2026 NORTH CENTRAL OPEN

2026 NORTH CENTRAL OPEN
December 25–27, 2026 • Madison Marriott West Hotel • Middleton, WI
3-Day, 2-Day; 1-Day Schedules • Premier Section is FIDE Rated • $3,500 in Prizes • WCA Tour Event

Event Details
Dates: December 25–27, 2026 (the December 26th weekend).
Venue: Madison Marriott West Hotel, 1313 John Q Hammons Dr., Middleton, WI 53562. Phone: 608-831-2000.
This is a FIDE-rated tournament (Premier section) offering three sections and $3,500 in total prizes. It is also a WCA
(Wisconsin Chess Association) tour event.
Ratings used: Organizers reserve the right to use the highest of a player's published ratings (Regular, Rapid, Online
Regular, Online Rapid, or FIDE) for section placement and prize eligibility. Only Regular ratings are affected by
results from this event.

Schedule Options
All three schedules converge after Round 2, so players on any schedule compete in the same overall event.
3-Day Schedule (G/90 + 30 sec increment)
• Friday 7:00 PM — Round 1
• Saturday 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM — Rounds 2–3
• Sunday 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM — Rounds 4–5
2-Day Schedule
• Saturday 9:00 AM — Round 1 (G/30 + 5 sec increment)
• Saturday 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM — Rounds 2–3 (merges with 3-day schedule, G/90 + 30)
• Sunday 10:00 AM & 3:00 PM — Rounds 4–5 (G/90 + 30)
1-Day Schedule
• Saturday 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM & 4:00 PM — Rounds 1–3 (Round 1 at G/30 + 5, Rounds 2–3 at G/90 + 30)
• Sunday — two half-point byes for Rounds 4–5
Notation is mandatory for the entire game, except for Round 1 of the 2-day schedule. The Premier section is FIDE rated
except for Round 1 of the 2-day schedule.

Sections Prizes ($3,500 total)
Section Prize Breakdown
Premier (FIDE Rated) 1st: $500 + traveling trophy • 2nd: $300 • 3rd: $200 • U2201: $200 • U2001: $200
Reserve (U1901) 1st: $400 • 2nd: $300 • U1701: $200 • U1501: $200
Booster (U1301) 1st: $400 • 2nd: $300 • U1101: $200 • Top Unrated: $100

• A player can only win one cash prize — the largest one they qualify for.
  • Blitz playoff for the traveling trophy in case of a tie for 1st place in the Premier section.
  • Unrated players may not play in the Premier section, and may not win more than $200 in the Booster section.
  Entry Fees
  Online, by December 8--$99
  Online, by December 22--$109
  After December 22 / on-site--$119
  Play-up (into one higher section) +$50
  Re-entry--$70
• Late entries may receive a half-point bye for Round 1.
  • Up to two half-point byes are permitted across all rounds; byes must be committed to before Round 1.
  Hotel Information
  Madison Marriott West Hotel — special chess rate: $99/night. This rate includes free parking, free internet, and a
  heavily discounted breakfast buffet.
  Contact Organizers
  Alex Betaneli — This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. — 608-334-2574 (text preferred after 2:00 PM Friday)
  Chris Wainscott — This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. — 414-839-5232 (text)