UMass Winter Classic - Open Section

OVERVIEW

The UMass Winter Classic will be held from January 31 to February 1st, 2026. This is a 5-round US Chess-rated event with a $5,000 prize fund for the open section ($10,000 total prize fund for the whole event). It will be hosted in the Student Union Ballroom at 41 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01002. Please bring your own sets and chess clocks.

TIME CONTROL & ROUND TIMES

G/90;d5.

Saturday: 10 am, 2:30 pm, 6 pm

Sunday: 10 am, 2:30 pm

PRIZES 

$2000 - $1250 - $750

Top U2300: $600

Top U2100: $400

Please note that the prizes above are based on 50 players. 

ENTRY FEE 

All GMs, IMs, WGMs: Free entry, $100 deducted from prize

FMs, WIMs, WFMs, NMs: $100 entry (reduced fee) by January 27th, $110 later online or at site.

Everyone else: $130 entry fee, $140 on-site. If the published rating is under 1900 at the time of registration, then an additional $75 play-up fee applies. Unrated ineligible to enter.

REGISTRATION

• Online registration is strongly recommended: https://websites.umass.edu/chess-rso/
• Online registration closes January 30th, 4:00 pm
• On-Site Registration closes January 31st, 9:00 am.
• For on-site registration, please bring exact change

PARKING

Vehicles may park in any available non-restricted, non-reserved space or lot for free (no parking permit required). These are the red lots in this map. The closest of these lots to the Student Union (event venue) are lots 64, 30, 63. The closest parking to the Student Union is the paid parking in the Campus Center garage ($1.85/hr).

*Payment Disclaimer*

 In order to receive your winnings, you must register yourself as a vendor with the University of Massachusetts Amherst. We will provide the link to the vendor site once the winners are confirmed. Once filled out, the University of Massachusetts Amherst will pay your winnings, however, it may take longer than 3-4 weeks. This is the only way the University of Massachusetts Amherst Chess Club can pay your winnings.