Registration Open for XV Pan-Am U7-U17 Chess Championship 2026

The Confederation of Chess for Americas (CCA) and the Salvadoran Chess Federation (FSA) have announced the XV Pan-American U7-U17 Chess Championship will be held from May 11 to May 18 at Hotel Royal Decameron Salinitas, located in Playa Salinitas, Sonsonate, El Salvador. 

This tournament is not the Pan-Am Youth. This is the Pan-Am U7-U17, which replaces the old "Pan-Am Schools" from previous years. 

TOURNAMENT DETAILS

There will be 12 sections in the tournament, Open and Girls for each age category: Under 17, Under 15, Under 13, Under 11, Under 9 and Under 7. A player's age as of January 1, 2026 determines their age eligibility for a section.

Players entitled to participate in each category are:

• Under 7: Players born on or after January 1, 2019
• Under 9: Players born on or after January 1, 2017
• Under 11: Players born on or after January 1, 2015
• Under 13: Players born on or after January 1, 2013
• Under 15: Players born on or after January 1, 2011
• Under 17: Players born on or after January 1, 2009

Each event will be a nine-round Swiss System tournament, using a time control of Game/90 minutes with a 30-second increment from move one. Direct titles shall be awarded according to the FIDE regulations. The full schedule for all rounds can be viewed within the regulations document at this link: https://new.uschess.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/xv-pan-american-u7-u17-chess-championship-el-salvador-2026.pdf 

ACCOMMODATIONS

For security and organizational reasons, all participants must stay at the official event hotel booked through US Chess. The organizer offers the Royal Decameron Salinitas room rates which is for 7 nights total (Buffet breakfast lunch, and dinner, served meals from dinner on May 11th until Breakfast, May 18.)

• Single Room - $1050 (Must be 18+ at time of check-in July 27)
• Double Room - $735/person = $1470 for 2 people
• Triple Room - $690/person = $2070 for 3 people.
• Children under 12 years old - $420/child
  • One must send proof to Click here to show email address if using this option for children under 12, e.g. birth certificate/ID card.

You may not make your own hotel arrangements and your registration will not be considered complete as all hotel registration must be with the organizer.

REGISTRATION - DEADLINE IS March 20!

US Chess is accepting entries for USA players up until Friday, March 20, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CDT. This deadline is imposed due to the organizers' registration deadline of April 12.

Official Player Registration - see below for more info - Registration is deadline is Friday, February 20, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CST for OR/PR Players.

Registration Form: XV Pan-American U7-U17 Chess Championship Registration Form

Once you have completed the form, US Chess will send you an invoice which must be paid no later than Friday, March 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CDT.

Please note, the following fees will be charged:

• Tournament Registration Fee/CCA Entry Fee - $160.00
• Special Accreditation Fee for Accompanying Persons - $20 per person (delegates, coaches, accompanying persons)
• Accommodation Fee – various based on room type and number of persons in the room
• US Chess Administrative Fee - $300/player
• Transportation from El Salvador International to hotel, round trip $75 per person (Optional)

A current US Chess membership through the end of the tournament (May 2026) for all U.S. participants.

A USA-flagged FIDE ID is required for all U.S. players.

If you do not currently have a FIDE ID, please complete our FIDE ID Request Form at https://forms.gle/fCCTis7WgtJEb2rv6.

REFUND POLICY - DEADLINE IS March 27!

Refunds must be requested by the specific date for your registration deadline (March 20). After your respective registration deadline date, no refund will be provided, unless the tournament is canceled by the organizers. Both players' registration information and funds would have been transferred to the event organizers to secure hotel accommodations, accreditations, ground transportation, and tournament entry after the March 27 deadline. 

For OR/PR players, the deadline to request a refund is February 27.

OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES AND PERSONAL RIGHTS PLAYERS

The following players are the Official Players for the Pan-American U7-U17 for being a Gold medalist at the respective events: 

XIV Pan American School Chess 2025: Aayansh Guntaka (Open 13 - Gold), Darren Wu (Open 9 - Gold), Allyson Yu (Girls U9 - Gold), Sophie Shihua Li (Girls U7 - Gold)

North American Schools Chess 2025: Siddharth Kaushik (Open 11 - Gold)

Registration Deadline for Official Player Registration: Friday, February 20, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CST.

Invoice must be paid to confirm Official Player Status: Friday, February 27, 2026, 5:00 p.m. CST.

Official Players are reimbursed for their hotel and admin fee after the completion of the tournament. Said financial refunds will only be provided after the event has concluded and the player has played all rounds of the tournament without behavioral issues reports from the Chief Organizer and/or Chief Arbiter and their respective deputies.  Travel and all fees for accompanying persons are the player’s responsibility.

TRAVEL WAIVERS

All players will be required to sign a waiver for participation before their entry into the tournament is confirmed. Please visit the USA State Departments Travel Advisory website for the latest information regarding traveling to El Salvador for US Travelers.
 

QUESTIONS

If you have any questions regarding this event, please contact Brian Yang, US Chess FIDE Events Manager at Click here to show email address.