The Tim Just Winter Open XLIII will take place from January 8–10, 2027, at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg in Schaumburg, Illinois. The 43rd edition of this established winter tournament features five rounds, six rating-based sections, and both three-day and two-day playing schedules.
The tournament offers $10,000 in prizes across the Major, Under 2100, Under 1900, Under 1700, Under 1500, and Under 1300 sections. The Major, U2100, and U1900 sections are FIDE rated, while the remaining sections are played under US Chess rules. In addition, the event awards 50 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points and is part of the US Chess Junior Grand Prix.
Players choosing the three-day schedule use the full G/90 +30-second increment time control from Friday evening onward. Meanwhile, the two-day schedule begins Saturday with two faster G/60, d10 games before merging with the main schedule for Round 3. Boards, sets, and clocks are provided by the organizer.
♟️ Event Details
Tim Just Winter Open XLIII combines six rating sections with two schedule options, allowing players to choose between a Friday start and a more compressed Saturday start.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Title | Tim Just Winter Open XLIII |
| 📅 Dates | January 8–10, 2027 |
| 🌎 Country | United States |
| 📍 City | Schaumburg, Illinois |
| 🏨 Venue | Hyatt Regency Schaumburg |
| 👥 Organizer | King Registration |
| ♟️ Format | Swiss System |
| 🔢 Rounds | 5 |
| 🧩 Sections | Major, U2100, U1900, U1700, U1500, U1300 |
| 🗓️ Schedules | 3-Day and 2-Day |
| ⭐ FIDE Rated | Major, U2100, U1900 |
| 🇺🇸 US Chess Rules | U1700, U1500, U1300 |
| 🏆 Grand Prix | 50 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix Points |
| 🧒 Junior Grand Prix | Yes |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $10,000 |
| ♿ Accessibility | Handicap accessible |
| 🌐 Event Type | Over-the-board |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The full three-day schedule uses a classical time control throughout. The two-day schedule accelerates only the first two games before joining the main tournament.
| Schedule / Stage | Time Control |
|---|---|
| 3-Day – All Rounds | G/90 +30 |
| 2-Day – Rounds 1–2 | G/60, d10 |
| 2-Day – Rounds 3–5 | G/90 +30 |
At G/90 +30, each player receives 90 minutes plus a 30-second increment after every move.
The two-day and three-day schedules merge for Round 3 at 4:00 PM on Saturday.
The default forfeiture time for a player who is absent when a round begins is one hour, following the published US Chess standard used by the organizer.
🏆 Prize Fund
The tournament publishes $10,000 in prizes across all six sections. Each section has four overall cash awards.
| Section | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major | $1,200 | $600 | $400 | $200 | $2,400 |
| Under 2100 | $1,000 | $500 | $300 | $200 | $2,000 |
| Under 1900 | $1,000 | $500 | $300 | $200 | $2,000 |
| Under 1700 | $800 | $400 | $200 | $150 | $1,550 |
| Under 1500 | $600 | $300 | $200 | $100 | $1,200 |
| Under 1300 | $400 | $200 | $150 | $100 | $850 |
| Total | $10,000 |
Prize limits apply to unrated players in several lower sections.
| Section | Maximum Prize for an Unrated Player |
|---|---|
| U1900 | $250 |
| U1700 | $200 |
| U1500 | $150 |
| U1300 | $100 |
🧩 Sections / Groups
Six rating-based sections provide competitive groups from developing players through master level. The top three sections are FIDE rated.
| Section | Rating Status |
|---|---|
| Major | FIDE rated + US Chess rated |
| Under 2100 | FIDE rated + US Chess rated |
| Under 1900 | FIDE rated + US Chess rated |
| Under 1700 | US Chess rated |
| Under 1500 | US Chess rated |
| Under 1300 | US Chess rated |
Players may play up one section for an additional $15.
However, a player must have a rating of at least 1100 to play up into the Under 1500 section.
FIDE rules apply in Major, U2100, and U1900. US Chess rules apply in U1700, U1500, and U1300.
🗓️ Schedule
The tournament begins Friday evening for three-day players. The two-day schedule starts Saturday morning and merges with the main field for the 4:00 PM round.
3-Day Schedule
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, January 8 | Round 1 | 7:00 PM |
| Saturday, January 9 | Round 2 | 10:00 AM |
| Saturday, January 9 | Round 3 | 4:00 PM |
| Sunday, January 10 | Round 4 | 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, January 10 | Round 5 | 3:00 PM |
2-Day Schedule
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 9 | Round 1 | 10:00 AM |
| Saturday, January 9 | Round 2 | 1:00 PM |
| Saturday, January 9 | Round 3 | 4:00 PM |
| Sunday, January 10 | Round 4 | 10:00 AM |
| Sunday, January 10 | Round 5 | 3:00 PM |
Players entering the three-day schedule onsite after 6:30 PM Friday receive a half-point bye for Round 1.
Players entering the two-day schedule onsite after 9:30 AM Saturday receive a half-point bye for their opening round.
📝 Registration
Advance online registration provides the lowest entry fee. Registration remains available through tournament day at progressively higher rates.
| Registration Period | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Online by January 1, 2027 | $95 |
| Online by January 8, 2027 | $105 |
| Later / Onsite | $115 |
| Play-Up Fee | +$15 |
| Re-Entry | $45 |
Grandmasters and Women Grandmasters receive free entry.
International Masters receive a $50 discount.
Players may re-enter the tournament for $45 under the organizer’s published re-entry rules.
Refunds are subject to a $15 processing fee.
Official registration:
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/timjust27
👥 Organizer
King Registration manages registration and tournament administration for the Tim Just Winter Open series.
| Contact | |
|---|---|
| 👥 Organizer Name | King Registration |
| 👤 Contact Person | Bill Buklis |
| ✉️ Email | bill@kingregistration.com |
📍 Venue
The tournament is played at the Hyatt Regency Schaumburg, a large hotel and conference venue in Chicago’s northwest suburbs.
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg – 1800 E Golf Rd, Schaumburg, IL 60173, United States
The official tournament hotel rate is $139 per night when booked through the event room block by December 11, 2026, subject to availability.
The hotel provides complimentary self-parking.
Hotel phone: +1 847-605-1234
🚆 How to Get There
Hyatt Regency Schaumburg is located near Woodfield Mall and approximately 11 miles from Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
| Transport | Details |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) | Approximately 11 miles |
| ✈️ Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) | Approximately 30 miles |
| 🚗 Car | Convenient access from major northwest-suburban highways |
| 🅿️ Hotel Self-Parking | Complimentary |
| 🚌 Local Hotel Shuttle | Complimentary service to Woodfield Mall and selected destinations within approximately three miles |
Players arriving from O’Hare can use a taxi, rideshare, or rental car for the direct trip to Schaumburg.
ℹ️ Other Information
Players may request up to two half-point byes. Half-point byes are permitted in any round, but they must be committed to by the end of Round 2.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| 💤 Maximum Half-Point Byes | 2 |
| ⏰ Bye Commitment Deadline | End of Round 2 |
| 🔄 Re-Entry | $45 |
| ♟️ Boards & Sets | Provided |
| ⏱️ Chess Clocks | Provided |
| 💳 Refund Processing Fee | $15 |
Saturday Night Blitz
A separate 2027 Winter Blitz tournament takes place on Saturday, January 9 at 8:30 PM at the same venue.
The Blitz consists of four double rounds, with players facing each opponent once with White and once with Black. Games use G/3+2.
| Blitz Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 🥇 1st Place | $150 |
| 🥈 2nd Place | $90 |
| 🎯 Top U2100 | $70 |
| 🎯 Top U1900 | $70 |
| 🎯 Top U1700 | $60 |
| 🎯 Top U1500 | $50 |
| 🎯 Top U1300 | $40 |
| 🎯 Top U900 / Unrated | $40 |
Blitz entry is free for GMs, $20 by January 9, or $25 later / onsite. One bye is available in any round.
Blitz registration:
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/winterblitz27
A separate 2027 Winter Open Scholastic tournament for players age 18 and under is also scheduled for Saturday, January 9.
Scholastic information:
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/winterschol27
Official tournament registration:
https://www.kingregistration.com/event/timjust27
US Chess event page:
https://new.uschess.org/tim-just-winter-open-xliii
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $10,000
Organizer
♟️ About King Tournaments
King Tournaments is a chess tournament organizing operation based in Illinois, United States. It was founded by William “Bill” Buklis, an experienced US Chess National Tournament Director and FIDE International Arbiter. King Tournaments works closely with King Registration, Buklis’s online chess registration platform. Together, the two provide tournament organization, registration, pairings, results, player communication, and event administration for major competitions in Illinois and beyond.
The organization focuses on US Chess-rated and FIDE-rated tournaments, including Classical opens, state championships, scholastic events, Blitz competitions, and large multi-section weekend tournaments. Its events often use several playing schedules and rating sections. Therefore, both titled players and developing club competitors can participate. King Tournaments also supplies tournament equipment and manages online entries, pairings, standings, and results through King Registration.
William Buklis is the founder and principal organizer behind King Tournaments and King Registration. He previously served as President of the Illinois Chess Association from 2016 to 2017. In 2026, Buklis continued to direct major Midwest events, including the Tim Just Winter Open XLII, Chicago Summer Open, and Illinois Open State Championship. The next edition, Tim Just Winter Open XLIII, is already scheduled for January 8–10, 2027 in Schaumburg.
💻 King Registration
King Registration is the technology and registration platform closely connected with King Tournaments. The service has operated since at least 2016 and provides online registration tools for chess organizers throughout the United States.
Tournament directors can use the platform to collect entries, process payments, publish entry lists, manage event information, and display results. However, King Registration also distinguishes between events that it merely lists and tournaments that its own team organizes.
The platform now supports a large network of chess clubs, associations, academies, federations, and independent organizers. Consequently, its role extends well beyond King Tournaments’ own events.
For the Tim Just Winter Open, King Registration handles the official event pages, entries, schedules, side-event registration, and results.
🏆 Tim Just Winter Open
The Tim Just Winter Open is one of the principal tournaments associated with Bill Buklis and King Tournaments. It is also a long-running event on the Illinois Chess Association tournament calendar.
The 42nd edition took place from January 9–11, 2026 at Hyatt Regency Schaumburg. The event featured six rating sections and two playing schedules. Its Major and U2100 sections received FIDE rating, while the full tournament offered $10,000 in guaranteed prizes.
King Registration recorded 236 players in the main tournament. In addition, the weekend included a Saturday Night Blitz and a separate scholastic tournament.
The event forms part of the US Chess Enhanced Grand Prix and Junior Grand Prix. Therefore, it attracts both experienced adult players and ambitious juniors from Illinois and neighboring states.
🌟 Tim Just Winter Open XLIII – 2027
The 43rd Annual Tim Just Winter Open is scheduled for January 8–10, 2027 at Hyatt Regency Schaumburg.
The tournament will again offer six sections. Major, Under 2100, and Under 1900 will be FIDE-rated, while the remaining sections will receive US Chess rating.
Players can choose between three-day and two-day schedules. Most long games use G/90 +30, while the accelerated Saturday schedule begins with G/60;d10.
The tournament advertises a guaranteed $10,000 prize fund and 50 US Chess Enhanced Grand Prix points. Moreover, a Saturday Night Blitz and individual scholastic tournament will run alongside the main event.
King Registration officially categorizes these events under King Tournaments, while US Chess lists King Registration as the organizer.
🌆 Major Illinois Tournament Activity
King Tournaments also works with other established Illinois organizers.
In June 2026, King Registration and Wilson Chess organized the Chicago Summer Open in Schaumburg. The tournament offered six sections, three FIDE-rated divisions, and a $10,000 prize fund.
The partnership continued with the 2026 Illinois Open State Championship, held September 3–7 in Lisle. King Registration and Wilson Chess won the Illinois Chess Association bid to organize both the Illinois Open and Illinois Blitz Championship.
The Illinois Open offered six sections, a $15,000 prize fund, and 80 US Chess Enhanced Grand Prix points. Its Open, U2100, and U1900 sections were FIDE-rated.
These events demonstrate that King Tournaments operates both independently and in cooperation with other established chess organizations.
🏛️ William Buklis and Tournament Leadership
William “Bill” Buklis founded both King Registration and King Tournaments. He is a US Chess National Tournament Director and a FIDE International Arbiter.
Buklis has organized and directed tournaments throughout Illinois as well as events outside the state. His work includes large weekend Opens, state championships, FIDE-rated sections, scholastic tournaments, and international-title competition.
He also has experience in chess administration. Buklis served as President of the Illinois Chess Association from 2016 through 2017.
His combination of tournament direction and registration technology allows King Tournaments to manage both the competitive and administrative sides of large chess events.
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