2027 Dates Confirmed for January 16-18. 2026 Details Below (will be updated soon)
OVERVIEW
The 2026 Charlotte Open is a 6-round classical event with a $15,000 guaranteed prize fund in 7 US Chess rated sections (top 4 FIDE-rated). The event is held over Martin Luther King Weekend, January 17-19, 2026.
Alongside the main event are the $1,000 Blitz and K-8 Scholastic events. Throughout the weekend, players may engage in game analysis, commentary, blitz challenges, book signings, Q&As, and photo ops with GM Kayden Troff, IM Danny Rensch, and WGM Dina Belenkaya!
Enjoy your stay at the UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel on UNC Charlotte's beautiful 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 1 King
PARKING
$6 Self-Parking
Each exit requires $6 payment
Validate your ticket on-site
REGISTRATION
Online registration is strongly recommended.
Registration closes 75 minutes before round 1.
On-site check-in is not necessary for players who register online.
On-site Registration
Saturday 9:00-9:15am (3-day Schedule)
Sunday 8:30-8:45am (2-day Schedule and Re-entry)
Scholastic Registration: Saturday 9:00-10:00am
Blitz Registration: On-site only, Sunday 4:30-8:30pm.
TIME CONTROLS
Championship Section: 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
PRIZES & SECTIONS
$15,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund in 7 Sections.
Championship – FIDE-Rated
80 Grand Prix Points
$1600 – $800 – $600 – $400
Top U2300: $600 – $300
Championship 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 – $250 – $150
Under 1100
$700 – $400 – $250 – $150
100-point Rule applies for "playing up" - see Special Notes below.
Plaques to first place in all sections.
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.
Championship - No 2-day schedule
SIDE EVENTS
VIP Engagement Events with GM Kayden Troff and IM Danny Rensch
Open to event participants - sign up for the Charlotte Open, Scholastic, or Blitz to be eligible to participate.
Saturday, January 17
Scholastic Awards Ceremony with GM Troff: 4:30-4:45pm
Commentary & Game Analysis with GM Troff: 5:00-7:00pm
“Play the Master” Blitz with GM Troff: 8:00-9:30pm
Sunday, January 18
Commentary & Game Analysis with GM Troff: 11:30am-1:30pm
Q&A - The Chess World and "Dark Squares" with IM Rensch: 1:30-2:30pm
Photo Op - "Dark Squares" Book Signing with IM Rensch: 2:45-3:45pm
Book signing participants are asked to purchase a copy of "Dark Squares" on-site (or bring a copy from home). Those who purchase a book will have priority access to "Play the Master" Blitz.
Commentary & Game Analysis with GM Troff: 4:30-6:30pm
“Play the Master” Blitz with GM Troff & IM Rensch: 7:00-8:30pm
Free $1000 Blitz Tournament: 8:45pm
Monday, January 19
Commentary & Game Analysis with GM Troff: 10:30am-12:00pm
"Play the Master" Blitz with WGM Dina Belenkaya: 11:30am-1:00pm
Commentary & Game Analysis with GM Troff: 1:00-3:00pm
Saturday, January 17
11:00am - 4:30pm
Sunday, January 18
Starts at 8:45pm
ENTRY FEE
$149 by January 6
$165 by January 13
$180 after January 13
GMs, IMs, WGMs: Free online entry, no deduction from prize if registered by December 20, otherwise $140 deducted.
Re-entry: $60. See information under Special Notes below.
CONTACT
events@charlottechesscenter.org
Email us to withdraw. Withdrawals close 75 minutes before round 1.
Please read CCC Terms and Conditions and Fair Play Policy.
No spectators. Parents and spectators are not permitted in the playing area or in the nearby hallways and restrooms.
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.
Section Adjustment: Players who register for a section that they are not eligible will be moved to the highest section they are eligible for, usually without notification.
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, rounds 1-3.
Unrated players must enter the Under 1100 or Scholastic U700 if K-8 and are eligible for prizes in these sections.
Ratings Used for Pairings and Prizes:
For most players, January 2026 US Chess supplement ratings are used.
For players who would otherwise be unrated, their live US Chess tournament history rating will be used.
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 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 (not necessarily the peak rating).
For foreign FIDE-rated players with no US Chess rating (or insufficient recent US Chess rating history), the following formulas may be used to assign a US Chess rating:
FIDE Ratings 2000+: 1.02 * FIDE + 20.
FIDE Ratings U2000: usually assigned at par, unless a different foreign rating system (e.g. CFC) is available and used for rating assignment, with possible adjustment by the Chief TD.
In exceptional cases, the Chief TD may assign a different rating than specified above to a player for any reason. Assigned ratings will never be lower than the current US Chess supplement used for the event.
Re-Entry:
If players have an undesirable start to the event, they may wish to re-enter, 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 from Championship to Championship.
Players may re-enter for a $60 fee online (preferred) or on-site.
Re-entry closes 75 minutes before game.
Withdrawals / Refunds:
Withdrawals by January 10 will be refunded less a $10 transaction fee.
Withdrawals between January 10-14 will be refunded less a $20 transaction fee.
50% refunds after January 14 until 75 minutes before round 1.
All withdrawals during the event must be submitted at least 75 minutes 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 beginning of the round, even if one or both players are not present.
Plaques awarded to first place in each section based on the following tiebreaks: Cumulative, Average Opposition cut one.
By registering for or attending this event and side events, players and guests grant permission to CCC to take and use photographs and video for purposes related to the event.