The American Open is more than a tournament—it’s an experience for the entire chess community. And we’re excited to announce that registration for the 61st American Open – Scholastic Tournaments is now officially OPEN!

If you have a young chess player in your family ready to compete, this is a great opportunity to bring them to one of the country’s long-running chess events and let them experience the excitement of playing at a grand ballroom of the Hyatt Regency.

Whether your child is just getting started in their tournament journey or already competing regularly, there is a tournament designed for different ages and playing levels.

Choose the Tournament Type That Fits Your Chess Player

The Scholastic program features three divisions on different days:

Novice – Friday, November 27
Perfect for players in K-12th grade who are new or relatively new to tournament playing. This is a non-rated tournament for beginner levels. Players will compete in grade-based sections with trophies awarded to the top individual players and top team per section.

Junior Varsity – Saturday, November 28 OR Sunday, November 29
For US Chess–rated players in kindergarten through 12th grade, with sections organized by grade level and US Chess rating. Junior Varsity is a one-day, 5 rounds, US Chess-rated event with a time control of 30-minutes/5-second delay, with individual and team trophies awarded.

Varsity – Saturday & Sunday, November 28–29
For experienced tournament players in kindergarten through 12th grade looking to compete in longer time controls, Varsity is a two-day, 5 rounds, US Chess-rated event with a time control of 60-minutes/5 seconds delay.

🏆 More Than Just a Chess Tournament

One of the things that makes the American Open special is the opportunity for young players to be surrounded by chess throughout the weekend because the Scholastic Tournament is being held as part of the 61st American Open Chess Championship.

Players can compete, meet other young chess enthusiasts, watch strong players compete, and experience the atmosphere of a major chess championship. Families can also make it a full chess week rather than just a single tournament day. There will be a Chess Camp on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, Blitz Tournament on Saturday night, Action Tournament on Sunday afternoon, Grandmaster lectures, and panel events throughout the weekend.

View all Scholastic Tournament details and register

📅 Register Early and Save!

Early registration offers the best pricing as tournament entry fees increase as the event gets closer. There will also be no onsite/same day registration.

This year’s American Open is especially exciting as we begin a new decade for this historic event.

For young chess players, this is a chance to become part of something bigger than a school or club tournament—to create memories, compete on a bigger stage, and experience the chess community playing together.