The US Championship Online Qualifier

US Chess is very excited to announce the US Championship Online Qualifier, presented by chess.com.

The qualifier tournament is an event unique to 2020 that will allow any US Chess member a shot at playing in the 2021 Closed US Chess Championship, held at the Saint Louis Chess Club. US Chess annually confers a spot to the closed championship via the US Open, held in August. However, the 2020 edition of the US Open was cancelled due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

To replace that qualification spot, US Chess has partnered with chess.com to create an exciting series of qualification tournaments that will culminate in a final 8-player round robin. The winner of the final round robin will receive an automatic spot in the 2021 US Championship.

The series of qualification tournaments will start November 21.

In addition to the qualifying spot cash prizes will also be awarded as follows:

Final Round Robin Prize Table

1st Place: $3,000

2nd Place: $2,000

3rd Place: $1,500

4th Place: $1,000

5th Place: $800

6th Place: $700

7th Place: $600

8th Place: $400

The qualification tournaments are open to any current US Chess member. Please note, however, that only US federation players are eligible for the US Championship qualification spot.

Apart from the qualification tournaments, the US Chess Members Only Club will host special side events during the final week, from December 11-18th. Each side event will have a special prize fund.

Side Events Prize Fund

1st Place: $250

2nd Place: $150

3rd Place: $100

4th-10th Place: Chess.com Diamond Memberships

As an added bonus prize, Chess.com will also randomly select one player to win a paid trip (flight, hotel, tournament entry fee) to the 2021 US Open. This player must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible: