OVERVIEW
The 2025 North Carolina Open is a 6 round tournament held over Thanksgiving Weekend featuring a $12,500 guaranteed prize fund in 7 sections. The NC Open runs alongside the 2025 US Masters, a premier US Chess national event.
Alongside, side events include the Free $2,000 Blitz and a single-day scholastic (K-8) tournament. Throughout the weekend, participants may enjoy free game analysis, lectures, and blitz challenges with VIP Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan!
WHEN
Main Event
November 28-30, 2025 - Various playing schedules available
Side Events
K-8 Scholastic (U700) - Friday
$2,000 Blitz - Saturday
VIP events with GM Yasser Seirawan - all weekend - details below
WHERE
Hilton Charlotte University Place
8629 JM Keynes Drive
Charlotte, NC 28262
Free Internet, Free Parking
HOTEL BOOKING
$132/Night - King and 2 Queen Options
Click “edit stay” at the top of the booking page to select your exact dates
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
3-Day Schedule: Friday 9:00am-9:30am
2-Day and Re-Entry: Saturday 8:30am-9:00am
Blitz Registration: Saturday 4:00pm-9:00pm
Registration at Midway Room (ballroom level)
TIME CONTROLS
3-Day Schedule: All 6 rounds: G/100, inc/10
2-Day Schedule: Rounds 1-3: G/20, inc/10, Rounds 4-6 (merge with 3-day): G/100, inc/10
SECTIONS AND PRIZES
$12,500 GUARANTEED
Championship - FIDE Rated - 50 Grand Prix Points
$1200 + plaque – 600 – 400 – 300
Under 2000 - FIDE Rated
$1000 + plaque – 500 – 300 – 200
Under 1800 - FIDE Rated
$800 + plaque – 400 – 300 – 200
Under 1600
$800 + plaque – 400 – 300 – 200
Under 1400
$700 + plaque – 400 – 300 – 200
Under 1200
$600 + plaque – 400 – 300 – 200
Under 1000
$600 + plaque – 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
Friday: 11:00am & 4:00pm
Saturday: 11:00am & 4:00pm
Sunday: 10:30am & 3:00pm
2-Day Schedule - 6 Rounds
Saturday: 10:30am*, 12:00pm*, 1:30pm*, then merge with 3-day schedule Saturday at 4:00pm
Sunday: 10:30am & 3:00pm
* Rounds 1-3 of 2-Day Schedule played at G/20; inc/10 time control, then merge with 3-day schedule, Saturday 4:00pm
SIDE EVENTS
GM Yasser Seirawan VIP Engagement Events
Friday, November 28
Event Commentary / Player Game Analysis: 12:30-2:00pm
“Play the Grandmaster” Blitz: 2:30-4:00pm
Scholastic Event Awards Ceremony: 4:00-4:15pm
Event Commentary / Player Game Analysis: 6:00-8:00pm
Saturday, November 29
Event Commentary / Player Game Analysis: 12:30-2:00pm
Photo / Autograph Session: 3:00-4:00pm
Event Commentary / Player Game Analysis: 5:30-7:00pm
“Play the Grandmaster” Blitz 7:45-9:15pm
Sunday, November 30
Open Lecture / Q&A: 9:45-10:30am
Event Commentary / Player Game Analysis: 11:30am-1:00pm
“Play the Grandmaster” Blitz: 2:00-3:00pm
Event Commentary / Player Game Analysis: 5:30-7:30pm
K-8 Under 700 Scholastic
Friday, November 29
10:15am - 4:00pm
FREE $2,000 Blitz
Saturday, November 30
Starts at 9:30pm
MAIN EVENT ENTRY FEE
$140 by November 10
$155 by November 24
$170 after November 24
US Masters players who have an unsuccessful start may join the NCO for a discounted entry fee of $100 - on-site registration required for discounted entry.
GMs, IMs, WGMs Free Entry, no deduction from prize if registered by November 5, otherwise $140 deducted from prize.
CONTACT
For questions/concerns prior to the event: events@charlottechesscenter.org
Titled player conditions: walter@charlottechesscenter.org
For withdrawals, use this form
RULES AND NOTES
Please read Terms and Conditions and Fair Play Policy
Spectators are not permitted in the playing area or in the nearby hallway.
Byes: Up to 3 optional half-point byes which must be requested at least 1 hour before round one begins.
All byes requested after the start of round one are zero-point byes.
Any zero-point byes or withdrawals during the event must be submitted at least 1 hour before the round.
Players who forfeit a round (no show) or do not provide 1-hour notice to withdrawing will incur a $100 fine.
100-Point Rule: Must be within 100 points of next section to play up (e.g. 1900+ to enter Championship). In addition to November 2025 US Chess Supplement Ratings, we will also honor peak ratings since September 17.
Withdrawals/Refunds:
$10 transaction fee until November 26.
50% refunds after November 26 until 1 hour before round 1
All withdrawals during the event must be submitted at least 1 hour before the round.
Re-Entry:
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.
Players may re-enter for a $60 fee online (preferred) or on-site.
Re-entry closes one hour before game.
US Masters players who have an unsuccessful start may join the NCO for a discounted entry fee of $100 - on-site registration required for discounted entry.
Ratings:
All sections are US Chess-rated. US Chess membership is required.
Championship, U2000, and U1800 sections are also FIDE-rated and use FIDE rules except for 2-day schedule games.
Per FIDE rules at this time control, games involving a player rated 2400+ FIDE are not FIDE-rated.
Ratings Used for Pairings:
For most players, November 2025 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 September 17, but who have since fallen below the 100-point cutoff, they are still eligible for the higher section, but the highest of their November supplement and most recent live rating will be used for pairings and prizes (not necessarily the peak rating).
Unrated players must enter the Under 1000 or Friday Scholastic U700 if K-8 and are eligible for prizes in these sections.
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.
Plaques to first place in main event sections, based on the following US Chess tiebreaks: Cumulative, Average Opposition Rating cut one.
By registering for or attending this event, players and guests grant permission to CCC to take and use photographs and video for purposes related to the event.