OVERVIEW
The 2026 Charlotte Open is a 6-round US Chess-rated tournament which features a $15,000 guaranteed prize fund in 7 US Chess-rated sections. The event is held over Martin Luther King Jr Weekend, January 17-19, 2026.
Alongside the main events are the $1,000 blitz and single-day K-8 Scholastic tournaments. Participants may engage with a special guest VIP who will lead game analysis, lectures, blitz challenges, and more!
Enjoy your stay at the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center on UNC Charlotte's beautiful university campus. Plenty of restaurants and shops in walking distance.
WHEN
January 17-19, 2026
MLK Weekend
WHERE
UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
9041 Robert D Snyder Road
Charlotte, NC 28262
$132 per night - 2 Queen or King
PARKING
$6 Self-Parking
Each exit requires $6 payment
REGISTRATION
Online registration is strongly recommended.
All registration closes 1 hour before round 1 start time
On-site check-in is not necessary for players who registered online
On-site Registration
Saturday 9:15am - 9:30am (3-day or Scholastic)
Sunday 8:45am - 9:00am (2-day or re-entry)
Blitz Registration: On-site only, Sunday 4:30 - 8:30pm.
TIME CONTROLS
Championship Section, 3-Day Schedule Only: G/110, inc/10
Under Sections, 3-Day Schedule: G/100, inc/10
Under Sections, 2-Day Schedule: Rounds 1-3: G/20, inc/10, Rounds 4-6 (merge with 3-day): G/100, inc/10
SECTIONS AND PRIZES
$15,000 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND
Championship – FIDE-Rated - 100 Grand Prix Points
$1600 - $800 - $500 - $300
Top U2300: $600 - $300
Championship Section plays 3-day schedule only
Under 2100 – FIDE-Rated
$1200 - $600 - $300 - $200
Under 1900 - FIDE-Rated
$1000 - $500 - $300 - $200
Under 1700 - FIDE-Rated
$800 – $400 – $300 - $200
Under 1500
$800 – $400 – $300 - $200
Under 1300
$700 – $400 – $300 - $200
Under 1100
$700 – $400 – $300 - $200
100-point rule applies for "playing up" a section - see Special Notes at bottom of page.
SCHEDULE
3-Day Schedule - 6 Rounds
Saturday: 10:30am & 4:00pm
Sunday: 10:30am & 4:00pm
Monday: 10:00am & 3:00pm
2-Day Schedule - 6 Rounds
Sunday: 10:00am*, 11:45am*, 1:30pm*, 4:00pm (merge with 3-day schedule in round 4)
Monday: 10:00am & 3:00pm
* Rounds 1-3 of 2-day Schedule played at G/20; inc/10 time control.
No 2-day schedule for Championship Section
SIDE EVENTS
Special Guest - TBD
A VIP titled player will host game analysis/review sessions, blitz challenges, lectures, and more.
Saturday through Monday - Exact schedule TBD
K-8 Under 700 Scholastic
Saturday, January 17
11:00am - 4:30pm
FREE $1,000 Blitz
Sunday, January 18
Starts at 8:45pm
ENTRY FEE
$149 by January 6
$165 by January 13
$180 after January 13
GMs, IMs, and WGMs Free Entry, no deduction from prize if registered by December 29, otherwise $140 deducted from prize
Conditions are possible for GMs, confirm by December 10.
CONTACT
RULES AND NOTES
Please read Terms and Conditions and Fair Play Policy.
Parents and spectators are not permitted in the playing area or in the nearby hallway.
100-Point Rule: Must be within 100 points of next section to play up (e.g. 2000+ to enter Championship). In addition to January 2026 US Chess Supplement Ratings, we will also honor peak ratings since November 19.
Ratings:
All sections are US Chess rated. US Chess membership is required.
The Championship, U2100, U1900, and U1700 sections are also FIDE-rated and use FIDE rules, except for 2-day schedule.
Ratings Used for Pairings:
For most players, January 2026 US Chess supplement ratings are used for pairings and prizes.
For players who are “playing up” based on their most recent live (tournament history) rating and using the 100-point rule, this live rating will be used for pairings and prizes if they would otherwise not qualify for the higher section.
For players who are “playing up” based on a peak rating since November 19, but who have since fallen below the 100-point cutoff, they are still eligible for the higher section, but the highest of their January supplement and most recent live rating will be used for pairings and prizes (not necessarily the peak rating).
Unrated players must enter the Under 1100 or Scholastic U700 if K-8 and are eligible for prizes in these sections.
If players have an undesirable start to the event, they may wish to re-enter the event, for example re-entering from the 3-day to the 2-day schedule, or re-entering the same schedule with up to 3 half-point byes.
There is no re-entry in the Championship section.
Players may re-enter for a $60 fee online (preferred) or on-site.
Re-entry closes one hour before game.
Withdrawals / Refunds:
Withdrawals by January 15 in main event will incur a $10 transaction fee and $5 fee for scholastic side event.
50% refunds after January 15 until 1 hour before round 1.
No refunds once event begins.
All withdrawals during the event must be submitted at least 1 hour before the affected round.
Failure to notify us of a pending withdrawal or zero-point bye which leads to a forfeit by “no-show” will incur a fine of $100.
Byes: Up to 3 optional half-point byes, request before round 1. All byes requested during tournament are zero points.
Boards, sets, clocks provided (must use our equipment).
In all sections, White's clock will be started at the start of the round, even if one or both players are not present.
All registration (online and on-site) closes 1 hour before round.
Plaques awarded to first place in each section based on the following tiebreaks: Cumulative, Average Opposition cut one.