2026 Harvey Lerman Florida State Championship

Event Overview

September 5-7, 2026, FLORIDA
US Chess Grand Prix Points: 60

2026 Harvey Lerman Florida State Championship, 6SS, Top 2 sections FIDE rated, (USCF ratings used for pairings & prizes). G/90+30 sec. incr.

Hilton Melbourne at Rialto Place, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, FL 32901.

Free parking. No resort fee. 5 minutes from Melbourne International Airport. Free breakfast for two if staying at Hilton.

Prizes: $$16,000 Guaranteed. 5 Sections:

Open: $2000+trophy-1000-500-300, U2250 $900-500.

Under 2050:  $900+trophy-600-400, U1950 $500-300-200.

Under 1800: $750+trophy-500-250, U1650 $400-250.

Under 1500: $750+trophy-500-250, U1350 $400-250.

Under 1200: $700+trophy-500-250, U1050 $400-250, U800 $300-200.

Top Senior Prize each section (must be at least 60 on September 7) $200 (prize is in addition to any other prize).

All: Unrated may not win over $100 or trophy except for Open section top 4 prizes. Cash prizes for 1st-3rd brilliancy & book prizes for biggest upset rds. 1-5. Up to 2 half-point byes if requested before rd. 3. USCF & FCA memberships required for all events. Out of state players are welcome. Only Florida players eligible for trophies and titles.

EF: $99 super-saver by 7/15, $109 early-bird by 7/31, $115 by 8/20, $135 by 8/31, $158 by 9PM on 9/4, $160 on-site. Re-entry $60. GM free entry available by request to TD until 7/31, else $135 from prize. $10 service charge for refunds. Online entry at https://www.spacecoastchessfoundation.org/event/floridastatechampionship

Reg.: On-site registration ends 1 hour before 1st rd. Later entries receive ½ point BYE for round 1. Online registration ends 9pm Friday. No phone, US Mail, or email entries. Late registration permitted on-site with up to two ½ point BYEs for missed games.

Round Times: All Sections.

Sat. 10:00am, 3:30pm;

Sun. 10:00am, 3:30pm;

Mon. 10:00am, 3:30pm.

Other info:  Players in Open and Under 2050 sections required to turn in completed scoresheets. Bring clocks, sets, and boards – none supplied, but vendor will be on-site. No cell phones or other electronic devices. See website for additional information and policies.

State Blitz Championship: 7SS. Saturday 9/5 at 8:30pm, G/3 d2, 70% of entries paid out as cash prizes. Online EF $25. Online entry is available until 2pm Saturday, otherwise $5 more. Onsite entry for first round closes at 8:00pm Saturday. Later entries receive ½ point BYE for missed rounds (limit of two ½ point BYEs, with additional missed rounds counting as zero points). Online entry at https://www.spacecoastchessfoundation.org/event/floridastatechampionship.

State Quick Championship: 5SS. Sunday 9/6 at 8:30pm, G/10 d3, 70% of entries paid out as cash prizes. Online EF $25. Online entry is available until 2pm Sunday, otherwise $5 more. Onsite entry for first round closes at 8:00pm Sunday. Later entries receive ½ point BYE for missed rounds (limit of two ½ point BYEs, with additional missed rounds counting as zero points). Online entry at https://www.spacecoastchessfoundation.org/event/floridastatechampionship.

Florida Chess Association Meetings: Sunday: Board meeting at 8:30 am, Annual membership meeting at 9:15 am.

HR: See website for hotel rooms and rates information: https://www.spacecoastchessfoundation.org/event/floridastatechampionship.

Online entry and latest info: Online entry at https://www.spacecoastchessfoundation.org/event/floridastatechampionship. 

Info only: Andrew Rea, 412-418-1591, Click here to show mail address