The Dallas Winter Open 2026 takes place on Saturday, December 26, 2026, in McKinney, Texas. Texas Chess Center organizes the one-day US Chess-rated tournament at the Holiday Inn & Suites McKinney – N Allen.
Players compete in four Swiss-system rounds with a time control of G/60; d10. The tournament offers four rating sections: Open, U1800, U1400 and U1000. Therefore, players from beginner level through experienced tournament competitors can participate in an appropriate group.
The Open and U1800 sections offer $1,470 in guaranteed cash prizes, while the U1400 and U1000 sections award trophies to the top three finishers.
♟️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Date | December 26, 2026 |
| 🌍 Country | United States |
| 📍 City | McKinney, Texas |
| 🏛️ Venue | Holiday Inn & Suites McKinney – N Allen – 3220 Craig Drive, McKinney, TX 75070, United States |
| 👥 Organizer | Texas Chess Center |
| ♟️ Format | 4-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | G/60; d10 |
| ⭐ Rating | US Chess rated; not FIDE rated |
| 🧩 Sections | Open, U1800, U1400, U1000 |
| 🏆 Guaranteed Cash Prizes | $1,470 |
| 🔗 Official Event Page | https://www.texaschesscenter.com/store/p/dallas-winter-open-2026 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The Dallas Winter Open 2026 consists of four rounds under the Swiss system.
The time control is G/60; d10 — each player receives 60 minutes for the game with a 10-second delay per move.
The tournament is US Chess rated and is not submitted for FIDE rating.
Players should inform the organizer as early as possible when they cannot play a scheduled round. Half-point byes are available when requested before the start of the preceding round. A later request receives a zero-point bye.
🏆 Prize Fund
The Open and U1800 sections offer $1,470 in guaranteed cash prizes.
| Section / Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| Open – 1st | $600 |
| Open – 2nd | $300 |
| Open – 3rd | $150 |
| U1800 – 1st | $240 |
| U1800 – 2nd | $120 |
| U1800 – 3rd | $60 |
| U1400 – 1st–3rd | Trophies |
| U1000 – 1st–3rd | Trophies |
Cash prizes must be claimed within six months of the tournament date under the organizer’s published prize policy.
🧩 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| Open | Open section |
| U1800 | Players rated under 1800 |
| U1400 | Players rated under 1400 |
| U1000 | Players rated under 1000 |
Section placement is based primarily on the applicable US Chess monthly rating supplement.
Unrated players are normally placed in the lowest section unless they provide another rating that the Tournament Director accepts for conversion.
Playing up is available under the organizer’s published eligibility policy and normally carries an additional $20 fee.
🗓️ Schedule
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Round 1 | 9:30 AM |
| Lunch Break | 12:00 PM |
| Round 2 | 12:30 PM |
| Round 3 | 3:00 PM |
| Round 4 | 5:30 PM |
All rounds are played on Saturday, December 26, 2026.
📝 Registration
Entry fees increase as the tournament approaches.
| Section | By Nov. 16 | By Dec. 16 | After Dec. 16 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | $78 | $88 | $98 |
| U1800 | $68 | $78 | $88 |
| U1400 | $58 | $68 | $78 |
| U1000 | $58 | $68 | $78 |
Playing up: +$20, subject to the organizer’s section-placement rules.
Initial registration must be completed through the Texas Chess Center website.
Registration:
https://www.texaschesscenter.com/store/p/dallas-winter-open-2026
The registration cutoff is 30 minutes before the scheduled tournament start. Players registering after that cutoff may receive a bye for Round 1.
An active US Chess membership is required, except where the organizer’s published titled-player exception applies.
NM and higher US Chess titled players may enter free. Eligible players should contact Texas Chess Center at info@texaschesscenter.com to arrange registration.
👥 Organizer
Organizer Name: Texas Chess Center
Email: info@texaschesscenter.com
Phone: +1 469 498 7296
Website: https://www.texaschesscenter.com/
📍 Venue
Holiday Inn & Suites McKinney – N Allen – 3220 Craig Drive, McKinney, TX 75070, United States
The tournament is held inside the Holiday Inn & Suites McKinney – N Allen.
The hotel provides complimentary on-site self-parking for hotel, meeting and banquet guests. Approximately 200 outdoor parking spaces are available, including accessible spaces.
The property also offers free Wi-Fi, an indoor pool, fitness facilities and an on-site restaurant.
🏨 Accommodation
Players who want to stay overnight can consider the tournament hotel or other nearby properties.
| Accommodation | Indicative Price | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday Inn & Suites McKinney – N Allen | from approx. $80/night | Tournament venue; 3220 Craig Drive. Free parking and Wi-Fi. |
| SpringHill Suites by Marriott Dallas McKinney/Allen | from approx. $105/night | 2660 South Central Expressway. Suites, breakfast, Wi-Fi and pool. |
| TownePlace Suites by Marriott Dallas McKinney | from approx. $90/night | 1832 Marketplace Drive. Suites with kitchens, breakfast and free parking. |
These are indicative recently displayed rates rather than guaranteed tournament-night prices. Christmas-period rates may differ, so players should check the exact December 26 availability before booking.
🚆 How to Get There
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW): The tournament hotel is approximately 29.9 miles / 48 km from DFW Airport.
Dallas Love Field (DAL): The hotel is approximately 25.6 miles / 41 km from Dallas Love Field.
The hotel does not currently list an airport shuttle on its transportation page. Therefore, rental car, taxi or rideshare are the most straightforward options for players arriving by air.
Public transport: The hotel lists DART Parker Road Station in Plano as the relevant nearby public-transport connection. Additional ground transportation is required from the station to the hotel.
By car: Free on-site parking is available at the tournament venue.
ℹ️ Other Information
Boards, chess sets, clocks, notation sheets and pencils are provided by Texas Chess Center.
Players of all ages and playing strengths may participate, provided they meet the applicable membership and section requirements.
The Tournament Director has final discretion regarding section placement when a player has multiple ratings or requests to play in a higher section.
Players who have a FIDE rating or a substantiated online rating but do not yet have a US Chess rating may ask the organizer to consider that rating when determining their section.
Half-point bye requests must be made before the preceding round begins. Otherwise, the requested bye is scored as zero points.
The event is US Chess rated and not FIDE rated.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $1,470
Organizer
♟️ Organizer Identity
Texas Chess Center is a major chess education and tournament organization based in Texas, United States. Founded in 2021 by David Gaston and Jarred Tetzlaff, the organization has grown into a multi-location chess network with centers in Plano, Frisco, Irving, and Bellaire. Its work connects structured chess instruction, regular over-the-board play, scholastic development, and rated tournament opportunities for players across Dallas–Fort Worth, Houston, and the wider Texas chess community.
The center serves children, families, adult learners, club players, and ambitious competitors. In addition, it offers a clear pathway from first lessons and open play to US Chess-rated events, FIDE-rated tournaments, and stronger competitive goals. This combination makes Texas Chess Center one of the most visible chess organizations in Texas for both learning and tournament activity.
🏆 Tournament Portfolio
Texas Chess Center runs a large and active rated tournament program across its locations. Its tournament activity includes weekly Swiss events, blitz and quick tournaments, scholastic competitions, championship events, FIDE-rated tournaments, and norm-related competitive formats. As a result, players can find events that match many different goals, from first rated games to serious classical competition.
The organization also hosts major seasonal events and multi-day FIDE tournaments in North Texas and the Houston area. These events help players build practical tournament experience, improve ratings, and stay connected with a regular over-the-board chess schedule. Moreover, the multi-location structure gives Texas players more choice and more frequent access to organized tournament play.
🌍 Chess Education and Community
Texas Chess Center supports player development through group classes, private lessons, camps, school programs, open play, private events, simuls, lectures, and community activities. Its programs serve different ages and skill levels, while its school partnerships help bring chess instruction into a wider educational setting. Therefore, the organization plays an important role in both scholastic chess and long-term player improvement.
The coaching team includes experienced instructors and titled players, and the organization has collaborated with leading chess professionals. Texas Chess Center also reports strong educational and tournament reach, including thousands of students taught and hundreds of rated events organized each year. For players and families, this creates a complete chess environment: learn, practice, compete, and grow inside one structured organization.
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