17th Engadiner Pfingst-Open takes place from May 23-25, 2026 in Zernez, Switzerland. This is a chess tournament in Zernez, Switzerland, in 2026. The event features one main over-the-board chess tournament section, five rounds, and a full classical chess tournament format with 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. Hotel a la Staziun hosts the tournament, and the event offers a confirmed cash prize fund of about USD 2,000.
Moreover, this chess tournament in Zernez gives players a distinctive long-weekend event in the Engadin with FIDE, Swiss, and German rating value in one friendly alpine setting. In addition, the 17th Engadiner Pfingst-Open combines a compact five-round structure with a practical hotel venue directly by the railway station. As a result, this chess event in Zernez is an appealing option for titled players, juniors, seniors, and club competitors who want a serious spring tournament in Switzerland.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | May 23-25, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Zernez, Switzerland |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss tournament |
| ⭐ Rating | Rated for SSB, DWZ, and FIDE |
| 📂 Sections | 1 section |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move 1 |
| 💳 Entry fee | CHF 80 |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 2,000 (approx.) |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | GM, IM, FM, and juniors under 20 have free entry |
🏆 Prize Fund
The total confirmed cash prize fund is CHF 1,750.
| Prize category | Cash prizes |
|---|---|
| Main prizes | 1st CHF 350; 2nd CHF 300; 3rd CHF 250; 4th CHF 200; 5th CHF 150; 6th CHF 100 |
| Special prizes | Best woman CHF 100; Best Bündner CHF 100; Best junior CHF 100; Best senior CHF 100 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses a 5-round Swiss system. Each player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 15 additional minutes for the rest of the game, together with a 30-second increment from move one. Therefore, the event follows a full classical chess tournament structure across the entire Pentecost weekend.
In addition, the event counts for the Swiss SSB rating list, Germany’s DWZ rating, and FIDE international Elo rating. This gives players a useful rated format in one compact alpine event.
📂 Sections / Groups
The tournament is played as one main open section.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 23, 2026 | Saturday | 10:15 AM | Registration and attendance check |
| May 23, 2026 | Saturday | 10:30 AM | Round 1 |
| May 23, 2026 | Saturday | 4:00 PM | Round 2 |
| May 24, 2026 | Sunday | 9:15 AM | Round 3 |
| May 24, 2026 | Sunday | 3:00 PM | Round 4 |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | 9:15 AM | Round 5 |
| May 25, 2026 | Monday | After the round | Prize giving and aperitif |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| How to register | Online registration |
| Entry fee | CHF 80 |
| Free entry | GM, IM, FM, and juniors under 20 |
👥 Organizer
Schachclub Engadin organizes this alpine spring event and continues to support rated tournament chess in the Engadin region. In addition, the club manages registration, scheduling, and tournament operations for the full weekend in Zernez.
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Address: Via Dimlej 18, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland
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Email: info@schach-engadin.ch
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Phone: +41 79 373 64 57
🏨 Venue
Hotel a la Staziun, directly by the railway station, Zernez, Switzerland
The tournament takes place at Hotel a la Staziun in the village of Zernez. Moreover, the venue offers a large playing hall that suits tournament conditions well. The hotel also has a restaurant serving regional dishes and attractive terraces for players and visitors.
🛎️ Accommodation
Hotel a la Staziun offers rooms for CHF 75 per person. Players can reserve accommodation directly with the hotel.
🚗 How to Get There
The venue is directly at Zernez railway station, which makes arrival especially convenient by public transport. In addition, Zernez can be reached by train from Zurich in less than 2.5 hours. The village sits in the Lower Engadin and is well known as a gateway to the Swiss National Park.
Enjoy a competitive chess weekend in Zernez and combine serious rated play with one of Switzerland’s most scenic tournament settings.
Additional Details
Prize Fund - $2,000
Organizer
Schachclub Engadin is an Engadin-based chess club and active tournament organizer in Switzerland. It is closely associated with St. Moritz and serves players across the Engadin region through regular club activity and public events. Moreover, it supports both recreational and competitive chess in a distinctive alpine setting.
The club runs weekly chess evenings, promotes junior chess, and organizes recurring open chess tournament events. Its public tournament calendar includes the Engadiner Pfingstopen and the Zuoz Open, which give the club a clear role in regional and international over-the-board competition. In addition, it participates in Swiss team chess and maintains an active presence within the national chess structure.
Beyond tournament play, the club helps strengthen the local chess community through accessible club evenings and youth-focused activity. Therefore, it contributes not only to organized classical chess events but also to long-term chess development in the Engadin. At the same time, its tournament work has made it a recognizable chess organizer in Swiss regional chess.
