2026 US Amateur Team West (USATW) National Championship

The US Amateur Team West National Championship is your chance to compete at a national level! This USCF-rated event offers a friendly yet competitive environment to test your skills and earn national recognition, all while gaining valuable experience. Whether you're aiming for personal bests or just some challenging games, this championship is a must-play for dedicated chess enthusiasts.

Don't have a team?  You can still play! Just register as an individual, and we will help you find a team!

Register here

• You must log in or sign up before you can register.
• Online registration closes at 12:00 a.m. the day of the tournament.
• Onsite registration is subject to availability (additional fee of  incurred).
• Late fees applied on February 6 or when reaching capacity.

Schedule

• 2 schedules available (More Info)
  • 3-day option:
    • Rounds: 6
    • Time Control: 6x G/90 +30
    • Round Times:
      ‣ Sat, 2/14 - 1:00 p.m., 5:30p.m.
      ‣ Sun, 2/15 - 12:40 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
      ‣ Mon, 2/16 - 9:30 a.m., 2:15 p.m.
  • 2-day option:
    • Rounds: 6
    • Time Controls: 3x G/61 d5, 3x G/90 +30
    • Round Times:
      ‣ Sun, 2/15 - 9:00 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 2:40 p.m., 5:45 p.m.
      ‣ Mon, 2/16 - 9:30 a.m., 2:15 p.m.
• ½-point byes are available for any round (Max byes: 3; byes must be requested at least 30 min before that round's start except last round byes; last round bye must be requested latest before Round 3)

Sections

• Players will be placed into one of the two sections based on January 2026 Published Supplement rating:
  • 1700+
  • 1200-1699
• A team may pay to play up one higher section. Team average must be within 300 points of the rating cutoff to play up.
  (Note: The rating used to determine if a player may play up is their January 2026 Published Supplement rating.)

Awards

• Clocks for:
  • Top teams for each section.
  • 2nd place teams for each section.
  • Top Boards 1-4 (individual).
• Trophies for:
  • 3rd place teams for each section.
  • Top Industry team for each section.
  • Top College team for each section.
  • Top Female team.
• Individual trophies for:
  • 2nd place Boards 1-4.
  • 3rd place Boards 1-4.
  • 4th place Boards 1-4.
  • 5th place Boards 1-4.

Fees

• 3-day entry:
  • Team: $399
  • Individual: $113
• 2-day entry:
  • Team: $377
  • Individual: $107
• Re-entry: $69
• Play up fee:
  • Team: +$78
  • Individual: +$39
• Discount for BayAreaChess Basic/Premier Members (More Info)

Late fees

• Late fees, starting:
  • Feb. 6:
    • Team: +$30
    • Individual: +$10
  • Feb. 8:
    • Team: +$60
    • Individual: +$20
  • Feb. 10:
    • Team: +$90
    • Individual: +$30
  • Feb. 12:
    • Team: +$135
    • Individual: +$45
• Onsite fee:
  • Team: +$135
  • Individual: +$45 
• BayAreaChess Membership discounts are NOT redeemable for late and onsite fees.

Withdrawals

• Team withdrawals are eligible for a partial refund, subject to the following deductions:
  • until Feb. 5, 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7, $30 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 8 to Feb. 9, $60 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 10 to Feb. 11, $90 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 12 onward, NO REFUND will be issued.
• Individual withdrawals are eligible for a partial refund, subject to the following deductions:
  • until Feb. 5, 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 6 to Feb. 7, $10 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 8 to Feb. 9, $20 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 10 to Feb. 11, $30 withdrawal fee + 4% processing fee.
  • from Feb. 12 onward, NO REFUND will be issued.
• Only withdrawals made before or on Feb. 11 are eligible for refund.

Change requests

• After registration, changes can be requested at bayareachess.com/changeform and are subject to the following fees:
  • until Feb. 13, $21 for Team Entry, $7 for Individual Entry.
  • from Feb. 14 onward, $45 for Team Entry, $15 for Individual Entry.
• The following requests are exempt from the change fee:
  • playing up to a higher section.
  • requesting byes.

Other requirements

• USCF membership must be active.