XLV International Open “Villa de Benasque” will take place on July 5-14, 2026 in Benasque, Spain. This is a chess tournament in Benasque, Spain, in 2026, and it offers a 10-round classical international open in the heart of the Pyrenees. The event uses a serious long-play format, a large single Swiss field, and norm-valid competition for ambitious players from many countries.

Unlike a smaller weekend congress, XLV International Open “Villa de Benasque” runs across ten days and gives players a full summer tournament experience. Moreover, the event follows an accelerated Swiss system in the first five rounds, uses a 90+30 time control, and remains valid for FIDE rating and international norms. Therefore, it suits titled players, strong club competitors, juniors, veterans, and improving players who want a major Spanish open with real competitive depth.

Benasque also adds extra value to the event. In addition, the tournament combines a mountain setting, a very large confirmed cash prize fund, official accommodation support in the valley, and a strong long-running tournament identity. As a result, XLV International Open “Villa de Benasque” stands out as one of the most attractive classical summer opens in Spain.

📌 Event Details

🏆 Prize Fund

The confirmed cash prize structure for XLV International Open “Villa de Benasque” totals more than €51,000, which is approximately USD 59,300. Therefore, the tournament offers one of the strongest summer prize funds in the Spanish open calendar. In addition, the published prize list includes general prizes, special-category prizes, Elo-band prizes, and local-category awards.

Prizes and trophies are not cumulative. Moreover, the organizers apply the published prize-order hierarchy when two prizes have the same value, and prize winners must attend the closing ceremony to collect their awards.

⏰ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament uses 90 minutes for the whole game plus a 30-second increment from move one. As a result, the event clearly belongs to the classical chess category and gives players enough time for serious strategic play in every round.

The organizers run the tournament as a 10-round Swiss and apply the Baku accelerated system during the first five rounds. In addition, the event allows requested zero-point byes. Players must request byes for rounds 1 and 2 before round 1 starts, while later bye requests must reach the organizers before 8:00 PM on the previous round day. The default time is 15 minutes in every round except round 1, where the maximum delay is one hour. The published tie-break structure starts with direct encounter when applicable, followed by a drawn order among TPR, Buchholz Total -2, APRO, and AOB.

📂 Sections / Groups

The tournament runs as one major open section. Therefore, all eligible players compete in the same overall field, while the published prize structure separates players by final standing, special categories, and Elo bands.

🗓️ Schedule

📝 Registration

👤 Organizer

The Villa de Benasque organizing team manages registrations, pairings, player communication, and event operations through the official tournament platform. Moreover, the event keeps a professional structure with a published chief arbiter, a named tournament director, online registration, official hotel coordination, and live-board transmission on the leading boards.

• Email: openajedrezbenasque@gmail.com
• Website: https://openajedrezbenasque.com/

📍 Venue

Pabellón Polideportivo de Benasque, Benasque, Huesca, Spain

The Benasque Sports Hall serves as the official playing venue for XLV International Open “Villa de Benasque”. The event uses the sports hall for tournament play, while Hotel SOMMOS Aneto acts as the official tournament site for information flow and posted pairings. Consequently, players get a clear two-point setup that still remains easy to manage inside the host town.

🏨 Accommodation

The official tournament platform promotes accommodation options in Benasque, Anciles, and Cerler. In addition, Hotel SOMMOS Aneto serves as the official tournament site, so staying in Benasque or the nearby valley locations is the most practical choice for daily access to pairings, player information, and the playing hall.

🚗 How to Get There

Benasque is in the Aragonese Pyrenees and is easiest to reach by road. For public transport, the usual route goes through Zaragoza, followed by a bus connection to Benasque. Therefore, players arriving from other parts of Spain can combine rail or long-distance bus travel with the final mountain-valley transfer into town.

XLV International Open “Villa de Benasque” is a strong choice for players who want a major classical open, a very large prize fund, and a memorable summer chess experience in the Pyrenees.