📰 News: Celebrating the 133rd Minnesota Open 🎉
(with tie breaks)
MSCA Members: The voting items have been approved and board members elected! Thank you. Welcome to incoming board member Shanti Krishna, and farewell to departing president Mike Benson. 🙏
🦆 Minnesota Open
Feb 20-22, 2026 🗓️
💰️ $8,000 prizes projected!
based on 252 players
Minneapolis Marriott Northwest 🏨
7025 Northland Drive N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55428 (map)
⚔️ 15 qualifying spots
for 2026 Closed State Championship
This is the big one!
Be a part of Minnesota’s oldest chess tradition, returning for the 133rd consecutive year. 💪
👥 Annual membership meeting at 5:30pm on Friday, 2/20. Please review and take actions on member business below.
Play in a simultaneous chess exhibition with IM John Bartholomew!
♟️ 6:45pm on Friday, 2/20 • Concurrent with first round of the tournament. You can register for the 2-day schedule, or the 3-day schedule with a bye in round 1.
♟️ Limit 24 • Open to all • If playing in the tournament, FREE entry! Otherwise $10 • Boards and pieces will be provided for the simul.
Girls Club Room!
Dedicated space for all female players. Relax between rounds, play casual games, and get game analysis from coach Sofia Doroshenko. Join us to celebrate women’s chess in MN!
💃🏻
Hosted by Midwest Chess Girls Group & Sponsored by Rochester Chess
🎫 🎫 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...)
Details 📌
6 Round Swiss
US Chess rated
Premier & Amateur sections are also FIDE rated
Sections
🟠 Premier: Open
🔴 Amateur: U2000
🔵 Reserve: U1700
🟢 Sophomore: U1300
🟣 Bantam: U1000
🟡 Novice: U700
3-Day Schedule 🗓️
⌛️ G/90 +30s
Friday 7pm 🕖️
(follows annual MSCA membership meeting which begins at 🕠️ 5:30pm)
Saturday 9am • 2pm • 7pm 🕘️
Sunday 10am • 4pm 🕙️
2-Day Schedule 🗓️
⌛️ G/60; 5s delay for rounds 1-2, then G/90 +30s
Saturday 9am • 11:30am • 2pm • 7pm 🕘️
(merge with 3-day schedule for round 3)
Sunday 10am • 4pm 🕙️
Note: Shorter games will not be FIDE rated.
⏱️ Forfeit time is 30 min. after round start time
💤 Max two ½ pt byes, any rounds, declared before round 3
🟫♟️⏰ Players should bring chess boards, pieces, and clock
🏛️ The 2026 Minnesota Chess Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will begin at 🕒️ 2:45pm on Sunday. Light snacks will be provided during the ceremony courtesy of the MSCA. 🍪
🎬️ Tournament Director:
Sarah Wahl
💼 Organizer:
Shanti Krishna
Entry Fees 🎫
by ➡️
🟠 Premier
🔴 U2000
🔵 U1700
🟢 U1300
🟣 U1000
🟡 U700
☀️
1/17
$100
$95
$90
$85
$80
$75
🌤️
1/31
$110
$105
$100
$95
$90
$85
🌥️
2/19
$120
$115
$110
$105
$100
$95
⏰
Onsite
$130
$125
$120
$115
$110
$105
↗️ Rules for playing up in the Premier, Amateur, and Reserve: Players can play up one section free of cost. However, there is a $100 fee for additional section(s) skipped. The goal of this fee is to discourage folks from playing beyond their ability, to keep all the games competitive, and avoid poor tiebreaker scores for the Closed Playoffs. If you intend to play up more than one section, please email msca.board@gmail.com to process your extra fee. (Exemptions may be granted in some cases.)
🖊️ Register online by Thu 2/19 7pm 🕖️
🖊️ Register onsite Fri 2/20 5:30-6:30pm 🕠️ or Sat 2/21 8:15-8:45am 🕗️
⭐️ Register Online ⭐️
💵 Cash/check only onsite! 💵
📬️ Mail-in entries, received by Wed 2/11
include: (1) event (2) player (3) section (4) byes (5) check!
Minnesota State Chess Association
PO Box 124
Wayzata MN 55391
Projected Prizes 💵
🟠 Premier
🔴 U2000
🔵 U1700
🟢 U1300
🟣 U1000
🟡 U700
🥇
1st
$850
$625
$575
$475
$350
$275
🥈
2nd
$550
$400
$350
$325
$250
$200
🥉
3rd
$350
$225
$200
$175
$150
$125
🏅
4th
$100
$100
$100
Under Prizes
🟠 Premier: U2200 1st $200, 2nd $150
🔴 Amateur: U1850 $200
🔵 Reserve: U1500 $200
🟢 Sophomore: U1150 $200
🟣 Bantam: U850 $100
🟡 Novice: U500 $100, Unrated $100
($8,000 projected prizes based on 42 players per section; under sections based on at least 5 participants.)
See: ’26 State Championship Qualifiers
🟠 Premier: Top 3 🏆️
🟠 Expert: Top 4 U2200 in Premier 🏆️
🔴 Amateur: Top 3 🏆️
🔵 Reserve: Top 4 & Top U1400 🏆️
🔵 Top U1400 finisher outside of top 4. (Tiebreaks to be used if needed. This is an exception to our regular qualification policy.)
Unrated players can play in any section but can only win unrated prize in 🟡 Novice (U700), or 1st - 3rd place overall in 🟠 Premier.
📧 Send email to msca.board@gmail.com with any questions
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.
🎟️ You can pay for a new US Chess membership or renewal during registration, but note that this payment won't be applied until event time. It may be best to 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. 🙌
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