The first Naroditsky Memorial Rapid & Blitz runs July 3–5, 2026 at the Charlotte Marriott City Center. It's built on a $50,000 prize fund and open to players of any rating. Friday's rapid and Saturday's blitz feed into Sunday's finale. There, the top 10 finishers from the blitz face off in a Blitz Final. 10 chess content creators compete in a separate Creator Invitational. Every dollar from entry fees and spectator passes goes to the Naroditsky Memorial Fund. This fund is run through the Charlotte Chess Center Foundation, which will also launch the Naroditsky Fellowship for young players and educators later this year.
