Kanizsa OPEN – Hungarian Open Individual Chess Championship 2026 runs from August 15-23, 2026. This is a chess tournament in Nagykanizsa, Hungary, in 2026. It marks the 100th anniversary of the Nagykanizsa Chess Club and also serves as the 2026 Hungarian Individual Championship title event.

The tournament uses a 9-round Swiss system in two groups and applies both FIDE and Hungarian Chess Federation regulations. Group A also offers title norm opportunities, which gives the event extra sporting value for stronger players.

Play takes place at Kanizsa Arena in Nagykanizsa. The event also offers dormitory accommodation, restaurant discounts for players, and delayed online broadcast of selected Group A games.

📌 Event Details

The table above follows the official English invitation and the federation event page.

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The event uses a 9-round Swiss system. Each player receives 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 more minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The default time is 30 minutes.

Tie-breaks follow Buchholz Cut 1, Buchholz, performance rating (APRO), Sonneborn-Berger, and progressive score. In addition, selected Group A games will be broadcast online with delay.

🏆 Prize Fund

The published gross cash prize fund is €60,400, which is approximately $69,563. That published euro total covers the main prizes and special prizes in Groups A and B.

Eligible Hungarian citizens in Group A also compete for separate Hungarian Championship prizes of HUF 1,500,000, HUF 1,250,000, and HUF 1,000,000. However, each player may win only one prize, and the higher-value prize is awarded where categories overlap. Prize money is paid by bank transfer after the event, net of applicable taxes.

👥 Sections / Groups

Group A is the stronger section and the one with title norm potential. It also carries the Hungarian championship element for eligible Hungarian players. Group B gives sub-2300 players a separate classical section with its own prize structure.

🗓️ Schedule

The schedule is simple and easy to follow. Most rounds start at 15:00, while the final round begins on Sunday morning.

📝 Registration

Dormitory accommodation is available in double and triple rooms for 6200 HUF per night per person, with a 300 HUF tourist tax per night per person. Players under 18 are exempt from the tourist tax. The published note also highlights Zalakaros as a nearby stay option, about 15 minutes away by car or about 20 minutes by bus.

🏢 Organizer

Tuxera Aquaprofit Nagykanizsa Chess Club and the Hungarian Chess Federation organize the event. The 2026 edition also celebrates the club’s 100th anniversary, which gives this championship a stronger commemorative character.

Phone: +36 30 33 55 509
Email: haselbachdavid@nksakk.info

📍 Venue

Kanizsa Arena, 8800 Nagykanizsa, HRSZ. 3110/26, Hungary

Kanizsa Arena provides a modern single-site setting for the full championship. The invitation places it near Interspar, while the arena’s official contact page lists the venue in Nagykanizsa on Táborhely utca.

🚆 How to Get There

Nagykanizsa railway station is the main rail gateway for the city. It sits on the Szombathely – Zalaszentiván – Nagykanizsa line, which makes train travel practical for many players. Players staying in Zalakaros can also use the published bus connection into Nagykanizsa, with about a 20-minute trip and hourly departures.

This Nagykanizsa championship offers a strong classical structure, major prize money, and a clear two-group format in southern Hungary.