2026 WCA Veterans Tournament

November 14 - 15, 2026

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 WCA Veterans Tournament 

November 14-15, 2026, Manitowoc, WI

2027 US Open Senior Invitational Tournament Qualifier (in Dallas, TX)
SPECIAL NOTES

The WCA Veterans is held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Junior Open, but played in a separate room. The Wisconsin Senior Champion (Wisconsin resident only) will be eligible to participate in the 2027 John T. Irwin National Tournament of Senior State Champions at the US Open in Dallas, TX, August 2027. If a tie exists among those desiring to participate in the event, a series of playoff matches will be held on Sunday night beginning 30 minutes after the last game among the qualifiers is concluded. Format is two G/30, if still tied two G/15, then G/10, then G/5.
FORMAT The WCA Veterans Tournament is open to all players age 18 and over. The highest-finishing Wisconsin entrant age 50 and over will receive a trophy and the title of 2026 Wisconsin Senior Champion. Players must be US Chess Federation members. USCF membership may be purchased at site. Wisconsin Chess Association (WCA) membership is included in your entry. Our website address is www.wischess.org
PLAYING SITE
Holiday Inn Reservation Site The Manitowoc Holiday Inn, 4601 Calumet Ave., Manitowoc, WI, at the intersection of I-43 and US-151. Guest rooms are $99 for a single night, or $139 for two nights. (The usual hotel tax is extra.) This special rate is available only until Sunday, Nov. 8th. These room rates include a discounted breakfast buffet. For reservations you may call (920) 682-6000 (you must mention CHESS); or you may use this link: https://tinyurl.com/JrVetsHotel. The web site shows the special $99 one-night rate for our players. If you want to stay two nights and get the special $139 rate, you need to reserve two nights at $99 each on-line; then, when you check in, the hotel will honor the $139 rate. (Scan the QR Code to the left.)
REGISTRATION
Players may register in advance online at https://www.kingregistration.com/register/Vets2026. Late registrations accepted at the site from 8:45-9:30 AM on Saturday, November 14. US Chess memberships are available. A printed copy of the monthly Chess Life is an additional $12. Please bring your chess clock. Chess sets and boards are provided for the playing room only! Phone inquiries: Steve Erbach at (920) 279-5688 before Friday, November 13 or e-mail: Steve Erbach (serbach@gmail.com). Register for the WCA Veterans Tournament on King Registration
SCHEDULE The Veterans is a five-round Swiss-System event. Rounds are at 10:15 AM, 2:30 PM and 7:15 PM on Saturday. Sunday’s rounds are at 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM. The time control is Game/90 with a 30-second increment. One half-point bye is available for round 1, 2, 3 or 4 if requested with your advance entry, or at Late Registration.
ENTRY FEES

If received by Tuesday, November 10th, the early entry fee is $45. After November 10th, entries are $10 more. If you enter on https://www.kingregistration.com/register/Vets2026, there is an additional fee to cover processing costs.

Mail entry fees along with 1) your name, 2) address, 3) email, 4) phone, 5) birthdate, and 6) USCF ID number to: Steve Erbach, Tournament Organizer, 939 Lincoln Blvd., Manitowoc, WI 54220. Also, 7) please indicate whether you want a half-point bye in round 1, 2, 3, or 4 (only one bye is available).

If you pre-register but then cannot play, your entry will be refunded to you only if you notify the tournament director by 9:30 AM on November 14th. Please make checks payable to the Wisconsin Chess Association. No credit cards please.
PRIZES

The $1,500 prize fund for the Veterans Tournament is guaranteed:

1st Place $450 2nd $300 3rd $150
1st A $140 1st B $130 1st C $120
1st D $110 1st E & below $100  
Trophy to the top Wisconsin Senior (50+)

All prizes will be awarded at the site after the final round. In case of a tie, the Wisconsin Senior trophy will be awarded based on Solkoff, Cumulative, Sum of Opponents’ Cumulative, and Sonneborn-Berger tie-break systems.