U.S. Open Chess Tournament Comes To Middleton

On Saturday, the U.S. Open Chess Championship returns to Wisconsin for the first time in 60 years.

About a quarter of the roughly 500 players are from Wisconsin, with the rest traveling from other states and outside of the U.S. to compete. Mike Nietman is the president of the Wisconsin Chess Association and the organizer of the event. He says hosting a national competition is important for the state. “Wisconsin has a very rich chess history and we’re definitely going to be showcasing that during the event.”

There will also be three youth invitationals running during the nine-day Open. Anupama Rajendra is from Kenosha. The 13-year-old is the Wisconsin representative at one of the invitationals. This will be the first time she plays in the U.S. Open; she says it will be an educational opportunity for her. “I want to play my best and get the best out of my game and learn a lot.”

The chess championship starts tomorrow and runs through August 4 at Madison Marriott West in Middleton. According to the Madison Area Sports Commission, attendees are expected to spend around $172,000. Commission spokeswoman Judy Frankel says they hope to bring the sport back to Madison in the future. “I think this sounds like a great group, a great fit for our community.”

To compete in the Open, players must be a member of the United States Chess Federation, although membership and registration will be sold on site. The event is open to the public.