Grab your chance to join the event at a special reduced advertised price! For details and to register, visit: https://cavechess.cc/orc Don’t wait—secure your spot today!

2026 U.S. Junior Open Championship!

$11,000 Guaranteed! 150 Enhanced Grand Prix Points

June 19th, 2026 - June 21st, 2026


Playing Site and Room Bookings

Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel and Conference Center; 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018

  • $132 rate per night for 1-4 people (www.cavechess.cc/festival-tourneys-hotel)
  • Includes free breakfast ($25 value) for two people. $10 for additional persons.
  • Indoor pool
  • Fitness center
  • While there is a parking fee, it has been reduced to $13 per day from the usual $30. This means that the combined cost of the hotel rate and parking is comparable to the rates at our past hotels.
  • Phone: (877) 337-5793
  • Arrange room sharing: https://www.cavemanchess.com/forum

Eligibility:

Players must be under age 21 as of January 1, 2026 (born after January 1, 2005).

U21 section - Under age 21, born after January 1, 2005

U15 section - Under age 15, born after January 1, 2011

U11 section - Under age 11, born after January 1, 2015

U8 section - Under age 8, born after January 1, 2018

Format and Sections:

* 6 Round Swiss System with 4 sections: (based on age as of 1/1/26): U21, U15, U11, U8.

* The U21 and U15 sections are FIDE-rated and US Chess-rated. Other sections are US Chess-rated only.

* The FIDE-rated sections uses FIDE rules, while the others use US Chess rules.

Equipment: Boards, sets, scoresheets and clocks provided by Caveman Chess, LLC.

U21 and U15 Entry Fee - Online Only - Do not request discounts after cut-offs:

GMs, free entry.
IMs, WGMs, 50% off entry.
FMs, 25% off entry.

  • $75 through April 7th (only on cavechess.cc/orc)
  • $120 through May 3rd
  • $155 through May 19th
  • $180 through June 12th
  • $205 after that; NO ONSITE ENTRIES!

"Onsite" entries will be done online at the site. Players registering late will possibly receive an automatic ½ bye in round one.

U11 and U8 Entry Fee - Online Only - Do not request discounts after cut-offs:

  • $50 through April 7th (only on cavechess.cc/orc)
  • $80 through May 3rd
  • $100 through May 19th
  • $120 through June 12th
  • $155 after that; NO ONSITE ENTRIES!

"Onsite" entries will be done online at the site. Players registering late will possibly receive an automatic ½ bye in round one.

Time Controls:

U21 and U15: G/90; +30

U11 and U8: G/60; d5

U21 and U15 Schedule:

» Friday 6/19: 1:00 PM, 6:00 PM

» Saturday 6/20: 9:00 AM, 2:30 PM

» Sunday 6/21: 9:00 AM, 2:30 PM

U11 and U8 Schedule:

» Saturday 6/20: 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM, 2:30 PM

» Sunday 6/21: 8:30 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:45 PM

Byes:

» Two ½ point byes are available for use in any round, and they must be confirmed by the end of round 2.

Prizes: $11,000 unconditionally guaranteed!

  • U21 (Open) $2,000; $1,500; $1,000; $500; $500 plus $500 to 2027 U.S. Junior Invitational eligible qualified (Must be age-eligible, must finish 1st or tied for first after excluding any non-eligible foreign players, tie-breaks used as necessary)
    – Top Girl: $500, $300, $200.
    – U2200: $300 - $200; U2000: $300 - $200; U1800: $300 - $200; U1600: $300 - $200; U1400: $300 - $200
    – Individual Plaques to top 10 overall.

    – Plaques for top players aged 18, 17, 16, 15, and under 15.
    – Team Prize: $500 to top school team, plaques for 1st-3rd teams (three plaques per team).
  • U15 – 15 plaques
    – $500 for 1st
    – Individual Plaques to top 10 overall.
    – Plaques for top players aged 14, 13, 12, 11, and under 11.
  • U11 – 14 Plaques
    – $300 for 1st
    – Individual Plaques to top 10 overall.
    – Plaques for top players aged 10, 9, 8, and under 8.
  • U8 – 13 Plaques
    – $200 – 1st
    – Individual Plaques to top 10 overall.
    – Plaques for top players aged 7, 6, and under 6.

"Onsite" entries will be done online at the site. Players registering late will possibly receive an automatic ½ bye in round one.

Resources:

*2023 FIDE Laws of Chess

*Summary of FIDE-US Chess rules differences 2023

Transportation:

-> The hotel is located just 5 -10 minutes from O’Hare Airport, traffic dependent. Participants can also take the Blue Line “L” from O’Hare to the first stop, and then walk half a mile to the hotel.
-> Shuttle Service: There is a shuttle service available from the hotel to O’Hare Airport.

Questions:

Email: contact@cavemanchess.com

Side Events

  • Senior/Medior/Quick (6/20, $1k)
  • Junior Open Blitz (6/20, $1k) 

Summary of Key Terms and Conditions:

This is a summary of essential Terms and Conditions. To see all Terms and Conditions, go to https://www.cavemanchess.com/terms-conditions

Withdrawals: To withdraw from an event, go to https://cavechess.cc/withdraw and fill out the form. Emails will be ignored.

Refunds: Go to the Terms and Conditions link above for the entire policy. Here are important points:

  • Processing refunds is secondary to running the event without a hitch
  • While we attempt to pay refunds sooner, our policy is to pay within ten business days following the event.
  • In our standard refund policy, refunds incur a fee as follows:
    • For registrations $20 and below, a $5 fee
    • For registrations from $20.01 to $60, a $10 fee
    • For registrations above $60, a $15 fee

Registration Corrections and Changes: Please verify the information before submitting the registration. For example, some browsers with persistent "autofill" tools often overwrite a participant's name with the name of the person completing the registration.

  1. To make a change/correction, do not email. Go to https://cavechess.cc/change, to process changes.
  2. There is a $5 fee for each (set of) changes.

Prizes: It is important to see all of our terms and conditions for prize payment at Terms and Conditions for Prizes. Key rules include:

  • Prizes are paid within 10 business days of the later of the end of the event or the receipt of a W9 [or W-8 if applicable] if one is required (cumulative prizes for the year from Caveman Chess to you are over $600.)
  • Prize winners need to provide appropriate information to receive their prizes electronically via our online form.

Photographs/Video: By registering, you agree to allow photographs and video of your image to be posted on our websites or related social media. Titled players and players at least age 13 agree to the use of their full name on our websites or social media along with images. Players under the age of 13 must be registered by their parents or guardians who agree that their names can be used in tournament standings or other listings, their first names may be used in general photos or videos, and their full names may be used in prize photos or videos.

Participants or their legal representatives agree to these terms by registering the player.

Caveman Chess pays our Tournament Directors and Staff fairly, often exceeding Cook County's minimum wage. Unlike other chess providers who hire staff as independent contractors and usually pay less, we believe in fair compensation. Consider this when comparing our entry fees with others.