Experience a packed summer weekend at the Minneapolis Open 2026, running June 5-7, 2026 at the Chess Castle in Edina, United States. This US Chess-rated event delivers a five-game Swiss with three sections, clear rating cutoffs, and a classic club atmosphere in the Minneapolis metro area. The organizer lists US$8,120 in cash prizes across the main tournament and the Saturday night Castle Blitz Championship, with prize funds tied to published participation targets. Brasket (1800+ only) anchors the weekend for experienced players, while Diesen (U1800) and Future (U800) give developing competitors a focused field. If you want a strong local open with structured sections and a bonus blitz title on Saturday night, this weekend fits the calendar well.
The tournament offers a three-day option for Brasket and Diesen and a two-day option for all sections, with Future running as a two-day-only section. The three-day schedule uses G/75+30 for every round, while the two-day option starts with two quicker games before merging into the main schedule at Round 3. The organizer enforces a 30-minute forfeit time and allows one half-point bye when you request it before Round 3 pairings, while all other byes score zero. The event also refunds entry fees for GMs, IMs, and FMs when they complete at least four games. Register early to secure a spot because the organizer caps the field at 160 players.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | June 5-7, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Edina, Minnesota, United States |
| ♟️ Format | Main event: 5-game Swiss; Castle Blitz Championship: 8-game Swiss |
| ⭐ Rating | Main event: US Chess rated; Blitz: US Chess Blitz rated |
| 📂 Sections | Brasket (1800+), Diesen (U1800), Future (U800) |
| ⏱️ Time control | Three-Day (Brasket & Diesen): G/75 + 30; Two-Day (all sections): Rounds 1–2 at G/30 + 30, then merge into G/75 + 30; Blitz: G/5 with 2-second delay |
| 💳 Entry fee | Brasket: $95 by May 1 / $110 by June 1 / $125 by June 4 / $140 onsite; Diesen: $80 by May 1 / $90 by June 1 / $100 by June 4 / $110 onsite; Future: $55 by May 1 / $60 by June 1 / $65 by June 4 / $70 onsite; Blitz: $35 by May 1 / $40 by June 1 / $45 by June 5 / $50 onsite (by 6:45 PM Saturday) |
| 💰 Prize fund | US$8,120 total listed cash prizes (main sections + blitz), based on the organizer’s published prize breakdowns |
| 👤 Eligibility | Brasket requires 1800+; Diesen requires U1800; Future requires U800; US Chess requires membership for rated play |
| 👥 Capacity | 160 players |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | The organizer refunds GM/IM/FM entry fees with at least 4 games played; the organizer forfeits games after 30 minutes; the organizer offers one half-point bye when you request it before Round 3 pairings |
🏆 Prize Fund
The organizer ties the listed prize funds to participation targets: Brasket (based on 45), Diesen (based on 55), Future (based on 35), and the Castle Blitz Championship (based on 55). The cash prizes below reflect the published amounts only and exclude trophies.
Brasket (1800+)
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,400 |
| 2nd | $700 |
| 3rd | $350 |
| U2400 | $250 |
| U2200 | $250 |
| U2000 | $250 |
Diesen (U1800)
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | $1,000 |
| 2nd | $500 |
| 3rd | $250 |
| U1600 | $200 |
| U1400 | $200 |
| U1200 | $200 |
| U1000 | $200 |
Future (U800)
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | $250 |
| 2nd | $120 |
| 3rd | $80 |
| U600 1st | $60 |
| U600 2nd | $30 |
| U400 1st | $60 |
| U400 2nd | $30 |
| Unrated 1st | $60 |
| Unrated 2nd | $30 |
Castle Blitz Championship
| Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | $500 |
| 2nd | $250 |
| 3rd | $150 |
| U2300 | $150 |
| U2000 | $150 |
| U1700 | $150 |
| U1400 | $150 |
| U1100 | $150 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The organizer runs the main tournament as five Swiss-paired games with US Chess-rated play in all sections. Brasket and Diesen offer a three-day option with G/75 plus a 30-second increment per move, and the two-day option starts with two games at G/30 plus a 30-second increment before merging into the three-day schedule at Round 3. The organizer sets a 30-minute forfeit time for all games.
The organizer allows one half-point bye when you request it before the Round 3 pairings, and the organizer scores all other byes as zero-point byes. The organizer lets unrated players enter Diesen or Future, and the organizer limits unrated prize eligibility to the Future section’s unrated prizes or trophies. The Castle Blitz Championship runs as an eight-game Swiss with G/5 and a 2-second delay, and it counts for US Chess Blitz rating.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Brasket | 1800+ only | Three-day and two-day options |
| Diesen | U1800 | Three-day and two-day options |
| Future | U800 | Two-day option only |
| Castle Blitz Championship | Open blitz | Separate Saturday night event, 8-game Swiss |
📅 Schedule
Three-Day option (Brasket & Diesen)
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 5, 2026 | Friday | 5:00 PM–5:30 PM | Onsite registration |
| June 5, 2026 | Friday | 6:00 PM | Round 1 |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 10:00 AM | Round 2 |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 2:30 PM | Round 3 |
| June 7, 2026 | Sunday | 11:00 AM | Round 4 |
| June 7, 2026 | Sunday | 3:30 PM | Round 5 |
Two-Day option (Brasket, Diesen, Future)
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 AM–9:30 AM | Onsite registration |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 10:00 AM | Round 1 (G/30+30) |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 12:00 PM | Round 2 (G/30+30) |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 2:30 PM | Round 3 (merge into the three-day schedule) |
| June 7, 2026 | Sunday | 11:00 AM | Round 4 |
| June 7, 2026 | Sunday | 3:30 PM | Round 5 |
Castle Blitz Championship
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 6:45 PM | Onsite registration cutoff |
| June 6, 2026 | Saturday | 7:00 PM | Blitz start (8-game Swiss) |
📝 Registration
Register online at https://www.onlineregistration.cc or mail your entry to Dane Zagar, 7521 Penn Ave S #1, Minneapolis, MN 55423. Make checks payable to Chess Club of Minnesota, and mail them with a June 1 postmark deadline. The organizer caps the tournament at 160 players, so early registration helps secure your spot.
Choose your section and fee tier based on the organizer’s deadlines: Brasket costs $95 by May 1, $110 by June 1, $125 by June 4, and $140 onsite; Diesen costs $80 by May 1, $90 by June 1, $100 by June 4, and $110 onsite; Future costs $55 by May 1, $60 by June 1, $65 by June 4, and $70 onsite. The organizer runs onsite registration Friday 5:00 PM–5:30 PM for the three-day option and Saturday 9:00 AM–9:30 AM for the two-day option. The organizer refunds entry fees for GMs, IMs, and FMs when they complete at least four games. For the Castle Blitz Championship, pay $35 by May 1, $40 by June 1, $45 by June 5, or $50 onsite by 6:45 PM Saturday.
👥 Organizer
Chess Castle of Minnesota runs the Minneapolis Open weekend at its Edina club location and pairs the main five-game Swiss with a Saturday night blitz championship. Dane Bruno Zagar serves as the listed tournament organizer and provides entry and onsite support through the Chess Castle contact channels.
Email: info@chesscastle.com
Phone: 612-805-3958
Website: https://www.chesscastle.com/
🏨 Venue
Chess Castle of Minnesota, 10 Southdale Center Suite 910, Edina, MN 55435, United States
The Chess Castle hosts all rounds at its club venue in Edina. The location supports a straightforward onsite check-in process and keeps players close to the playing hall between rounds.
🚗 How to Get There
Fly into Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) and drive to 10 Southdale Center Suite 910, Edina, MN 55435, United States. Use the onsite registration windows to arrive early and start Round 1 on time.
Make your weekend count at the Chess Castle and fight for cash prizes across five Swiss rounds plus the Saturday night blitz title.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - US$8,120
Organizer
Chess Castle of Minnesota is a leading chess club and tournament venue in Edina, Minnesota, United States. It hosts regular rated events and organized club play. Moreover, it supports both adult players and juniors in the Minneapolis metro area.
Moreover, Chess Castle of Minnesota organizes the Minneapolis Open 2026 at its Southdale Center club location. The event delivers US Chess-rated classical sections with a structured Swiss schedule. In addition, the weekend includes a blitz championship for extra competitive play. Therefore, players can plan a focused chess weekend in Edina, Minnesota, United States.
Furthermore, the Chess Castle runs coaching and scholastic events that strengthen youth development in Minnesota. At the same time, it emphasizes fair play and calm tournament direction. Consequently, Chess Castle of Minnesota remains a reliable organizer for visiting players and local competitors.
Address: 10 Southdale Center, Suite 910, Edina, MN 55435, United States
Email: info@chesscastle.com
Phone: +1 612-805-3958
Website: https://www.chesscastle.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChessCastle/
Main contact: Dane Zagar