OVERVIEW
The 2027 Charlotte Open is a 6-round classical event with a $14,000 guaranteed prize fund in 6 US Chess rated sections (top 4 FIDE-rated). The event is held over Martin Luther King Weekend, January 16-18, 2027.
Alongside the main event are the $1,000 Blitz and K-8 Scholastic events.
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 16-18, 2027
MLK Weekend
3-day and 2-day schedules available
HOTEL BOOKING
UNC Charlotte Marriott Hotel & Conference Center
9041 Robert D Snyder Road
Charlotte, NC 28262
$138 per night - 2 Queen or 1 King
Booking Link - Book by January 2!
PARKING
$6 Self-Parking
Each exit requires $6 payment
Validate your ticket on-site
ELIGIBILITY
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Open event - no rating or age minimum.
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Must be members of US Chess.
REGISTRATION
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Online registration is strongly recommended.
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Registration closes 90 minutes before round 1.
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On-site check-in is not necessary for players who register online.
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On-site Registration
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Saturday 8:45-9:00am (3-day Schedule)
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Sunday 8:15-8:30am (2-day Schedule and Re-entry)
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Scholastic Registration: Saturday 9:00-9:30am
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Blitz Registration: On-site only, Sunday 4:30-8:30pm.
TIME CONTROL
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
$14,000 Guaranteed Prize Fund in 7 Sections.
Championship – FIDE-Rated
100 US Chess Grand Prix Points
$2000 - $1000 - $600 - $400
Top U2300: $600 - $400
Championship plays 3-day schedule only
Under 2100 – FIDE-Rated
$1200 – $600 – $300 – $200
Under 1900 - FIDE-Rated
$1000 - $500 - $250 - $150
Under 1700 - FIDE-Rated
$800 - $400 - $250 - $150
Under 1500
$800 - $400 - $250 - $150
Under 1200
$800 - $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
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Saturday, January 16
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11:00am - 4:30pm
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Sunday, January 17
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8:45pm
ENTRY FEE
$149 by January 3
$165 by January 12
$180 after January 12
GMs, IMs, WGMs: Free online entry, no deduction from prize if registered by December 15, otherwise $140 deducted.
Re-entry: $60. See information under Special Notes below.
CONTACT
events@charlottechesscenter.org
SPECIAL NOTES
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Please read CCC Terms and Conditions and Fair Play Policy.
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No spectators. Parents and spectators are not permitted in the playing area or in the nearby hallways and restrooms.
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100-Point Rule: Must be within 100 points of next section to play up (e.g. 2000+ to enter Championship). In addition to January 2027 US Chess Supplement Ratings, we will also honor peak ratings since December 1.
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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.
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Ratings:
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All sections are US Chess rated. US Chess membership is required.
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The Championship, U2100, U1900, and U1700 sections are also FIDE-rated and use FIDE rules, except for 2-day schedule, rounds 1-3.
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Unrated players must enter the Under 1200 or Scholastic U700 if K-8 and are eligible for prizes in these sections.
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Ratings Used for Pairings and Prizes:
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For most players, January 2027 US Chess supplement ratings are used.
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For players who would otherwise be unrated, their live US Chess tournament history rating will be used.
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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.
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For players who are “playing up” based on a peak rating since December 1, 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).
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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:
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FIDE Ratings 2000+: 1.02 * FIDE + 20.
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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.
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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.
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Re-Entry:
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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.
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There is no re-entry from Championship to Championship.
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Players may re-enter for a $60 fee online (preferred) or on-site.
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Re-entry closes 90 minutes before game.
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Withdrawals / Refunds:
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Withdrawals by January 9 will be refunded less a $10 transaction fee.
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Withdrawals between January 10-13 will be refunded less a $20 transaction fee.
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50% refunds after January 13 until 75 minutes before round 1.
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All withdrawals during the event must be submitted at least 75 minutes before the affected round.
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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.
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Byes: Up to 3 optional half-point byes, request before round 1. All byes requested during tournament are zero points.
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Boards, sets, clocks provided (must use our equipment).
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In all sections, White's clock will be started at the beginning of the round, even if one or both players are not present.
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Plaques awarded to first place in each section based on the following tiebreaks: Cumulative, Average Opposition cut one.
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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.