2nd Annual MLK Day Open

Friday January 16, 2026 - Sunday January 18, 2026

Note: Caissachess tournament registration page will have more up to date information than what is posted on the US Chess TLA.

5 Rounds Swiss

Sections: Premier (FIDE), U2000 (FIDE), U1600

Prizes: $7500 total prize fund based on 150 full paid entries; U1600 counts at 70%

50% of the prize fund is guaranteed.

Premier: $1200/$800/$600/$400/$200 Class Prizes U2100 (USCF): $250/$150 (Total $3600)

U2000: $800/$600/$400/$200/$100 Class Prizes U1700 (USCF): $200/$100 (Total $2400)

U1600: $600/$300/$200/$100 (Total $1200) Unr limit $200

Mixed Doubles prizes: $150/$100/$50 - prize to the best male/female 2-player team combined score among all sections. Must have a combined average rating less than 2200. May play in different sections. Registration due before the start of Round 3.     

Schedule:

Premier: 01/16 at 7:30 PM, 01/17 at 10 AM and 4 PM, 01/18 at 10 AM and 4 PM. The Premier section has only a 3 Day schedule.

U2000 3 Day: 01/16 at 7:30 PM, 01/17 at 10 AM and 4 PM, 01/18 at 10 AM and 4 PM.

U2000 2 Day: 01/17 at 10 AM and 1 PM, schedules merge starting from round 3.

U1600: 11/1 at 10 AM, 1 PM and 4 PM, 11/2 at 10 AM and 1 PM.

Registration Link: https://caissachess.net/online-registration/index/7509

On-site registration closes 1 hr before the start of round 1 (after that players may register with a half-point bye)

Premier and U2000 3 Day: Registration closes at 6:30 PM on 01/16

U2000 2 Day and U1600: Registration closes at 9 AM on 1/17

Byes

Up to two irrevocable half-point byes allowed. Byes must be committed 1 hr before Round 2. Afterwards, only 0-point byes are allowed.

Premier and U2000 3 Day: ½ point byes can be requested until 9 AM on 01/17

U2000 2 Day and U1600: ½ point byes can be requested until 12 PM on 01/17

NOTE: Players who withdraw from the tournament are not eligible for any prizes. You can request zero point byes anytime.

Minimum Required Rating in Premier Section - USCF 1900

You may play in the Premier Section if your standard USCF rating has reached or exceeded 1900 after any tournament from Jan 1, 2025 onwards.

Players with USCF rating 1800-1899 may play in the Premier section with an extra fee of $200.

Players with USCF rating of <1800 are not eligible to play in the Premier section.

Minimum Required Rating in U2000 Section - USCF 1500

You may play in the U2000 Section if your standard USCF rating has reached or exceeded 1500 after any tournament from Jan 1, 2025 onwards.

Players with USCF rating 1400-1499 may play in the U2000 section with an extra fee of $200.

Players with USCF rating of <1400 are not eligible to play in the U2000 section.

NOTE: January 2026 US Chess Ratings will be used in the Premier and U2000 section for Pairings and Prizes. The organizer reserves the right to use a different rating system/conversion for any specific players or section as appropriate.

Any player with a peak or published rating of 25 or more points above the section cut-off within the last calendar year is not eligible to play in that section.

LIMITED Conditions for GM/IM/WGM/WIM in PREMIER Section based on Availability:

Free entry and no prize deductions for GM/IM/WGM/WIM if committed by 12/01. After 12/01, free entry but $125 deducted from prizes. Must play all 5 rounds. No byes or tournament withdrawal allowed.

Time control:

Premier and U2000 3 Day Schedules: All games G/90;+30

U2000 2 Day Schedule: Rounds 1 and 2 are G/60;d5, after which G/90;+30. The first 2 rounds are not FIDE rated.

U1600: All games are G/60;d5.

Forfeit Time (All Sections): 30 minutes

Entry fee:

Entry fee for Premier and U2000: $125 by 12/01/25, $145 by 01/11/26, $165 on/after 01/12/26

Entry fee for U1600: $85 by 12/01/25, $100 by 01/11/26, $125 on/after 01/12/26

All entry fee deadlines are in EST. Please select the correct entry fee option for your section while registering. Re-entries are permitted in all sections except Premier -- the price to re-enter is $75.

Optional: Please enter your contact number in the Comments/Bye Requests text area while registering. This helps us to reach you if necessary.

For Marriott reservations with a chess rate of $109/night, click here or call 713-943-7979 and mention ‘Atlantic Chess Tournament’.

Boards and pieces will be provided. Please bring a pen to write and a chess clock if you have it. Players must know how to set up their own clock.

No Electronic Notation Devices are allowed in any Section. Strict policy in place for cell phones and all electronic devices.

Withdrawals are subject to a 10% processing fee. Full credit can be used for any future ACA tournament.

For any questions, please reach out to Click here to show mail address