The ICA FIDE Championship — January 16–17, 2027 takes place at the Community Church of Glen Rock in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. International Chess Academy organizes this two-day classical tournament for players who meet its minimum rating requirement. The event features four Swiss-system rounds and counts toward both FIDE Standard and US Chess ratings.

Competitors play two games on Saturday and two on Sunday with a time control of G/110 d10—110 minutes per player and a ten-second delay on every move. Pairings use FIDE ratings, while entry requires a monthly published rating of at least 1900 US Chess or 1800 FIDE. ICA advertises a $2,300 prize fund based on 30 entries, with a minimum payout guarantee of 80%. The tournament also awards 20 US Chess Grand Prix points.

Glen Rock is accessible from New York City and other parts of northern New Jersey by regional rail, bus and road. Players can register through ICA’s official online entry form, with a reduced $100 fee available through January 10. Below you will find the complete playing schedule, prize categories, eligibility rules, direct registration link, accommodation options and practical directions to the second-floor playing hall.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The championship uses four Swiss-system rounds, with two rounds on each of the two playing days. Games use G/110 d10: each player receives 110 minutes for the full game, and the clock provides a ten-second delay before deducting thinking time for each move. Unlike an increment, unused delay time does not accumulate on the clock.

ICA bases pairings on FIDE ratings. Every participant needs a valid FIDE Identification Number and must meet the published rating threshold. The event is dual-rated under both FIDE Standard and US Chess, but it does not offer FIDE norms. Therefore, competitors seeking title norms should not confuse this weekend championship with a norm-eligible round-robin event.

Players may request up to two half-point byes, provided they submit those requests before the start of the second round. The tournament also requires bye requests at least 15 minutes before the applicable round. All participants must bring their own chess clocks; ICA provides boards and chess sets. These requirements make early arrival especially important for players who need to resolve a registration or eligibility issue.

🏆 Prize Fund

International Chess Academy advertises a $2,300 prize fund, based on 30 paid entries. The organizer states that the final prize payout will not fall below 80% of the advertised amounts if participation is lower. Prizes follow standard US Chess distribution rules, while the category awards reward players beyond the top three overall places.

These eight published awards total $2,300. The organizers determine eligibility and distribution according to their competition rules, so players seeking an age or rating prize should ensure their personal information and FIDE rating are accurate when registering. The prize schedule belongs to this January 2027 championship and should not be substituted with prize lists from other ICA events.

♟️ Sections / Groups

ICA runs one Open section for this championship. Despite the category prizes, all eligible participants compete in the same four-round Swiss field. Players must have a published monthly rating of 1900 or higher under US Chess or 1800 or higher under FIDE. Meeting either specified rating threshold satisfies the stated minimum.

ICA also organizes separate Glen Rock Quads and U1900 events during January. Those tournaments have different rating thresholds, schedules and time controls. Entrants should therefore register for the January 16–17 FIDE Championship rather than an adjacent ICA event with a similar date or venue.

📅 Schedule

The organizers schedule two classical games on Saturday, January 16 and two on Sunday, January 17, 2027. The playing hall uses Eastern Standard Time (EST, UTC−5) in January. Players should allow enough time for each long game and arrive before the session starts, particularly if they are traveling by public transport.

The first game starts at 11:00 AM on Saturday. Online entries close at 10:00 AM that morning unless the 60-player capacity fills earlier; on-site registration runs from 10:00 to 10:30 AM. Since the last Sunday round begins at 5:30 PM, participants planning evening travel should allow several hours after that starting time rather than assuming an early finish.

📝 Registration

International Chess Academy accepts tournament entries through its official Jumbula registration page. The early-bird fee is $100 through January 10, 2027, at 11:59 PM; afterward, the regular fee is $120. Online registration closes at 10:00 AM on January 16 or sooner if the tournament reaches its maximum capacity of 60 players.

REGISTER FOR ICA FIDE CHAMPIONSHIP — JANUARY 2027

Entry Fees and Eligibility

Grandmasters, International Masters and players with FIDE ratings of 2400 or above may request a free-entry coupon from ICA before registering. Players without a FIDE ID can consult the USA-flagged FIDE ID request process or contact their national federation for another federation flag. ICA requires competitors to obtain their identification before they participate.

🏛️ Organizer

International Chess Academy (ICA) runs tournaments and chess training programs in northern New Jersey. Its Glen Rock competitions include rated quads, junior championships, Open events and two-day FIDE-rated weekends. These events give different groups of players access to structured over-the-board competition throughout the year.

The January FIDE Championship is part of ICA’s tournament program at the Community Church of Glen Rock. The event’s tournament director is Stephen Lorimor (ANTD, NA). Additional information about the academy and its recurring events is available through the ICA official website and the ICA tournament registration calendar.

📍 Venue

Community Church of Glen Rock, Education Building (2nd Floor), 354 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452, United States.

ICA hosts the championship in the Education Building at the Community Church of Glen Rock. The playing rooms are on the second floor. Drivers should use the parking lot entrance from Hamilton Avenue, then look for the entrance marked International Chess Academy before proceeding upstairs.

The venue is in central Glen Rock, Bergen County, within reach of local rail and bus connections. The location also hosts other ICA tournaments, but players should confirm they are entering the correct two-day championship and not the one-day quad tournament scheduled for January 16.

🏨 Accommodation

These hotels in nearby Paramus offer accommodation options for participants travelling to the two-day Glen Rock event. Allow time for the final journey to the playing venue at 354 Rock Road. Both links for each hotel use Stay22 Allez, with 2027-01-15 check-in and 2027-01-18 checkout. Confirm rates, availability and cancellation conditions before booking.

🚆 How to Get There

The playing venue is 354 Rock Road in Glen Rock, New Jersey, with entry to ICA on the second floor of the Community Church’s Education Building. Glen Rock lies northwest of New York City and is accessible by local train, bus and road. Plan your final route to the church rather than to an academy office in another town.

🚆 By NJ Transit Train

Glen Rock has two NJ Transit railway stations: Glen Rock–Main Line and Glen Rock–Boro Hall. ICA identifies both as within walking distance of the competition venue. Visitors can consult NJ Transit schedules and choose the station and service that best suit their arrival.

Allow time to locate the Education Building once you reach Rock Road. The tournament requires players to bring their clocks, so competitors carrying chess equipment may prefer a shorter final walk or local taxi transfer.

🚌 By Bus

ICA lists bus routes 164, 164B, 164E and 175B as serving the stop at Rock Road and Central Avenue, immediately by the academy’s location. Check the applicable route and weekend timetable before departure, since not every service variant necessarily operates at the same frequency on Saturdays and Sundays.

🚗 By Car and Parking

For drivers, navigate to 354 Rock Road, Glen Rock, NJ 07452 and use the parking lot entrance on Hamilton Avenue. The organizer directs visitors to the door marked International Chess Academy and then upstairs to the second floor. Arriving ahead of the 10:30 AM on-site registration cutoff gives time to park and locate the playing room.

✈️ By Air

International and out-of-state visitors can compare routes through the New York metropolitan area’s airports, including Newark Liberty International Airport. The appropriate onward journey depends on the airport and accommodation choice; rail connections, ground transport and road traffic can vary considerably. Confirm your final Bergen County transfer before choosing a flight arriving shortly before the tournament.

ℹ️ Other Information

🪪 FIDE Identification and Ratings

Every competitor must hold a valid FIDE ID. The minimum published rating is 1900 US Chess or 1800 FIDE, and pairings are based on FIDE ratings. Both national and international ratings apply to the tournament. Players should review the US Chess announcement for the exact published conditions and entry procedures.

♟️ Equipment and Playing Hall

Players must bring their own chess clocks; boards and sets are provided. The organizer also provides a waiting area for parents and caregivers. Late arrivals are handled according to US Chess rules, and this particular event does not offer FIDE norms.

➗ Half-Point Byes and Cancellations

Players may request up to two half-point byes before Round 2 begins, with any bye requested at least 15 minutes before the relevant round. For a full refund, ICA requires a cancellation request by email no later than 11:59 PM on the evening before the championship. These policies matter especially for visitors whose travel plans may change.

🔗 Official Information

ICA official registration · US Chess event announcement · International Chess Academy