE Standard ratings, except for the accelerated first two rounds of the two-day schedule. In addition, the organizer uses US Chess rules for pairings and FIDE rules for the applicable rated games. A 100-point play-up rule applies without exceptions, so players must meet the eligibility threshold for the next higher section.

🏆 Prize Fund

The tournament guarantees $6,000 in cash prizes across Championship, Under 2050 and Under 1600. In particular, Championship distributes $2,800, U2050 allocates $1,700 and U1600 offers $1,500. The organizer also awards plaques to the first-place finishers in all three sections.

The Championship winner receives $1,200, while the U2050 and U1600 winners receive $800 and $700 respectively. In addition, the organizer awards special class prizes for the leading U2200, U1800 and U1300 players within their applicable sections. These are prize categories, not separate playing groups.

The published amounts add up to exactly $6,000 without relying on registration turnout. Moreover, the event offers 40 US Chess Grand Prix points in the Championship section. For first-place plaques, the official rules specify tie-break criteria that begin with the number of games played.

♟️ Sections / Groups

The tournament has three real playing sections, each with its own Swiss pairings and prize table. Although the organizer requires a minimum rating of 1000 for players under 18, adults aged 18 or older are exempt from that event-wide requirement.

For pairings and prize eligibility, Charlotte Chess Center generally uses February 2027 US Chess supplement ratings. However, it also recognizes qualifying live or peak ratings from January 1 onward for its play-up rule. Players without an established US Chess rating may receive a tournament rating assignment using FIDE or another national federation rating.

📅 Schedule

The event offers three-day play from Feb 26–28 and two-day play from Feb 27–28. The two schedules merge at Saturday’s 4:00 PM round. All starting times follow Charlotte local time (EST, UTC−5).

Because the three-day Championship games start Friday at 6:30 PM, participants traveling from outside Charlotte may prefer to arrive earlier that day. Meanwhile, both schedules finish with Round 5 at 3:00 PM on Sunday. Leave additional time for the final game and any post-event arrangements.

📝 Registration

The official event page currently displays Registration Closed. Therefore, players should check the organizer’s current registration status rather than assume a new entry is available. The organizer ordinarily accepts online registration only and does not require a separate on-site check-in for players who have registered.

The club requires current US Chess membership, and players must follow its rating requirements for their section. Moreover, competitors who withdraw during play must notify the organizer at least 75 minutes before the affected round. Failure to notify the club can incur a $100 fine.

Charlotte Chess Center provides chessboards, sets and clocks for tournament games. Players must use the organizer’s carbon-copy scoresheets and hand a copy to an arbiter afterward. Consequently, personal scorebooks cannot replace the official recording sheets.

🏛️ Organizer

Charlotte Chess Center (CCC) is a chess education and tournament organization in Charlotte, North Carolina. The center operates chess academies, scholastic programs, major weekend tournaments and FIDE-rated events. In addition, it hosts competitions that attract titled players and experienced club competitors.

The organization’s established Charlotte Chess Center profile on MyChess.Events covers its history, coaching activities and larger tournaments. For this February Open, the club’s published contact is the tournament events team.

📍 Venue

The playing venue is Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte/SouthPark, 4808 Sharon Road, Charlotte, North Carolina 28210, United States. The hotel offers meeting facilities and sits near SouthPark Mall and other shops. Its mapped property coordinates are 35.145860, −80.832230, rather than a general Charlotte city-center location.

In addition, the Hilton Garden Inn has a restaurant, outdoor pool and fitness facilities. The organizer advertises free tournament parking, while the hotel currently lists a standard $10 daily self-parking charge. Therefore, participants should confirm the event-specific parking policy with the hotel before arriving.

Nearby Restaurants and Cafés

SouthPark offers multiple meal choices close to the chess venue. For example, players can eat at the hotel or at established restaurants on Sharon Road and nearby Fairview Road. Always confirm their operating hours for the February tournament weekend.

🏨 Accommodation

The organizer has arrangements at two hotels in the same SouthPark complex: Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites. The property provides short access to the playing hall, so participants do not need a daily drive between a hotel and the chess venue.

The organizer lists February 11, 2027, as the cutoff for its group rates, while the booking links remain forthcoming on the event page. Furthermore, hotel taxes, parking fees and cancellation rules may apply. Confirm the rate directly before reserving, rather than assuming the organizer’s quoted price is still available.

🚆 How to Get There

Charlotte’s SouthPark neighborhood lies south of Uptown and approximately 11 miles from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. As a result, air travelers can use a taxi, rideshare or a combination of public transit and a final local transfer.

For live connections and route details, check the Charlotte Area Transit System website. In particular, allow extra travel time before Friday’s 6:30 PM opening round and Saturday’s early games.

ℹ️ Other Information

Charlotte Chess Center does not allow spectators in the playing room or nearby hallway during games. In addition, its fair-play policy, electronic-device rules and mandatory scoresheet procedures apply to every participant.

Players may request up to two optional half-point byes before the first round; later bye requests earn zero points. Moreover, the organizer’s February event limits entry to 145 players under its ordinary capacity rules. Reconfirm the published registration status and schedules directly with the club before traveling.