🎩 Class Championships 💃🏻🕺🏻
New Venue • New Sections • Saturday Night USCF Rated Blitz!
🗓️ Nov 7-8, 2026
$4,500 Projected Prizes!💰️
Renaissance Bloomington Hotel ⚜️
5500 American Blvd West,
Bloomington, MN 55437 (map)
($4,000 based on 100 players
+ $500 blitz based on 30 players)
Compete with your peers! 🤝
The Class Champs organizes players based on their ratings.
🎫 🎫 Two memberships are required to play in this event, MSCA & US Chess
🔎 Check your MSCA status and Join 🙌 (supports Minnesota chess operations)
🎟️ Join US Chess (aka USCF, required for ratings; see note below...)
Fri 11/6 7pm
Memberships must be current by
Details 📌
4 Round Swiss
US Chess rated
Sections
8 Sections (see below)
⌛️ Time Control
G/75 +30s
Master-Class E
Class F (1-Day)
G/45 d/10
Byes
max one ½ pt byes declared before round 2
Rounds ⚪️
Master-Class E
Saturday 10am • 2:30pm 🕙️
Sunday 10am • 2:30pm 🕙️
Class F (1-Day)
Saturday 10am • 12:30pm • 2:30pm • 4:30pm 🕙️
Awards 6:30pm 🕙️
⏱️ Forfeit time is 30 min. after round start time
🟫♟️⏰ Bring chess sets and clocks.
🚀 USCF Rated Blitz!
Saturday 7:00pm 🕙️
⌛️ Time Control
5 Double Rounds G/3 d/2
🎬️ Chief Tournament Director:
Andrew Titus
💃🏻 MSCA Organizer:
Shanti Krishna
Entry Fees 🎫
by ➡️
Master
Exp-Class E
Class F
Blitz
☀️
10/2
$80
$70
$40
$25
🌤️
10/16
$90
$80
$50
$25
🌥️
11/6
$100
$90
$60
$25
⏰
11/7
$120
$110
$70
$30
💵 GM & WGM: free entry if registered by Fri 11/6, 7pm.
💵 IM & WIM: free entry if registered by Fri 11/6, 7pm — entry fee deducted from any prize winnings.
Contact msca.board@gmail.com to arrange free titled-player registration.
🖊️ Register online any time through Sat 11/7 by 9:00am 🕖️
Registration on Saturday is self-service online only — no cash or check accepted.
📬️ Mail-in entries, received by Tues 11/3:
include: (1) event (2) player (3) section (4) byes (5) check!
💃 Register Online 🕺
Minnesota State Chess Association
PO Box 124, Wayzata MN 55391
Classes & Projected Prizes 💵
Master 1st place ($500) is guaranteed regardless of turnout. Every other section's 1st place is guaranteed at 75% of its published amount. 3rd place cash prizes are added in any section reaching 21+ players.
🔴 Master
2100+
1st $500 2nd $300
🟠 Expert
1900-2199
1st $350 2nd $200
🟡 Class A
1700-1999
1st $350 2nd $200
🟢 Class B
1500-1799
1st $350 2nd $200
🔵 Class C
1300-1599
1st $300 2nd $150
🟣 Class D
1100-1399
1st $300 2nd $150
🟤 Class E
Under 1200
1st $300 2nd $150
1st $125 2nd $75
⚫ Class F (1-Day)
Under 1000
🏆 Trophies for Top 3 K-12, Top K-8, Top K-5 in Class F
🚀 Blitz Tournament: $500 in Prizes (based on 30 players)
1st $150 2nd $100
Top U1700 $100 | Top U1300 $80 | Top U900 (or unrated) $70
🏆️ Sections may be changed, combined, or separated if some sections are too small or too large; prizes will be kept proportional.
🏆️ Players must play in the appropriate section for their rating.
🏆️ If your updated rating is above the next section's bottom limit within 2 weeks of the tournament, you may request to be moved to a higher section.
🏆️ Unrated players may enter any Class A–F section — not Master/Expert.
🏆️ Unrated prize winnings are capped by section:
Class A/B — $300 · Class C/D — $200 · Class E — $150
🏆️ Any amount over the unrated cap passes to the next eligible rated player in that section.
🏆️ Unrated players entering Class A–D may be asked to provide a chess.com or Lichess username at registration, to help ensure accurate section placement.
Additional Details
🏞️ The MSCA strives to have all of our facilities and events available to as many community members as possible. We will attempt to accommodate access requests to the best of our abilities. Please let us know how we can help improve your chess experience!
⚖️ The MSCA Electronic Device and Fair Play Policy will be enforced for players and spectators at this tournament.
🧮 Please see the MSCA Unrated Policy to learn how rating may be determined from US Chess live/online or FIDE ratings.
🚨 Published unrated players who possess FIDE ratings MUST disclose their FIDE rating. See the MSCA Unrated Policy.
🛡️ The MSCA recognizes the importance of a safe and hospitable environment at our chess events. To promote this type of environment, the MSCA has developed a Policy on Safe Play & Conduct. The MSCA also follows US Chess guidelines for training TDs with materials developed by the US Center for SafeSport. To support a safe and hospitable environment, the MSCA reminds all chess participants and attendees that they are responsible for their actions, and that parents/guardians of minors are responsible at all times for the welfare and safety of their children/dependents.
🎟️ MSCA & US Chess memberships must be current by Fri 11/6 7pm — any late renewals on-site must be self service online — no cash or check to TD. Sign up directly with US Chess today. There are options for new members (get a new USCF ID and pay) and for existing members (already have an ID) to create a website login. If you already have a login/ID, you can use it to pay for a renewal.
🔎 Don't forget your Minnesota Chess membership! Check MSCA status and join by Fri, 11/6 🙌