The 46th Annual Lina Grumette Memorial Day Classic is scheduled for May 23–25, 2026, at the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX Hotel in Los Angeles, California. Organized by the Southern California Chess Federation (SCCF), this 6-round Swiss system tournament is a recurring event on the Southern California chess calendar.
Tournament Structure and Participation
The event is divided into six sections to accommodate various rating levels:
- Open Section: FIDE-rated top section.
- Class Sections: U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400, and U1200 (all US Chess rated).
Participants may select between two scheduling options:
- 3-Day Schedule: A classical time control of 40 moves in 80 minutes, followed by sudden death in 30 minutes, with a 30-second increment from the first move.
- 2-Day Schedule: Rounds 1–3 are played at G/45 with a 10-second delay. These players merge into the main tournament on Sunday afternoon.
Southern California residents are required to hold a current SCCF membership to participate.
Prize Fund and Eligibility
The tournament offers a total prize fund of USD 20,000, based on entries. The distribution is as follows:
| Section | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th |
| Open | $1,800 | $1,000 | $600 | $200 |
| Open U2250 | $700 | $400 | $300 | – |
| U2000, U1800, U1600, U1400, U1200 | $1,200 | $800 | $600 | $400 |
Unrated players may enter any section, but they are subject to prize caps (USD 100–400 depending on the section). Provisionally rated players may be limited to 50% of the prize amount outside of the Open section.
Registration and Venue
Registration is managed through the SCCF website. Fees vary based on the registration date, with price increases applied after May 1 and May 22. Grandmasters, International Masters, and Women’s equivalents receive free entry.
The tournament takes place at the Sonesta Los Angeles Airport LAX Hotel. A special chess rate is available for attendees, and parking is provided on-site for a daily fee.
