Announcement
Overnight Parking: CHSHU
Have a tough round? 🙁 Re-enter for $60
Parking Validation Code: CHSHU
Re-Entry
OVERVIEW
The 10th Annual Carolinas Classic takes place June 12-14, 2026 at the lakeside Hilton University Charlotte Place Hotel. It is a 5-round classical event with a $15,000 guaranteed prize fund - $14,000 in the main event plus a free $1,000 Saturday evening blitz tournament.
Side events including a scholastic tournament, blitz tournament, and an Autograph/Photo Session with chess legends - GMs Judit Polgar, Peter Leko, RB Ramesh - open to tournament participants.
Organized just prior to the Charlotte Chess Center's 9th Annual Elite Camp held from June 15-19 at the same venue.
WHEN
June 12-14 or 13-14, 2026
3-day and 2-day schedules available
WHERE
Hilton Charlotte University Place
8629 JM Keynes Drive
Charlotte, NC 28262
$139/Night - Free Internet, Parking
Parking Validation Code: CHSHU
Click "edit stay" at the top of the booking page to select your exact dates
Email us if the booking link is not showing the correct rate.
REGISTRATION
-
Online Registration is strongly recommended.
-
All registration closes 75 minutes before round 1 start time.
-
On-site check-in not necessary for players who register online.
-
-
On-site Registration (Midway Room):
-
3-day Schedule - Friday 5:00-5:15pm
-
2-day Schedule / Re-Entry - Saturday 8:30-8:45am
-
Scholastic Event: Saturday 8:30-9:45am
-
Blitz registration: (on-site only) Saturday 4:00-8:15pm
-
SCHEDULE
3-Day Schedule - 5 Rounds
Friday: 6:30pm
Saturday: 10:30am & 4:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am & 3:00pm
2-Day Schedule - 5 Rounds
Saturday: 10:00am*, 1:00pm*, 4:00pm (merge with 3-day schedule)
Sunday: 10:00am & 3:00pm
* Rounds 1-2 of 2-Day Schedule played at G/40; inc/10, then merge with 3-day Schedule, Saturday 4:00pm
TIME CONTROL
Championship Section: G/110, inc/10
"Under" Sections: G/100, inc/10
Rounds 1-2 of 2-Day Schedule: G/40, inc/10
PRIZES AND SECTIONS
$14,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund in 6 Sections.
Championship Section - FIDE Rated
100 US Chess Grand Prix Points
$2000 - $1000 - $600 - $400
Top U2300: $600 - $400
Under 2100 Section - FIDE Rated
$1200 - $600 - $300 - $200
Under 1900 Section - FIDE Rated
$1000 - $500 - $250 - $150
Under 1700 Section - FIDE Rated
$800 - $400 - $250 - $150
Under 1500 Section
$800 - $400 - $250 - $150
Under 1200 Section
$800 - $400 – $250 - $150
100-point Rule applies for "playing up" - see Special Notes below.
Plaques to first place in all sections.
SIDE EVENTS
Chess Legends Autograph & Photo Session
Sunday, June 14, 1:15-2:45pm
Featuring:
-
GM Judit Polgar
-
GM Peter Leko
-
GM RB Ramesh
Open to event participants only - sign up for the Carolinas Classic, Scholastic, or Blitz to be eligible to participate.
Bring one item to be signed. Professional photographer onsite to take photos.
Saturday, June 13, 10:30am-4:00pm
Saturday, June 13, 8:30pm
ENTRY FEES
$149 by June 1
$165 by June 8
$180 after June 8 or on-site at least 1 hour before round.
GM/IM/WGMs: Free online entry, no deduction from prize if registered by May 10, otherwise $140 deducted from prize.
Re-entry: $60. See information under "Special Notes" below.
K-8 U800 Scholastic Info and Registration Here
FREE $1,000 Blitz Info and Registration Here
CONTACT
events@charlottechesscenter.org
SPECIAL NOTES
-
Please read CCC's Terms and Conditions and Fair Play Policy.
-
No spectators. Parents and spectators are not allowed in the playing area or nearby hallways or restrooms.
-
100-Point Rule: Must be within 100 points of next section to play up (e.g. 2000+ to enter Championship). In addition to the June 2026 US Chess Supplement Ratings, we will also honor peak ratings since May 1.
-
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 1-2.
-
Unrated players must enter the Under 1200 Section or Scholastic U800 if K-8 and are eligible for prizes in these sections.
-
Ratings Used for Pairings and Prizes:
-
For most players, June 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 May 1, but who have since fallen below the 100-point cutoff, they are still eligible for the higher section, but the highest of their June 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 or on-site.
-
Re-entry closes 75 minutes before game.
-
-
Withdrawals/Refunds:
-
Withdrawals by June 6 will be refunded less a $10 transaction fee.
-
Withdrawals between June 7-10 will be refunded less a $20 transaction fee.
-
50% refunds after June 10 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 2 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 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.