The 3rd Piedmont Open 2026 takes place from November 6–8, 2026 at the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Innsbrook in Glen Allen, Virginia. The weekend offers four competitive sections and a $4,600 guaranteed prize fund.
The Open and Under 1700 sections use five rounds at G/100 + 30-second increment, while Under 1100 uses a shorter G/60 + 10 format. A one-day scholastic Under 800 event adds a four-round option for developing players.
The event is part of the Virginia chess calendar and uses both US Chess and FIDE rating requirements where specified. The organizer also publishes a discounted hotel block, a Saturday night blitz side event, re-entry conditions and a clear bye policy.
📌 Event Details
| 🏆 Tournament | 3rd Piedmont Open 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 6–8, 2026 |
| 🌍 Location | Glen Allen, Virginia, United States |
| 📍 Venue | Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Innsbrook – 4050 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060, United States |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Eastern Chess / Virginia chess organizers |
| ♟️ Main Format | 5-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Main Time Control | G/100 + 30-second increment |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $4,600 guaranteed |
| 🌐 US Chess Announcement | https://new.uschess.org/3rd-piedmont-open |
| 🌐 Registration | https://www.kingregistration.com/event/3rdPiedmont |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Open & Under 1700
Both sections play five rounds at G/100 + 30 seconds per move. The Open is FIDE and US Chess rated; the Under 1700 section is US Chess rated.
Under 1100
The Under 1100 section plays five rounds at G/60 + 10 seconds per move on Saturday and Sunday.
Scholastic Under 800
The scholastic section is a Saturday-only four-round Swiss at G/25;d5, with rounds after the first scheduled as soon as practical.
Byes & Default
The Open and Under 1700 sections permit one half-point bye when requested at least one hour before Round 2. The published Open schedule uses a 30-minute default time. A re-entry after a Round 1 loss gives the player a half point for Round 1; no additional half-point bye is then available.
🏆 Prize Fund
The organizer guarantees $4,600 in the principal prize schedule.
| Section | Prize / Award |
|---|---|
| Open | 1st $1,100; 2nd $650; 3rd $350; best U1800 $100 |
| Under 1700 | 1st $700; 2nd $350; 3rd $200; biggest upset $50 |
| Under 1100 | 1st $575; 2nd $325; 3rd $150; biggest upset $50 |
| Scholastic U800 | Trophies to top 3; medals for players scoring 50% or better |
Unrated prize eligibility is capped at $150 where the published registration rules apply. Titled-player free entry can be deducted from prize money under the event’s stated conditions.
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Open section; no unrated players. Published eligibility includes a US Chess rating floor/history condition around 1600. | FIDE + US Chess |
| Under 1700 | Players under the section ceiling; unrated players are welcome subject to organizer rules. | US Chess |
| Under 1100 | Players below the section ceiling. | US Chess |
| Scholastic U800 | Developing scholastic players below 800. | US Chess / scholastic event rules |
Players near a rating boundary should use the registration page’s current rating-policy wording, because section eligibility is determined by the organizer’s published US Chess rules.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Section / Activity | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 6 | Open / U1700 – Round 1 | 7:00 PM |
| Saturday, November 7 | Open / U1700 – Round 2 | 11:00 AM |
| Saturday, November 7 | Open / U1700 – Round 3 | 4:30 PM |
| Sunday, November 8 | Open / U1700 – Round 4 | 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, November 8 | Open / U1700 – Round 5 | 3:30 PM |
| Saturday, November 7 | U1100 – Rounds 1–3 | 11:00 AM / 3:00 PM / 6:00 PM |
| Sunday, November 8 | U1100 – Rounds 4–5 | 10:00 AM / 2:00 PM |
| Saturday night | Blitz side event | Around 9:00 PM |
📝 Registration
For the Open, Under 1700 and Under 1100 sections, the published fee is $105 through October 28, $130 through November 2 and $145 thereafter / on site. Scholastic U800 is listed at $35, then $40 and $45 across the same fee windows.
Online registration closes at midnight on November 5. On-site registration closes 30 minutes before the first round. Withdrawals before play are subject to the registration provider’s processing conditions; once Round 1 begins, the organizer does not offer a normal refund.
Titled Players
GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM and WFM players may receive free entry when they meet the organizer’s advance deadline, with the published amount deducted from any prize where applicable.
Re-Entry
A player who loses Round 1 in an eligible section may re-enter for $40. The re-entered player receives a half point for Round 1 and continues from Round 2.
🏛️ Organizer
| Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Organizer Name | Eastern Chess / Virginia chess organizers |
| Contact Person | Robbie Jackson |
| easternchessdirector@gmail.com | |
| Phone Number | +1 757-416-2075 |
📍 Venue
Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Innsbrook – 4050 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA 23060, United States.
The hotel is in the Innsbrook business area northwest of Richmond. The event information uses the property as both the playing site and the tournament hotel, reducing travel between accommodation and rounds.
🏨 Accommodation
The tournament hotel block is at the Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Innsbrook. The event advertises a chess rate that includes breakfast for two and asks players to book by October 16. Because hotel inventory can change, use the event registration page for the active booking link and final rate.
The property offers standard hotel services including an indoor pool and on-site dining. Players should confirm current hotel amenities directly with the property before arrival.
🚆 How to Get There
The hotel is in Glen Allen, northwest of downtown Richmond and accessible from the I-64 / I-295 corridor. Richmond International Airport is the principal commercial airport for the area; travelling players should allow additional time for a car, rideshare or taxi to Innsbrook.
Players driving to the event should use the full Cox Road address, because several Richmond-area Hilton properties have similar names.
ℹ️ Other Information
Equipment
Boards and pieces are provided. Players should bring a reliable chess clock when required by the organizer and have their US Chess membership current before the event.
Virginia Participation
Virginia players may also be subject to Virginia Chess Federation membership requirements under the event announcement. The registration page should be checked for the final membership and VCF Cup conditions.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $4,600
Organizer
Eastern Chess Association
♟️ About Eastern Chess Association
Eastern Chess Association (ECA) is a Virginia-based chess organization that focuses on competitive over-the-board tournament play. The organization holds US Chess affiliate A8583609 and runs US Chess-rated events in several parts of Virginia. Its tournament program has been especially active in the Richmond–Glen Allen area and Northern Virginia.
Robert “Robbie” Jackson founded Eastern Chess Association and serves as its principal tournament director and public contact. Jackson holds the US Chess National Tournament Director designation and also serves as a FIDE Arbiter. Therefore, ECA’s events operate under experienced tournament direction at both national and international rating levels.
Jackson also contributes to chess administration beyond ECA. Virginia Chess Federation members elected him President of the Virginia Chess Federation in August 2025. His work with ECA consequently connects tournament organization with the wider competitive chess structure in Virginia.
🏆 Major Tournaments and Competitive Activity
Eastern Chess Association organizes a growing series of weekend chess tournaments. Its recurring events include the Skyline Open, Central Virginia Open, and Piedmont Open. In addition, ECA has organized shorter Action tournaments, scholastic sections, and blitz side events.
The Central Virginia Open began in 2024 in Glen Allen. The inaugural tournament offered Open, Under 1700, and Under 1100 sections, while the Open section received FIDE rating. Moreover, the Virginia Chess Federation included the tournament in its VCF Cup program. ECA continued the series with a second edition in 2025 and the 3rd Central Virginia Open in April 2026.
The Piedmont Open provides another recurring tournament in the Richmond area. ECA launched the series in 2024, followed with a second edition in December 2025, and scheduled the 3rd Piedmont Open for November 6–8, 2026. Consequently, the association now maintains more than one established annual tournament series in central Virginia.
🌟 Skyline Open and Grand Prix Chess
The Skyline Open has developed into one of ECA’s largest recurring tournament weekends. The 5th Skyline Open takes place from October 9–12, 2026, at the Washington Dulles Airport Marriott in Dulles, Virginia.
The 2026 tournament offers a $10,000 advertised prize fund and carries 80 US Chess Grand Prix points. In addition, the event includes multiple rating sections, which allows players of different competitive levels to participate within the same tournament weekend.
ECA also supplements its major classical events with blitz competitions. Therefore, players can often combine a longer main tournament with a separate faster time-control event during the same weekend.
🎓 Open, Scholastic and Rating-Limited Competition
Eastern Chess Association does not restrict its activity to high-rated open tournaments. The organization has also run dedicated Action/Scholastic events with separate Open, rating-limited, and K–12 sections.
For example, ECA’s Action/Scholastic format has included an Open section, an Under 1600 section, and a scholastic Under 1000 section. The association used Swiss-system pairings and US Chess rating for these competitions. Moreover, scholastic sections have offered trophies and medals alongside the cash-prize structure used for adult and open sections.
This approach gives ECA a broad competitive range. Experienced players can enter classical and FIDE-rated tournaments, while developing players can choose rating-limited events. Meanwhile, younger competitors receive access to dedicated scholastic sections within professionally directed tournament programs.
♜ Tournament Direction and Player Services
ECA places tournament administration at the center of its work. Robbie Jackson serves as chief tournament director and arbiter at many of its events. Furthermore, tournament information normally provides players with clear section requirements, time controls, bye rules, prize conditions, schedules, and registration deadlines before play begins.
The association uses King Registration for many tournament entries and maintains its own organizer website. Its US Chess tournament announcements also provide direct contact information for questions before an event.
In addition, ECA supplies boards and pieces at many tournaments, while players may need to bring their own clocks. Its major events commonly use hotel venues with nearby food and accommodation options. As a result, the organization has developed a repeatable format for regional weekend tournaments across Virginia.
🤝 Virginia Chess and Regional Competition
Eastern Chess Association contributes regularly to the wider Virginia tournament circuit. The Virginia Chess Federation has specifically recognized ECA’s efforts to increase tournament opportunities in the Richmond area.
Several ECA tournaments also contribute to the VCF Cup, which connects independent tournament organizers with a season-long statewide competition. At the same time, ECA events attract players from different parts of Virginia and neighboring states.
Robbie Jackson’s parallel role in the Virginia Chess Federation strengthens this connection. Thus, Eastern Chess Association combines independent tournament organization with active participation in Virginia’s broader chess structure.
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