Shippensburg Spring Open 2026

Tuscarora Room, Shippensburg University

Event Overview

$485 GUARANTEED PRIZE FUND

Open Section:

  • 1st Place: $140, 2nd Place: $100
  • Top U1700: $75

U1300 Section:

  • 1st: $80, 2nd: $50
  • Top U1100: $40

Special Prizes:

  • Top Unrated: Free Entry to 1-day Central PA or Frederick, MD tournament (top unrated scorer in either section)
  • Top K-12 Player: Trophy (The scholastic scorer in either section)

Format: 4SS, G/40;+5 (4-round Swiss, Game in 40 minutes with a 5-second bonus per move).

 

CLOCKS AND SETS PROVIDED. (Triple-weighted)

This event is part of the 2026 Shippensburg Chess Grand Prix (Click here to find out more)!

Prizes, time control, and sections are subject to change until Feb. 3rd depending on feedback from the Jan. 31st Shippensburg Winter Open tournament.

 

Schedule:

Round 1: 10:30am (tournament starts promptly. We recommend players arrive by 10:15am)
Round 2: 12:15pm
Lunch Break: 2:00pm (Chick-Fil-A and convenience store across the street)
Round 3: 2:30pm
Round 4: 4:15pm
Prizes given out by 6pm (ASAP)

 

ENTRY FEE:

  • Online Registration Page: https://chessnut.club/e/shippensburg-spring-open-2026
  • U1300 Section Entry Fees (Open to players rated below 1300 and unrated players):
    • Early Bird Discount Entry: $15 if registered by Tuesday, April. 7th
    • Regular Entry: $20 if registered by 9:30am before the tournament starts
    • Same-Day Entry: $25 if registering on-site, the day of the tournament. (please arrive before 10:00am if registering the day of)
    • FOR NEW PLAYERS: Unrated player entry fee is $5
      • Entry fee is $5 for new players as long as they register by 9:30am the day of). Same-day entries are $25.
  • Open Section Entry Fees (Open to all, including unrated players):
    • Early Bird Discount Entry: $20 if registered by Tuesday, April. 7th
    • Regular Entry: $25 if registered by 9:30am before the tournament starts
    • Same-Day Entry: $30 if registering on-site, the day of the tournament. (please arrive before 10:00am if registering the day of)
    • FOR NEW PLAYERS: Unrated player entry fee is $5
      • Entry fee is $5 for new players as long as they register by 9:30am the day of). Same-day entries are $25.
  • Can't pay electronically but want to register early? You may send checks/cash in the mail. Email tournament director Nathan Zeigler at [email protected] for address. Electronic payment is preferred for advanced registration.
  • Players may also choose to Paypal [email protected] (friends & family option) or Venmo @nathzeig the entry fee. Please email all the entry information (USCF ID, Name, Section, etc.) to Click here to show mail address if registering this way
  • Requesting a 1/2-point bye? Email tournament director at Click here to show mail address to put in the request.

UNRATED (New Player) POLICY:

Unrated players are not eligible for the 1st place prize in the U1300 section.  The only prize unrated players are eligible for in the U1300 section is the 2nd place prize. Unrated players in the Open section are eligible for the 1st place prize and the 2nd place prize, but not the U1700 prize.

Location Info:

  • NEW ADDRESS: 110 Cumberland Dr, Shippensburg, PA 17257 (Across the street from old address)
  • NEW ROOM: Tuscarora Room (T-room) in Reisner Dining Hall at Shippensburg University.
    • Across the street from the old playing hall, and we will update the "New to Shippensburg?" document soon with detailed instructions with pictures.
  • Free parking: Park in the C-7 parking lot (link to parking map: https://www.ship.edu/globalassets/visit/parkingmap.pdf)
    • C-7 is the lot opposing Luhrs Performing Arts Center. That will provide a good landmark.

New to Shippensburg?

Click this link to view more info: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1slLL0W9Mz0_qVg_mswh83nYQ0CMvGsSOPRXx62VYVPo/edit?usp=sharing

 

USCF Membership:

  • ALL players are required to have a USCF membership to play in the event. Find the rates here: https://new.uschess.org/join-us-chess
    • Don't want to pay for an annual membership? Players may opt to pay a one-time $10 fee to play in the tournament.
    • Questions? Email the tournament director at [email protected]. If you want, we can process your membership for you if you email us about it and you will receive a $3 discount.

PAST SHIPPENSBURG TOURNAMENTS:

Address:

110 Cumberland Dr.
Shippensburg, PA 17257
United States

Sections: 2
Grand Prix Points:
Prize Fund: 485
FIDE Rated: No
Handicap Accessible: No
Residency Restriction: No
Online Event: No

Organizer Overview

Nathan Zeigler
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 619-748-1751
Website: https://chessnut.club/e/shippensburg-spring-open-2026