Summer FIDE 2026 runs June 12-14, 2026 in Houston, United States and offers a compact classical weekend built for serious FIDE-rated competition. Texas Chess Center hosts three sections at its Bellaire location, with FIDE rating available in the Championship and U1800 sections and US Chess ratings available across the full event. You can choose a 3-day schedule with a Friday evening start or a 2-day schedule that begins Saturday morning, so you can match the tournament rhythm to your travel plans. The organizer backs the event with guaranteed cash prizes in the top two sections and adds trophy awards in the U1400 section.
This tournament targets ambitious club players who want long games, stable time control, and a clear five-round structure over one weekend. The organizer sets straightforward entry-fee deadlines and keeps registration transparent by section, which helps you plan early and save on cost. Titled players can qualify for special entry and minimum prize conditions when they register before the late-fee deadline and complete every round. If you want a focused Houston-area FIDE weekend with classical time control and guaranteed payouts, Summer FIDE 2026 fits that goal.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | June 12-14, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Texas Chess Center – Bellaire, 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH, Houston, TX 77025, United States |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round over-the-board tournament with 3-day and 2-day schedule options |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE rated (Championship and U1800); US Chess rated (all sections) |
| 📂 Sections | Championship; U1800; U1400 (US Chess rated only) |
| ⏱️ Time control | Game in 90 minutes with a 30-second increment per move |
| 💳 Entry fee | $78–$138 depending on section and deadline |
| 💰 Prize fund | $1,540 guaranteed cash prizes (Championship and U1800) |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | The organizer uses US Chess monthly ratings for pairings, applies a one-hour default late-forfeit time, and offers re-entry for half the late-fee price |
🏆 Prize Fund
Championship (cash prizes)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $640 |
| 2nd | $320 |
| 3rd | $160 |
U1800 (cash prizes)
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $240 |
| 2nd | $120 |
| 3rd | $60 |
U1400 awards trophies for 1st–3rd place. The first three GMs/IMs to enter earn a minimum prize of $200 (GM) or $100 (IM) when they enter before the late-fee deadline and play all rounds. Players with FM title or higher enter free before the late-fee deadline via email request.
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Summer FIDE 2026 uses a classical time control of game in 90 minutes with a 30-second increment per move, and it completes five rounds over one weekend. The organizer offers two schedule options, so you can start on Friday evening or begin on Saturday morning and still finish the full event.
The organizer uses US Chess monthly ratings for pairings and supports FIDE rating in the Championship and U1800 sections. The organizer applies a one-hour default late-forfeit time, and it offers re-entry for half the late-fee price.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating / target group | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Championship | Open | FIDE rated |
| U1800 | Under 1800 section | FIDE rated |
| U1400 | Under 1400 section | US Chess rated only; trophies for top 3 |
📅 Schedule
3-day schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 12, 2026 | Friday | 7:00 PM | Round 1 |
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | 2:00 PM | Round 2 |
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | 7:00 PM | Round 3 |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | 10:00 AM | Round 4 |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | 3:00 PM | Round 5 |
2-day schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 AM | Round 1 |
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | 2:00 PM | Round 2 |
| June 13, 2026 | Saturday | 7:00 PM | Round 3 |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | 10:00 AM | Round 4 |
| June 14, 2026 | Sunday | 3:00 PM | Round 5 |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Register online at https://www.texaschesscenter.com/store/p/summer-fide-2026 |
| Sections | Championship; U1800; U1400 (US Chess rated only) |
| Time control | Game in 90 minutes with a 30-second increment per move |
| Championship entry fee | $108 by May 1, 2026; $123 by June 2, 2026; $138 late |
| U1800 entry fee | $88 by May 1, 2026; $103 by June 2, 2026; $118 late |
| U1400 entry fee | $78 by May 1, 2026; $93 by June 2, 2026; $108 late |
| Playing up | Add $30 when you choose to play up |
| Titled-player conditions | The first three GMs/IMs to enter earn a minimum prize of $200 (GM) or $100 (IM) when they enter before the late-fee deadline and play all rounds; players with FM title or higher enter free before the late-fee deadline by emailing info@texaschesscenter.com |
| FIDE ID support | Play in a FIDE section and complete the organizer’s registration form to start your FIDE ID process |
| Late forfeit time | The organizer uses a one-hour default late-forfeit time |
| Re-entry | The organizer offers re-entry for half the late-fee price |
👥 Organizer
Texas Chess Center organizes Summer FIDE 2026 as a weekend classical event with two schedule options, three rating-based sections, and guaranteed prizes in the top two groups. The organizer runs the tournament at its Bellaire location and supports FIDE-rated play in the Championship and U1800 sections while keeping the full event US Chess rated.
Email: info@texaschesscenter.com
Phone: 469-498-7296
Website: https://www.texaschesscenter.com/
🏨 Venue
Texas Chess Center – Bellaire, 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH, Houston, TX 77025, United States
Texas Chess Center hosts all rounds at its Bellaire location in Houston. The single-site setup keeps your full schedule in one place across the weekend. You can choose the 3-day or 2-day timetable and follow the same playing location throughout the event.
🚗 How to Get There
Use the venue address for navigation: 4007 Bellaire Blvd, Suite HH, Houston, TX 77025. Plan your arrival around your chosen schedule, especially if you want the Friday evening Round 1 start.
Play five classical rounds in Houston and chase FIDE and US Chess rating gains with guaranteed prizes on the line.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $1,540
Organizer
The Texas Chess Center stands as a cornerstone of chess excellence, offering a vibrant ecosystem that blends high-level competition, top-tier coaching, and community enrichment. Operating in multiple locations throughout North Texas—including Plano, Frisco, Irving, and Houston—the Center organizes over 250 official tournaments annually, ranging from scholastic events and FIDE-rated championships to weekly Swiss tournaments and blitz series. Notable events include the Texas Youth Championship, weekend FIDE-rated open tournaments, scholastic-only challenges, and seasonal rapid and blitz cups.
The Center works closely with elite coaches and grandmasters, including GM Chris Repka, GM Jeffery Xiong, and FM Sharvesh Deviprasath, delivering training that supports both recreational learners and competitive prodigies. With outreach programs in over 70 public and private schools across districts like Coppell, Plano, and McKinney, the Texas Chess Center fosters a culture of intellectual growth and strategic development. Their mission is clear: make chess accessible to everyone—children and adults alike—through an integrated model of education, events, and opportunity.