Land of the Sky XXXVIII (Open + Blitz)
Players head to the Blue Ridge Mountains for Land of the Sky XXXVIII – January 30 to February 1, 2026 in Asheville, North Carolina, USA, known for years as “The People’s Chess Tournament.” You play five long rounds at the Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, fight for a fully guaranteed $13,800 prize fund, and choose between two start schedules that fit your weekend: begin on Friday night or jump in on Saturday morning.
You compete in six US Chess–rated sections ranging from FIDE-rated Open down to U700, all with generous class and unrated prizes so every rating band has something meaningful to play for. Heritage Event status, Enhanced Grand Prix points, Junior Grand Prix credit, and the comfort of an on-site resort venue make this one of the Southeast’s signature winter chess festivals.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | Friday, January 30 to Sunday, February 1, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, One Resort Dr, Asheville, NC 28806, USA |
| ♟️ Format | 6-section over-the-board festival, 5-round Swiss in each section |
| ⭐ Rating | US Chess–rated in all sections; Open section also FIDE-rated; February USCF list used for pairings and prizes |
| 📂 Sections | Open, Senior (age 50+), U1900, U1500, U1100, U700 |
| ⏱️ Time control | Open, Senior, U1900, U1500: G/115;+5; U1100 & U700: G/85;+5 |
| 🏁 Number of rounds | 5 rounds with 3-day (Fri–Sun) and 2-day (Sat–Sun) schedules available |
| 💰 Prize fund | $13,800 prize fund, 100% guaranteed |
| 💳 Entry fees | Early: $96 (Open/Senior/U1900/U1500), $48 (U1100), $24 (U700 & unrated in U1100/U700); youth “no-prize” option $24 in several sections |
| 👤 Eligibility | US Chess membership required for all players; NCCA membership required for North Carolina residents |
| 🎯 Special notes | Heritage Event, Enhanced Grand Prix (50 GP points), Junior Grand Prix, re-entry option in all but Open, one ½-point bye available if requested by Round 2 |
| 🏨 Host hotel | Chess rate at Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville; players book directly with the hotel and mention the tournament name |
🏆 Prize Fund
Total prize fund: $13,800, fully guaranteed. Prizes in each section include overall and class awards; no player may win more than one prize per section.
Open (FIDE-rated)
Overall standings
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 |
| 2nd | $400 |
| 3rd | $200 |
| 4th | $150 |
| 5th | $130 |
| 6th | $120 |
Class prizes – Open
| Class | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1999–1800 | 1st | $400 |
| 1999–1800 | 2nd | $200 |
| U1800 | 1st | $200 |
| U1800 | 2nd | $100 |
Senior (age 50+, all ratings)
Overall standings
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 |
| 2nd | $400 |
| 3rd | $200 |
Class prizes – Senior
| Class | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1799–1600 | 1st | $200 |
| 1799–1600 | 2nd | $100 |
| 1599–1400 | 1st | $200 |
| 1599–1400 | 2nd | $100 |
| U1400 | 1st | $200 |
| U1400 | 2nd | $100 |
U1900
Overall standings
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 |
| 2nd | $400 |
| 3rd | $200 |
Class prizes – U1900
| Class | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1799–1700 | 1st | $400 |
| 1799–1700 | 2nd | $200 |
| 1699–1600 | 1st | $400 |
| 1699–1600 | 2nd | $200 |
| 1599–1500 | 1st | $400 |
| 1599–1500 | 2nd | $200 |
| U1500 | 1st | $200 |
| U1500 | 2nd | $100 |
U1500
Overall standings
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 |
| 2nd | $400 |
| 3rd | $200 |
Class prizes – U1500
| Class | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1399–1300 | 1st | $400 |
| 1399–1300 | 2nd | $200 |
| 1299–1200 | 1st | $400 |
| 1299–1200 | 2nd | $200 |
| U1200 | 1st | $400 |
| U1200 | 2nd | $200 |
U1100
| Category | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| U1100 overall | 1st | $400 |
| U1100 overall | 2nd | $150 |
| U1100 overall | 3rd | $100 |
| U900 | 1st | $100 |
| U900 | 2nd | $50 |
| Unrated | 1st | $70 |
U700
| Category | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| U700 overall | 1st | $200 |
| U700 overall | 2nd | $100 |
| U500 | 1st | $50 |
| Unrated | 1st | $70 |
| Biggest Upset (all sections) | 1 prize | $10 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
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Open, Senior, U1900, and U1500 sections use G/115 with a 5-second increment from move one.
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U1100 and U700 sections use G/85 with a 5-second increment from move one.
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All sections play 5-round Swiss pairings.
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The Open section uses FIDE Dutch with Baku acceleration; other sections use accelerated Swiss with rating cuts tailored to each group.
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February USCF ratings determine both pairings and rating classes.
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You may request one ½-point bye in any round if you submit the request no later than Round 2.
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The default (forfeit) time is 30 minutes after the announced round start.
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Cell phones must remain completely powered off; you may keep them in a bag in the playing room under the posted rules.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / age range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Open | Open to all; FIDE-rated | Top section with main and class prizes; strongest field |
| Senior | Age 50+ (all ratings) | Dedicated senior event with overall and class awards |
| U1900 | Under 1900 | Deep class prizes from 1799–1700 down to U1500 |
| U1500 | Under 1500 | Focused on club players with class prizes from 1399–1300 down to U1200 |
| U1100 | Under 1100 | Additional awards for U900 and unrated players |
| U700 | Under 700 | Ideal for newer players; extra prizes for U500, unrated, and biggest upset |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2026 | Friday | 5:00–6:00 p.m. | On-site registration for Friday start (3-day schedule) |
| January 30, 2026 | Friday | 7:00 p.m. | Round 1 (3-day schedule) |
| January 31, 2026 | Saturday | By 8:00 a.m. | Registration for players starting on Saturday |
| January 31, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 a.m. | Round 1 (2-day schedule) |
| January 31, 2026 | Saturday | 10:00 a.m. | Rated blitz side event |
| January 31, 2026 | Saturday | 2:00 p.m. | Round 2 |
| January 31, 2026 | Saturday | 7:00 p.m. | Round 3 |
| February 1, 2026 | Sunday | 9:00 a.m. | Round 4 |
| February 1, 2026 | Sunday | 2:00 p.m. | Round 5 and awards |
📝 Registration
You can register in advance to secure the lowest entry fees and avoid late surcharges.
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Early entry fees:
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Open, Senior, U1900, U1500: $96
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U1100: $48
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U700: $24
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Unrated players in U1100 or U700: $24 (eligible only for unrated prizes)
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“No-prize” youth entry (under 18) in U1900, U1500, or U1100: $24 (any prize redirected to scholastic chess)
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Entries after the late cut-off, including on-site entries, cost 12.5% more than the early fees.
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You may pay by check, credit card, or other listed methods; card payments add a small processing surcharge.
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Re-entry into a different schedule or section is allowed in all sections except the Open for a modest additional fee.
You must also check in at the tournament site before the posted deadlines on Friday evening or Saturday morning so the organizers can include you in the pairings.
👥 Organizer
A long-running local team led by Wilder Wadford organizes Land of the Sky XXXVIII and continues the tradition of a friendly, player-focused mountain open. Experienced directors and arbiters, including chief arbiter Kevin Hyde, handle pairings, rulings, and logistics so you can concentrate fully on your games.
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Organizer: Wilder Wadford
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Email: info@landofthesky.us
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Website: https://landofthesky.us
🏨 Venue
All rounds take place at Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville, One Resort Dr, Asheville, NC 28806. The resort provides large ballrooms for the playing halls, on-site dining and recreation, and easy access to Asheville’s breweries, restaurants, and downtown attractions between rounds. Chess players stay and play under one roof, which keeps the weekend simple and comfortable.
🛎️ Accommodation
The organizers offer a special chess rate at the host hotel.
| Room type | Chess rate (per night) |
|---|---|
| Standard room (single or double) | $116 |
You reserve directly with Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville by phone and mention “Land of the Sky chess tournament” to receive the tournament rate. A limited block of rooms is held for players until shortly before the event, so early booking gives you the best chance to stay on site.
🚗 How to Get There
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By air: Fly into Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) and continue about 20 minutes by taxi, rideshare, or rental car to Crowne Plaza Resort Asheville.
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By car from the south (I-26): Drive toward Asheville, connect to I-240, and follow signs for the hotel and Resort Dr near Patton Ave.
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By car from the east or west (I-40): Use I-40 to reach I-240 around Asheville, then exit toward Westgate and Resort Dr and follow signs to the Crowne Plaza entrance.
Arriving on Friday afternoon lets you check in, relax, and sit down for Round 1 in a calm frame of mind.
Bring your pieces to the mountains, challenge yourself against players from every rating band, and turn a winter weekend in Asheville into a memorable chess experience at Land of the Sky XXXVIII.
🧾 Other
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The tournament is a Heritage Event and awards 50 Enhanced Grand Prix points plus Junior Grand Prix credit.
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You may play one section above your rating while paying that section’s entry fee.
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Sets and clocks are not provided; players should bring their own equipment.
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Re-entry is permitted in all but the Open section, subject to the published re-entry fee and schedule.
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Health and safety measures follow current guidance; the organizer may update mask or hygiene rules as needed and will post any changes at the site and on the event website.
