17th annual Southwest Class Championships

An American Classic!

US Chess Junior Grand Prix

FEB. 12-16, 13-16, OR 14-16 (Presidents’ Day Weekend), 2026  TEXAS
US CHESS GRAND PRIX POINTS: 200 (ENHANCED) 

17th annual Southwest Class Championships 

9-SS (Master Section), 7-SS (others), Westin Dallas Fort Worth Airport, 4545 W John Carpenter Freeway, Irving, TX 75063. Free parking, free airport shuttle. In 7 sections (see peakrating.us for rules regarding playing up): Master (USCF 2100/up or FIDE 2000/up): $4000-2000-1500-1200-1000-800-600, clear or tiebreak winner $200, top FIDE U2300/Unr $1800-900. Expert (1900-2199): $2000-1000-500-300-200. FIDE. Class A (1700-1999/Unr): $2000-1000-500-300-200. FIDE. Class B (1500-1799/Unr): $2000-1000-500-300-200. Class C (1300-1599/Unr): $1600-800-500-300-200. Class D (Under 1400/Unr): $800-400-300-200-100. Class E (Under 1200/Unr): $800-400-300-200-100. These overlapping class rating boundaries already include players rated in the top half of the section below. Unrated may enter A through E, with maximum prize E $100, D $200, C $300, B $400, A $500. 5-day schedule, Feb 12-16 (Master Section only), FIDE rated, GM & IM norms possible, 40/80, SD/30; d30. 4-day schedule, Feb 13-16: Expert through Class E, 40/80, SD/30; d30. 3-day schedule: Expert through Class E, Feb 14-16, rounds 1-2 G/60, d10, then merges with 4-day. $35,000 prize fund unconditionally guaranteed!  Master Section: FIDE ratings used.  Expert Section and below: USCF Official February ratings used, Unofficial uschess.org ratings or Online Regular Ratings are usually used in Expert and below if otherwise unrated. Cannot play in those sections with rating below Online Regular rating minus 100 points.  Foreign player ratings (Expert & below): See foreignratings.com. Mixed Doubles: Best male+female 2-player team combined score in Rounds 1-7 among all sections: $1000-600-400. Team must average under 2200; may play different sections and schedules; register (no extra fee) before both begin round 2; limit one Mixed Doubled team per player, prize limits do not apply to Mixed Doubles prizes.  Master Section EF: $278 at chessaction.com by 2/11, $300 later online or at site by 6 pm 2/12. GMs & foreign IMs/WGMs free. US IMs/WGMs & foreign players rated 1800+ FIDE $100 less (players with FIDE Federation ”FID” might not be counted by FIDE as FIDE foreign players). Minimum prizes in Master Section: foreign GMs $800, foreign IMs/WGMs $400, if entering online by 2/1 and playing all 9 games with no byes. Expert, A, B, C sections EF: $168 online at chessaction.com by 2/11, $190 later or at site until 1 hour before round 1. Class D or E Section EF: All $70 less than Expert to Class C EF. Re-entry (no Master to Master) $80.  No checks, credit cards OK. Special 1-year USCF dues with magazine if paid online with entry: see chessevents.us. 5-day schedule: Late reg. ends Thu 6 pm, rounds Thu 7, Fri 1 & 7, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 4, Mon 10 & 3:30.  4-day schedule: Late reg. ends Fri 6 pm, rounds Fri 7 pm, Sat 11 & 5, Sun 10 & 4, Mon 10 & 3:30.  3-day schedule: Late reg. ends Sat 10 am, rounds Sat 11, 2 & 5, Sun 10 & 4, Mon 10 & 3:30. Byes: OK all, limit 2; must commit before round 3. Electronic devices rules: See devicerules.com. Leave phone in hotel room, car, home, or a bag near your table.  HR: $132-132, use link at chessevents.us (or call 972-929-4500, mention Chess Rate); reserve by 1/27 or rate may increase. Prizes not claimed at site usually paid by PayPal (may take a couple of weeks). Car rental: Avis, 800-331-1600, use AWD #D657633. Enter online: chessaction.com.  No mail entries. Questions: chesstour.com, [email protected]. Refunds, $15 service charge. Bring set, board, clock if possible: none supplied. Entries posted at chessaction.com (click “entry list” after entry).  Blitz tournament Sun. 9:30 pm, enter at site Sun. by 9:10 pm.