The 60th American Open Chess Championship will take place from Monday, November 24, 2025, to Sunday, November 30, 2025, at the Hyatt Regency Orange County, located at 11999 Harbor Boulevard, Garden Grove, California, 92840, USA. The event is a Heritage Event, an American Classic, and part of the US Chess Grand Prix with 150 Grand Prix Points. The tournament offers a $36,800 prize fund, is FIDE rated for designated sections, is handicap accessible, and has no residency restrictions. It is an over-the-board event with no online play.
The 2025 edition marks the 60th anniversary of the American Open, traditionally held during Thanksgiving Week. The tournament includes the Main Event, multiple Scholastic tournaments, a Blitz tournament, an Action tournament, and a Chess Camp running Monday through Wednesday. All details and registration are available at americanopen.org, and inquiries can be sent to play@americanopen.org or by phone at 714-643-8828.
Main Event Structure
The Main Event includes several rating-based sections, ranging from the Championship Section to the Under 1400 Section. All players must have an active US Chess membership, and all rounds in all sections are US Chess rated.
Championship Section (NORM possible)
The Championship Section features 9 rounds, played over 6 days, meeting FIDE Title Regulation 1.13A, which requires at least three days with only one round. The schedule runs from Tuesday, November 25, to Sunday, November 30, with rounds as follows:
- Tuesday: Round 1 at 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday: Round 2 at 6:00 p.m.
- Thursday: Rounds 3 and 4 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Friday: Rounds 5 and 6 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Saturday: Rounds 7 and 8 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Round 9 at 10:00 a.m.
The time control is G/90 with 30-second increment. The section is US Chess and FIDE rated and awards Grand Prix enhanced points.
Expert, A, B, C, and Under 1400 Sections
These sections play 8 rounds using either a 4-day schedule or a 3-day schedule.
4-Day Schedule (Nov. 27–30)
- Rounds 1–8: 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. each day
- Time control: G/90; inc/30
3-Day Schedule (Nov. 28–30)
- Friday: Rounds 1–4 at 11:00 a.m., 2:30 p.m., 5:00 p.m., and 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday: Rounds 5–6 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Sunday: Rounds 7–8 at 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
- Time controls:
- Rounds 1–4: G/60; d5
- Rounds 5–8: G/90; inc/30
Players in both schedules merge starting with Round 5.
Ratings rules allow players to “play up” one section, with the November US Chess rating supplement used as the official rating. Foreign, FIDE, and other published over-the-board ratings may be used if higher.
Prize Structure
All prize amounts listed are guaranteed. Prizes are paid by check, PayPal, or Zelle. Players who withdraw are not eligible for prizes, and unrated or provisional players (under 26 games) have maximum prize limits depending on the section.
Championship Section Prizes
- Overall: $3500–1500–800–600–400–250
- Under 2450: $1000–550–250
- Under 2300: $550–250
Expert Section
- $2000–1000–600–400–200
- New: Top Under-2100 scorer: $1000–750
Section A
- $2000–1000–600–400–200
- New: Top Under-1900 scorer: $1000–750
Section B
- $2000–1000–600–400–200
- New: Top Under-1700 scorer: $1000–750
Section C
- $2000–1000–600–400–200
- New: Top Under-1500 scorer: $1000–750
Under 1400 Section
- $1500–800–600–400–200
- New: Under-1300: $1000–750
- U1200: $550–250
- Unrated: $350–150 (unrated players only eligible for these amounts)
Rating-restricted categories (U2450, U2300, U2100, U1900, U1700, U1500, U1300, U1200, Unrated) are not separate sections.
Entry Fees
There is no onsite registration for any section.
Championship Section Entry Fees
(For US Chess and/or FIDE 2200+)
- $170 until Aug 31
- $190 from Sept 1–30
- $220 from Oct 1–31
- $260 from Nov 1–22
- $300 from Nov 23–25
Grandmasters, WGMs, foreign IMs, and foreign WIMs receive complimentary entry if registered by Oct 15, with a $200 deduction from prizes after that date.
Play-up fees apply based on FIDE rating:
- 2000–2200: +$150
- 1800–2000: +$200
- Under 1800 or unrated: +$500
Expert and Lower Sections Fees
Same fee schedule as above: $170–300 depending on date
Re-entry is available at $120.
Byes and Tournament Rules
Players may request up to two half-point byes. Additional byes and late bye requests become zero-point byes. Last-round half-point byes must be requested before Round 2. Players are asked to bring their own chess sets and clocks, which will not be provided.
Concurrent Events
Alongside the Main Event, several additional events will take place:
- Chess Camp: Monday–Wednesday
- Scholastic Tournaments:
- Novice: Friday
- Junior Varsity: Saturday or Sunday
- Varsity: Saturday and Sunday
- Blitz Tournament: Saturday
- Action Tournament: Sunday
Hotel Information
Players can reserve rooms directly at the Hyatt Regency Orange County at a group rate of $160 per night, plus taxes and fees, using the code G-KA25.
Field Strength and Notable Players
As of November 23, the top registered players include several grandmasters and international masters:
- GM Mark Heimann (USA) – USCF 2603 / FIDE 2520
- GM Hedinn Steingrimsson (Iceland) – 2540 / 2492
- GM Arman Mikaelyan (Armenia) – 2591 / 2500
- GM Ehsan Ghaemmaghami (Iran) – 2524 / 2427
- GM Richard Bitoon (Philippines) – 2412 / 2354
- GM James Tarjan (USA) – 2326 / 2240
- WGM Maili-Jade Ouellet (Canada) – 2361 / 2328
- WGM Anastasia Pramzina (FIDE) – 2275 / 2148
- IM Karolis Juksta (Lithuania) – 2464 / 2396
- IM Sugar Gan Erdene (Mongolia) – FIDE 2444
Compared with last year’s top finishers—led by John D. Bryant and Batchuluun Tsegmed with 7.0/9—the 2025 lineup features a significantly higher rated field.
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