The 24th Annual Turkey Bowl 2026 takes place on November 13–15 or November 14–15, 2026 at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott North in Florida. Boca Raton Chess Club offers both three-day and two-day schedules across five sections, with 60 US Chess Grand Prix points.
The four cash-prize sections use five rounds with G/90 + 30-second increment, while Under 1150 uses G/90;d5 and is available only on the two-day schedule. The top two sections are FIDE rated, although US Chess ratings are used for pairings and prize purposes.
The organizer advertises $12,600 based on 180 paid entries, 75% minimum guaranteed. Because the headline fund is partly contingent on turnout, the separate fixed USD prize metadata remains blank; the page preserves the exact published conditional wording.
📌 Event Details
| 🏆 Tournament | 24th Annual Turkey Bowl 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 13–15 or November 14–15, 2026 |
| 🌍 Location | Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
| 📍 Venue | Fort Lauderdale Marriott North – 6650 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Boca Raton Chess Club |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss; 3-day or 2-day schedules |
| ⭐ FIDE Rated | Premier and Under 2050 |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | G/90 + 30-second increment |
| 💰 Published Fund | $12,600 based on 180 paid entries; 75% minimum guaranteed |
| 🏅 Grand Prix | 60 Grand Prix points |
| 🌐 Official Event Page | https://www.bocachess.com/other-upcoming-tournaments/24th-annual-turkey-bowl |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Cash-Prize Sections
Premier, Under 2050, Under 1800 and Under 1450 use G/90 + 30 seconds per move. Players on the two-day schedule use G/60;d5 for the first two rounds, then merge with the three-day schedule after Round 2.
Under 1150
Under 1150 is a two-day-only section using G/90;d5, with the first two Saturday games on the compact schedule. Start times can be delayed when games with increment run long.
Byes
Up to two half-point byes are allowed when requested before Round 2. Later bye and withdrawal requests must be submitted at least 30 minutes before the next round unless the player’s current game is still in progress.
🏆 Prize Fund
Premier
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,400 + Turkey Bowl |
| 2nd | $800 |
| 3rd | $600 |
| 1st U2300 | $500 |
| 2nd U2300 | $400 |
Under 2050
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,200 + trophy |
| 2nd | $700 |
| 3rd | $500 |
| 1st U1900 | $400 |
| 2nd U1900 | $300 |
Under 1800
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,100 + trophy |
| 2nd | $700 |
| 3rd | $400 |
| 1st U1650 | $300 |
| 2nd U1650 | $200 |
Under 1450
| Award | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 + trophy |
| 2nd | $600 |
| 3rd | $400 |
| 1st U1250 / Unrated | $300 |
| 2nd | $200 |
Under 1150
Trophies go to the top three, the best U900 and the best U700/unrated player. All other participants receive medals.
Senior Bonus
The Dr. Melekhin Top Senior Prize pays $150 in each cash-prize section to the highest eligible player aged at least 60 on November 13. This senior award is explicitly payable in addition to another prize.
The headline $12,600 is based on 180 paid entries and is at least 75% guaranteed. Unrated players are eligible only for designated unrated prizes.
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility / Notes |
|---|---|
| Premier | Minimum US Chess or FIDE rating 1850 |
| Under 2050 | Rating-limited; top-two sections FIDE rated |
| Under 1800 | Rating-limited cash section |
| Under 1450 | Unrated players may enter |
| Under 1150 | Unrated players may enter; two-day schedule only |
📅 Schedule
| Schedule | Round Times |
|---|---|
| 3-Day – all except U1150 | Friday 7:00 PM; Saturday 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM |
| 2-Day – all except U1150 | Saturday 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM |
| U1150 – 2-Day only | Saturday 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM and 2:15 PM |
| Blitz side event | Saturday 8:45 PM |
📝 Registration
Main Cash Sections
$129 if received by November 2; $10 more later and $20 more on site. GM and IM players receive free entry, with $129 deducted from any prize.
Under 1150
$59 by November 2; $5 more later and $10 more on site. Online entry closes at 5:00 PM on November 13.
- US Chess membership is required.
- Unrated players may play only in Under 1450 or Under 1150.
- Re-entry in cash-prize sections: $60.
- Refunds carry a $10 service charge.
- On-site registration is accepted up to 30 minutes before the start of a round.
Blitz
Saturday night blitz is four double rounds at G/3;d2. Entry is $20 for players in the main event and $30 for others; blitz prizes are based on entries.
🏛️ Organizer
| Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer Name | Boca Raton Chess Club |
| Contact Person | Jon Haskel |
| jon@bocachess.com | |
| Phone Number | +1 561-302-4377 |
📍 Venue
Fort Lauderdale Marriott North – 6650 North Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309, United States.
The hotel hosts all sections and the Saturday-night blitz. Players choosing the three-day schedule should plan to be at the venue before the Friday 7:00 PM round.
🏨 Accommodation
The official flyer advertises a special hotel rate of $149 per night, including internet and parking. Breakfast-buffet coupons are available for $10 under the special rate. The hotel phone is +1 954-771-0440.
The group rate is available until the hotel’s cutoff date or until inventory is exhausted. Players should use the Boca Chess reservation link or identify the tournament group when calling.
🚆 How to Get There
The hotel is in North Fort Lauderdale near the I-95 corridor. Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport is the nearest major airport, while Miami and Palm Beach airports are additional options for travelling players.
A car or rideshare is the most practical way to reach the hotel. The included parking under the chess hotel rate can be useful for players driving from elsewhere in Florida.
ℹ️ Other Information
Equipment
Players must provide their own chess sets and clocks. A chess vendor is expected on site, but participants should arrive prepared to play without relying on last-minute purchases.
Tournament Director
Chief Tournament Director Jon Haskel is listed as a National Tournament Director, International Arbiter and International Organizer.
Organizer
♟️ About Boca Raton Chess Club
Boca Raton Chess Club is an established chess organization and tournament organizer based in Boca Raton, Florida. The club is an official affiliate of both the United States Chess Federation and the Florida Chess Association. It supports structured over-the-board chess for adults, junior players, and families across South Florida. Moreover, US Chess lists the club as welcoming beginners and allowing participation without mandatory club membership. Its activities include casual chess, US Chess-rated competition, and events open to players under 18. Jon Haskel leads the organization and serves as its principal tournament director and contact person.
🏆 Tournaments and Competitive Chess
Boca Raton Chess Club organizes a broad program of rated tournaments in Boca Raton and other Florida locations. Its calendar includes major weekend opens, one-day competitions, scholastic events, and recurring Grand Prix tournaments. The club’s established events include the Summer Solstice Open, Turkey Bowl, Gulf Coast October Open, and Gulf Coast New Year’s Open. Several of these tournaments offer substantial prize funds, multiple rating sections, US Chess Grand Prix points, and FIDE-rated competition. In addition, the club manages the South Florida Grand Prix, a long-running scholastic tournament series that reached its sixteenth season in 2025–2026. The series gives school-age players regular opportunities to compete for individual and team standings throughout the academic year.
🌴 Chess Development in Florida
The club contributes to chess development beyond its home city by organizing competitions across South Florida and Florida’s Gulf Coast. Therefore, its work connects local club players, scholastic teams, experienced tournament competitors, and titled players within one active tournament network. Jon Haskel brings extensive experience to this work as a US Chess National Tournament Director, FIDE International Arbiter, and International Organizer. He has directed national invitationals and other major US Chess competitions. In 2019, US Chess named him Organizer of the Year. Furthermore, FIDE tournament records identify him as both chief organizer and chief arbiter of Boca Raton Chess Club events. This combination of local engagement and high-level tournament expertise allows the club to provide professionally managed competition for players across a wide range of ages and ratings.
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