The 34th Annual Midwest Class Championships will take place from October 9–11, 2026, at the Westin Chicago North Shore Hotel in Wheeling, Illinois.
Recognized as an official US Chess Heritage Event, the prestigious 5-round Swiss-system tournament offers a $20,000 unconditionally guaranteed prize fund along with 120 Enhanced US Chess Grand Prix points.
The competition features seven distinct rating divisions, ranging from the Premier Section (rated 2000 and up) down to the Under 1100 Section.
The top division boasts a $2,000 first prize, a $100 bonus for clear first place or top tiebreak winner, and dedicated Under 2300 performance bonuses. Both the Premier and the 1800–2099 sections will be FIDE-rated, while all divisions count toward official US Chess ratings.
Players can choose between a standard 3-day schedule or a condensed 2-day option, with expanded class boundaries allowing eligible players to play up into higher sections.
In addition to individual prizes, the event features $1,400 in Mixed Doubles bonus awards for two-player male/female teams across all sections with an average rating under 2200.
