2026 Saint Louis Masters

The 2026 Saint Louis Masters is a premier chess event featuring top international players competing over nine intense rounds from February 25 to March 2, at the Club’s newly renovated tournament venue. The purpose of this 9-round Swiss System Invitational tournament is to provide internationally titled and up-and-coming titled chess players an opportunity to compete in a prestigious tournament against a high level of competition along with a substantial prize fund of $100,000.

Spectators will be allowed in the tournament hall if they are a STLCC member or have purchased a day pass. Members and Day pass holders will have access to in-person commentary happening at the Saint Louis Chess Club featuring Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan and the Grandmaster In Residence, GM Illia Nyznyk for round 4, and rounds 6 – 9.

About the Tournament:

• Tournament Dates: February 24-March 2, 2026  (Arrival-Departure); Play begins on February 25 and concludes on March 1.
• Location: Saint Louis Chess Chess Club, 4663 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, Missouri
• Prize Fund: $100,000
• Time Control: 90 minutes per game with a 30-second increment from move one
• Invitation Criteria:
• Players must play at least 9 games
• Players must meet the required mix of opponents; FIDE titles, Federations, and Rating.
• The Field must meet the requirements of 1.4.3 subsection d – Swiss System tournaments in which participants include in every round at least 20 FIDE rated players, not from the host federation, from at least 3 different federations, at least 10 of whom hold GM, IM, WGM or WIM titles. (Players who can be counted must only miss one round (excluding pairing allocated byes).
• A maximum of ⅗ of the opponents may come from the applicant’s federation and a maximum of ⅔ of the opponents from one federation.
• Titles of opponents must meet the requirements of 1.4.5 subsections a-e.
• Rating of opponents must meet the requirements of 1.4.6 subsections a-d.
• Rating average of opponents must meet the requirements of 1.4.7 subsections a-b.
• Performance Rating must meet the requirements of 1.4.8 for the specific title being sought.
• None of these requirements guarantee the awarding of norms for players for this event.

The Saint Louis Masters is an invitation-only swiss tournament.

 -Invitation requests are now closed. Thank you for your interest.-