76th Oregon Open Chess Tournament

September 5-7, 2026, Labor Day Weekend

Check the Oregon Chess Federation website for updates to the tournament information.

Sponsored by the Oregon Chess Federation (OCF) and Portland Chess Club (PCC)

FORMAT: The tournament is a 6-round Swiss paired event with two rounds per day and is open to everyone, regardless of residency or age. Up to two half point byes are available if requested before round one.

SECTIONS: There are five sections: 2000+, U2000, U1700, U1400, and U1100. Players may play up one section for a $25 play-up fee (can’t play up more than one section). The official September US Chess over-the-board regular ratings are generally used for section eligibility, pairings, and prize eligibility. Unofficial US Chess over-the-board regular ratings, US Chess online regular ratings, or converted foreign ratings are generally used for players with no official US Chess over-the-board regular rating. The late arrival default time in all sections is 60 minutes.

TIME CONTROL: G/100;inc30 (one-hour forty minutes per player with thirty seconds added for each move).

SUPPLIES: PLAYERS MUST SUPPLY THEIR OWN BOARD, SET, AND INCREMENT CAPABLE DIGITAL CLOCK FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY. A limited number of sets and boards will be available to purchase at the tournament for $20 each. Players are responsible for knowing how to set their clock. Notation sheets and pencils provided. 

SCHEDULE: A players meeting is at 9:45am on Saturday. There is no need for registered players to “check-in” prior to round 1. The rounds start at 10am and 3:30pm each day.

RATED: All the sections are US Chess regular rated. The 2000+ and U2000 sections are also FIDE standard rated.

ENTRY FEE: $130 if registered by Friday, August 15; $140 from August 16 until Friday, September 4 at 1:00pm PDT. Free entry for GM’s and IM’s with up to $130 deducted from any prize won. US Chess membership is required for all players. Oregon Chess Federation membership is required for Oregon residents.

PRIZES: $18,000 total prize fund based on 200 players. The prize fund is adjusted proportionally if there are a different number of players, but $9000 is guaranteed.

2000+ Section: 1st-$2150, 2nd-$1500, 3rd-$1150

              U2150: 1st-$550, 2nd-$400, 3rd-$250

U2000 Section: 1st-$850, 2nd-$550, 3rd-$400

              U1850: 1st-$550, 2nd-$400, 3rd-$250

U1700 Section: 1st-$850, 2nd-$550, 3rd-$400

               U1550: 1st-$550, 2nd-$400, 3rd-$250

U1400 Section: 1st-$850, 2nd-$550, 3rd-$400

               U1250: 1st-$550, 2nd-$400, 3rd-$250

U1100 Section: 1st-$850, 2nd-$550, 3rd-$400

                 U950: 1st-$550, 2nd-$400, 3rd-$250

Unrated players are eligible for all prizes in their section except the U950 prizes in the U1100 section. Prizes are combined and/or split if there is a tie. Players winning $600 or more must complete an IRS form with their Social Security number before receiving their prize. Foreign players may be subject to withholding taxes. Prizes are paid via check or PayPal.

QUALIFIERS: The 2000+ section is a qualifier for both the Championship and Challengers sections of the Oregon Closed.  All the sections are qualifiers for the Oregon Scholastic Chess Federation (OSCF) State Championship.

LOCATION: Holiday Inn Portland Airport, 8439 Columbia Blvd, Portland, OR 97220. There is free parking in the hotel parking area. Hotel rooms for any of the nights of September 4- September 8 are available at a special chess rate of $84 plus tax per night for single or double rooms. The hotel chess rate is not guaranteed to be available after July 30, or even earlier if the room block is sold out. Use this link or call 1-888-465-4329 to reserve a room. If reserving by phone, use the following group SRP code: CHS.

REGISTRATION: Register online at onlineregistration.cc (no mailed or on-site registrations are allowed). The deadline to register is Friday, September 4 at 1:00pm PDT. Email support@oregonchessfed.org if you encounter any issues while trying to register online, need to withdraw after having already registered, or are unable to pay the entry fee online via credit card, debit card, or PayPal.

TOURNAMENT RULES: The FIDE rules are used in the 2000+ and U2000 sections while the US Chess rules are used in the U1700, U1400, and U1100 sections. The following applies to all sections: 1) Players are not allowed to have a phone or other electronic device capable of chess analysis or communication on their person during their games. Any such device a player has with them must be turned off and stored in the player’s bag (backpack, chess bag, etc.). The penalty for possessing such a device is at the discretion of the chief tournament director. 2) You must let the tournament staff know at least thirty minutes prior to the start time of the next round if you decide to withdraw from the tournament or skip that round. If you decide to withdraw or skip a round and are not on-site, send us an email to support@oregonchessfed.org letting us know. Any player who forfeits a game without a valid reason in the judgement of the chief tournament director will not be allowed to play in the Oregon Open next year.

QUESTIONS: Send an email to support@oregonchessfed.org if you have any questions.