When chess players come back year after year to a chess festival, that’s a sign that something special is happening there. The Caveman Chess Festival features three US Chess national championships: The U.S. Junior Open, the U.S. Senior Open, and the U.S. Blind Open Championship.
Here is my 2024 article, which previewed that year’s festival. And here is my article from 2025, again previewing the Caveman Chess Festival. In both those years, the festival was in July. This year, the festival is June 19–21, 2026. From youngsters to senior citizens, there is something for everyone at the Caveman Chess Festival in Chicago.
2026 U.S. Junior Open
The winner of the 2025 U.S. Junior Open, IM Evan Park, is returning to Chicago. As of May 29, 2026, he is the top-rated pre-registered player in the Under Age 21 section. The winner of that section, if they meet the 2027 participation conditions, will receive an invitation to the 2027 U.S. Junior Championship at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
To compete in the U.S. Junior Open, players must be under age 21 as of January 1, 2026 (born after January 1, 2005). The guaranteed prize fund for the 2026 U.S. Junior Open is $11,000.
2026 Medior Open
As of May 29, 2026, only three players have pre-registered for the 2026 Medior Open, which has a guaranteed prize fund of $10,000. It is open to players who are neither Juniors nor Seniors (i.e., players who are older than 21 as of January 1, 2026, or younger than 50 as of June 19, 2026). It is also open to players rated above 2199, of any age.
2026 U.S. Senior Open
The guaranteed prize fund for the 2026 U.S. Senior Open is $13,100. The top-rated pre-registered player, as of May 29, 2026, is IM Doug Root, who is my husband. But more titled players may be waiting to register, as entry fees are low for them: Grandmaster get free entries. International Masters get 50% off. FIDE Masters get 25% off, and Woman Grandmasters get 25% off. Players must be age 50 or older as of June 19, 2026, to compete in the U.S. Senior Open.
After finishing in fourth place at the 2025 U.S. Senior Open, Root hopes to win the 2026 U.S. Senior Open. Then he would earn a qualification spot to the 2027 U.S. Senior Championship at the Saint Louis Chess Club.
Two women, WCM Natasha Christiansen and I, are pre-registered (as of May 29, 2026) for the Open section of the 2026 U.S. Senior Open. For the previous two years, qualifying spots for the U.S. Senior Women’s Championship were at stake for women competing in the Open section of the U.S. Senior Open. This year, that qualifying spot is not offered. Christiansen and I hope that the U.S. Senior Open is restored as a qualification route to the U.S. Senior Women’s Championship which, as of July 2026, is hosted by the Saint Louis Chess Club.
U.S. Blind Open Championship
The U.S. Blind Open Championship is open to players who are legally blind. It has a guaranteed prize fund of $5,000. As of May 29, 2026, seven players have pre-registered.
Friday Fun, Caveman Beginner Open #1, Caveman Beginner Open #2, Friday Fun
These one-day events have low entry fees. The Beginner Opens award trophies and plaques as prizes. For details, see https://register.cavemanchess.com
Stay on Site
The 2026 Caveman Chess Festival June 19–21 (or 20–21) Weekend is at the Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel and Conference Center 5440 N. River Road, Rosemont, IL 60018
- $132 rate per night for 1–4 people (register at https://www.cavechess.cc/hotel)
- Includes free breakfast ($25 value) for two people. $10 for each additional person.
- Indoor pool, fitness center, free wi-fi
- While there is a parking fee, it has been reduced to $13 per day from the usual $30.
- Arrange room sharing: https://www.cavemanchess.com/forum
Attend the 2026 Caveman Chess Festival, with $41,100 in guaranteed prize money plus 80 plaques and trophies. A chess camp begins on Sunday, June 14 and runs until June 19, ending just before the tournaments begin. For the latest information on the camp and tournaments, go to https://www.cavemanchess.com/
Press Coverage
My post-event articles on Chess Life Online (US Chess) reported on the 2025 Caveman Chess Festival and the 2024 Caveman Chess Festival. I will be reporting for Chess Life Online on the 2026 Caveman Chess Festival.
