Celebrating 30 years, the Mid‑America Open returns to St. Louis with multiple sections, clear schedules, and guaranteed prizes at a professional downtown venue.
Organized by Continental Chess Association (CCA).
Event Details
| 📅 Dates | 27 – 29 March 2026 |
| 📍 Location | St. Louis, Missouri, USA |
| 🏟️ Venue | Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark |
| 🏁 Tournament Type | US Chess & FIDE rated |
| 🧩 Tournament System | Swiss System |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 5 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 40/90, SD/30 + 30s |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $15,000 guaranteed |
Prize Fund
| Section | Awards |
|---|---|
| Open (FIDE) | Top + U2400/U2200 prizes |
| U2000 | Top + class prizes |
| U1700 | Top + class prizes |
| U1400 | Top + class prizes |
| U1000/Unrated | Trophies & awards |
Time Control & Tournament System
- 5‑round Swiss; 2‑day & 3‑day schedules
- Time control: 40/90, SD/30, +30s
- Tiebreaks: Modified Median → Solkoff → Cumulative
Sections / Groups
- Open (FIDE)
- U2000
- U1700
- U1400
- U1000/Unrated
Schedule
| Date | Event / Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Mar 27 | Registration & Rd 1 | 19:00 |
| Sat, Mar 28 | Rounds 2–3 | 10:00 / 17:00 |
| Sun, Mar 29 | Rounds 4–5 & Awards | 09:00 / 15:00 |
Registration
$120-$150 advance; $160 on site. US Chess required; FIDE ID for Open. One half‑point bye if requested before Rd 2.
Organizer
Continental Chess Association (CCA).
- Email: director@chessaction.com
- Website: chessaction.com
Venue
Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark – professional ballroom setup near the Gateway Arch.
Accommodation
Player rate at the Hilton; many downtown hotels nearby.
How to Get There
- By Air: STL ~20 min
- By Train: Amtrak downtown
- By Car: I‑64 / I‑70 access; hotel parking
A Midwest tradition at 30 – balanced big‑event energy with classic weekender rhythm.
Organizer
Continental Chess Association (CCA) is a national chess events company based in Pelham, New York, United States. It has directed major American tournaments since the 1960s. Moreover, CCA is a long-standing tournament organizer on the US circuit.
CCA produces large open chess tournament weekends across the United States. In addition, it organizes the 10th Annual George Washington Open near Washington, DC. Many events include FIDE-rated tournament sections alongside US Chess-rated sections. Formats emphasize classical chess, with occasional rapid and blitz side events.
Furthermore, CCA uses streamlined online registration and publishes clear event rules. As a result, players get consistent pairings and professional tournament operations.
