2026 Fallsview International Chess Open

[Salim Belcadi]

Annex Chess Club and the Niagara Falls Chess Club, in partnership with Fallsview Group, are proud to present the inaugural Fallsview International Chess Open, a new annual international tournament to be held in the heart of Niagara Falls.


WHEN

Master Section: Wednesday, November 11 to Sunday, November 15, 2026
Open Sections: Friday, November 13 to Sunday, November 15, 2026


WHERE

DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa by Hilton
Niagara Falls, Ontario

Discounts for accommodation at the DoubleTree and other hotels (including an affordable and a premium hotel option) will be posted soon.

FORMAT

Master Section

• Nine-round Swiss tournament
• 90 minutes + 30-second increment from move 1
• FIDE Rated, 0 point byes
• A minimum of 10 Grandmasters will be invited. Norms will be possible.
• Open to players with a published standard FIDE rating of at least 2200 at the moment of registration. The organizers may also invite a limited number of players.

Open Sections

• Five-round Swiss tournaments
• 90 minutes + 30-second increment from move 1
• Multiple rating sections
• FIDE and/or CFC Rated, depending on the section, 0.5 point byes
• Open to players of all ratings

SCHEDULE

Master Section

• Round 1: Wednesday, November 11 – 7:00 pm
• Round 2: Thursday, November 12 – 10:00 am
• Round 3: Thursday, November 12 – 4:00 pm
• Round 4: Friday, November 13 – 12:00 pm
• Round 5: Friday, November 13 – 7:00 pm
• Round 6: Saturday, November 14 – 10:00 am
• Round 7: Saturday, November 14 – 4:00 pm
• Round 8: Sunday, November 15 – 10:00 am
• Round 9: Sunday, November 15 – 4:00 pm

Open Sections

• Round 1: Friday, November 13 – 7:00 pm
• Round 2: Saturday, November 14 – 10:00 am
• Round 3: Saturday, November 14 – 4:00 pm
• Round 4: Sunday, November 15 – 10:00 am
• Round 5: Sunday, November 15 – 4:00 pm

QUALIFIER EVENTS

Three one-day satellite tournaments will be held and open to players of all ratings:

• Thursday, August 13, 2026
• Wednesday, September 16, 2026
• Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Each qualifier will feature a C$1,000 prize fund. In addition, the winner of each qualifier will receive free entry into the Master Section of the Fallsview International Chess Open, regardless of rating.

Further details and registration information for the qualifier events will be announced separately.


ENTRY FEES

Master Section

• Grandmasters: Free (eligible for conditions)
• IMs and WGMs: C$250
• Other eligible players: C$300

Open Sections

• Early Bird (through August 31): C$90
• Regular (September 1 – October 15): C$100
• Late (from October 16): C$110

Registrations online only or in person at Annex Chess Club on Monday evenings.


PRIZE FUND

Current prize fund based on 200 entries: C$7,500, including a guaranteed first prize of C$2,500 in the Master Section.

The prize fund may increase further as sponsorship and registration grow.


REGISTRATION

Master Section
https://square.link/u/AQMdA1lh (IMs and WGMs, please use the code Master for a $50 discount)

Open Sections:
https://square.link/u/GjGcl6i8


CURRENT REGISTERED GRANDMASTERS:

- GM Awonder Liang (USA), 2696
- GM Loek van Wely (NED), 2640
- GM Gleb Dudin (HUN), 2577
- GM Isik Can (TUR), 2565
- GM Shawn Rodrigue-Lemieux (CAN), 2534
- GM Isan Ortiz (CUB), 2490
- GM Razvan Preotu (CAN), 2482
- GM Bator Sambuev (CAN), 2420

The list of registered Grandmasters is subject to change and will be updated as additional players confirm their participation.

[Salim Belcadi]

Please also wait before you book your accommodation. Fallsview group will provide favorable discounts in several of their properties, I will be posting them soon.

[Hans Jung]

Exciting!!

[Salim Belcadi]

We fixed the HST issue. Thanks a lot for bringing that to our attention.