2nd Kapadokya International Open Chess Tournament
The 2nd Kapadokya International Open Chess Tournament will take place from August 17 to 23, 2026, in Ürgüp, Nevşehir, Turkey. The event brings international classical chess to Cappadocia, one of Turkey’s most distinctive cultural and tourist regions.
The tournament is organized with the cooperation of Nevşehir GSİM, Ürgüp Municipality, and the Turkish Chess Federation Nevşehir Provincial Representative. It uses a four-category structure, allowing players to compete in sections suited to their rating level.
Categories A, B, and C are submitted for FIDE and national rating. Category D is submitted for national rating only. The tournament offers a confirmed cash prize fund of TRY 1,000,000 / approx. $21,220.
📌 Event Details
| 🏆 Tournament | 2nd Kapadokya International Open Chess Tournament |
| 📅 Dates | August 17–23, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Ürgüp, Nevşehir, Turkey |
| 🏟️ Venue | Ürgüp Turgut Özal Congress and Culture Center – İmran, 50400 Ürgüp/Nevşehir, Turkey |
| 🏛️ Organizers | Nevşehir GSİM, Ürgüp Municipality and Turkish Chess Federation Nevşehir Provincial Representative |
| ♟️ Format | Classical over-the-board Swiss tournament |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 |
| 🧩 Sections | Category A, Category B, Category C and Category D |
| ⭐ Rating | Categories A, B and C: FIDE and national rating; Category D: national rating only |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one |
| 💰 Prize Fund | TRY 1,000,000 / approx. $21,220 |
| 👤 Tournament Director | NA Adnan Kurtul |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Turkish Chess Federation |
| 📝 Application Deadline | August 12, 2026, at 17:00 |
| nevsehir@tsf.org.tr | |
| 📞 Phone | +90 542 373 7475 |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://kapadokyaopen.tsf.org.tr/ |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category A | https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1439297.aspx?SNode=S0&lan=1 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category B | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439298.aspx?art=0&flag=30&lan=1&turdet=YES |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category C | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439299.aspx?art=0&flag=30&lan=1&turdet=YES |
| ♟️ Chess-Results – Category D | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439303.aspx?art=0&flag=30&lan=1&turdet=YES |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All four sections will be played over nine rounds using the Swiss system.
Each player receives 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one.
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| ♟️ System | Swiss system |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | Categories A, B and C: FIDE and national rating |
| 🇹🇷 National Rating Only | Category D |
| 💻 Pairing Software | Swiss-Manager |
| ⌛ Default Time | 30 minutes |
Categories A, B, and C use the Baku Accelerated System during the first three rounds.
Tie-Break Criteria
| Order | Criterion |
|---|---|
| 1 | Direct encounter |
| 2 | Buchholz minus one |
| 3 | Sonneborn-Berger |
| 4 | Average opponents’ Buchholz |
| 5 | Number of wins |
| 6 | Drawing of lots |
🏆 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a confirmed total cash prize fund of TRY 1,000,000 / approx. $21,220.
The prize fund is divided across four categories.
Category Prize Totals
| Category | Total Cash Prizes |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Category A | TRY 480,000 |
| 🏆 Category B | TRY 260,000 |
| 🏆 Category C | TRY 150,000 |
| 🏆 Category D | TRY 110,000 |
Overall Prizes – Categories A and B
| Place | Category A | Category B |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st Place | TRY 130,000 | TRY 60,000 |
| 🥈 2nd Place | TRY 100,000 | TRY 45,000 |
| 🥉 3rd Place | TRY 70,000 | TRY 30,000 |
| 4th Place | TRY 40,000 | TRY 20,000 |
| 5th Place | TRY 25,000 | TRY 15,000 |
| 6th Place | TRY 15,000 | TRY 12,000 |
| 7th Place | TRY 13,000 | TRY 11,000 |
| 8th Place | TRY 12,000 | TRY 10,000 |
| 9th Place | TRY 11,000 | TRY 9,000 |
| 10th Place | TRY 10,000 | TRY 8,000 |
Overall Prizes – Categories C and D
| Place | Category C | Category D |
|---|---|---|
| 🥇 1st Place | TRY 30,000 | TRY 20,000 |
| 🥈 2nd Place | TRY 20,000 | TRY 15,000 |
| 🥉 3rd Place | TRY 15,000 | TRY 10,000 |
| 4th Place | TRY 10,000 | TRY 8,000 |
| 5th Place | TRY 9,000 | TRY 7,000 |
| 6th Place | TRY 8,000 | TRY 6,000 |
| 7th Place | TRY 7,000 | TRY 5,000 |
| 8th Place | TRY 6,000 | TRY 4,000 |
| 9th Place | TRY 5,000 | TRY 3,000 |
| 10th Place | TRY 4,000 | TRY 2,000 |
Special Prizes – Categories A and B
| Special Prize | Category A | Category B |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 Best Senior 50+ | TRY 7,000 / 6,000 / 5,000 | TRY 5,000 / 3,500 / 2,000 |
| 👩 Best Woman | TRY 7,000 / 6,000 / 5,000 | TRY 5,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 |
| 📍 Best Nevşehir Player | TRY 7,000 / 6,000 / 5,000 | TRY 5,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 |
Special Prizes – Categories C and D
| Special Prize | Category C | Category D |
|---|---|---|
| 👤 Best Senior 50+ | TRY 4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 | TRY 3,000 / 2,500 / 2,000 |
| 👩 Best Woman | TRY 4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 | TRY 3,000 / 2,500 / 2,000 |
| 📍 Best Nevşehir Player | TRY 4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 | TRY 3,000 / 2,500 / 2,000 |
Additional Special Prizes
| Prize Group | Awards |
|---|---|
| 📊 Maximum Rating Under 1849 | TRY 5,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 |
| 📊 Maximum Rating Under 1549 | TRY 4,000 / 3,000 / 2,000 |
| ♟️ Unrated Player | TRY 3,000 / 2,500 / 2,000 |
Non-Cash Awards
| Award | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎈 Cappadocia Balloon Tour | Awarded to the top three players in each category |
| 🏨 Kaya Hotel Concept Stay | Two-night accommodation for two people for the best player in each category |
♟️ Sections / Groups
The tournament is divided into four rating-based categories.
| Category | Eligibility | Rating Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Category A | FIDE rating 2000+ or national rating 2000+ without FIDE rating | FIDE and national rating |
| 🏆 Category B | FIDE rating 1700–1999 or national rating 1700–1999 without FIDE rating | FIDE and national rating |
| 🏆 Category C | FIDE rating 1400–1699, national rating 1400–1699 without FIDE rating, or foreign players without FIDE rating | FIDE and national rating |
| 🏆 Category D | Turkish players with national rating 1399 or below, or without national rating | National rating only |
Categories C and D each had their quota increased to 300 players. Both quotas are currently full.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, August 12 | 17:00 | Application deadline |
| Monday, August 17 | 09:00 | Start of registration verification |
| Monday, August 17 | 15:00 | End of registration verification |
| Monday, August 17 | 15:30 | Announcement of player list |
| Monday, August 17 | 15:45 | Deadline for appeals to player list |
| Monday, August 17 | 16:00 | Technical meeting |
| Monday, August 17 | 16:30 | Announcement of pairings |
| Monday, August 17 | 16:45 | Opening ceremony |
| Monday, August 17 | 17:00 | Round 1 |
| Tuesday, August 18 | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| Tuesday, August 18 | 17:00 | Round 3 |
| Wednesday, August 19 | 17:00 | Round 4 |
| Thursday, August 20 | 10:00 | Round 5 |
| Thursday, August 20 | 17:00 | Round 6 |
| Friday, August 21 | 17:00 | Round 7 |
| Saturday, August 22 | 17:00 | Round 8 |
| Sunday, August 23 | 10:00 | Round 9 |
| Sunday, August 23 | 16:00 | Closing ceremony |
Players must complete the on-site registration verification process before the tournament pairings are finalized.
📝 Registration
Players must register before the published application deadline and complete on-site verification at the venue on August 17.
| Registration Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📝 Application Deadline | August 12, 2026, at 17:00 |
| ✅ On-Site Verification | August 17, 2026, from 09:00 to 15:00 |
| 💳 Standard Entry Fee | TRY 650 |
| 📍 Entry Fee for Nevşehir Residents | TRY 250 |
| 🆓 Free Entry | GM, IM, WGM, WIM, FM and WFM |
| 📧 Foreign Player Registration Email | nevsehir@tsf.org.tr |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://kapadokyaopen.tsf.org.tr/ |
Foreign Player Registration
Foreign players should send the following information to nevsehir@tsf.org.tr:
- Passport number
- Name and surname
- Country
- FIDE ID number
- Contact number
Player Requirements
| Player Type | Requirement |
|---|---|
| 🇹🇷 Turkish Players | Valid 2025–2026 Turkish Chess Federation license |
| 🌍 Foreign Players | Valid FIDE ID issued through their national federation |
| 🧒 Minimum Age | Players born in 2019 or earlier |
🏛️ Organizer
The tournament is organized by Nevşehir GSİM, Ürgüp Municipality, and the Turkish Chess Federation Nevşehir Provincial Representative.
The event is part of the official Kapadokya Open tournament structure and is supported by local and national chess organization in Turkey.
| Contact Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Organizers | Nevşehir GSİM, Ürgüp Municipality and Turkish Chess Federation Nevşehir Provincial Representative |
| 👤 Tournament Director | NA Adnan Kurtul |
| nevsehir@tsf.org.tr | |
| 📞 Phone | +90 542 373 7475 |
| 🌐 Official Website | https://kapadokyaopen.tsf.org.tr/ |
| 🌐 Turkish Chess Federation | https://www.tsf.org.tr/ |
📍 Venue
Ürgüp Turgut Özal Congress and Culture Center – İmran, 50400 Ürgüp/Nevşehir, Turkey.
The venue is located in Ürgüp, one of the main towns of the Cappadocia region. It will host the registration verification, technical meeting, opening ceremony, all nine rounds, and the closing ceremony.
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏟️ Playing Venue | Ürgüp Turgut Özal Congress and Culture Center |
| 📍 Address | İmran, 50400 Ürgüp/Nevşehir, Turkey |
| 🏙️ Town | Ürgüp |
| 🌍 Province | Nevşehir |
| 🇹🇷 Country | Turkey |
Accommodation
The organizer has announced free dormitory accommodation options, subject to dormitory rules and availability.
| Accommodation Type | Location |
|---|---|
| 👩 Female Athletes and Families | Ürgüp Girls’ Dormitory |
| 👨 Male Athletes | Ürgüp Başhisar Boys’ Dormitory |
The earliest dormitory check-in date is August 16, 2026. The latest check-out date is August 24, 2026.
Dormitory accommodation does not include meals. Participants should bring their own personal necessities, including towels, shampoo, soap, toilet paper, slippers, and other essential items.
The official website also provides hotel options in Ürgüp for players and families who prefer hotel accommodation.
✈️ How to Get There
Ürgüp is located in the Cappadocia region of central Turkey. The nearest practical airports are Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport and Kayseri Erkilet Airport.
| Travel Option | Recommended Route |
|---|---|
| ✈️ From Nevşehir Kapadokya Airport | Travel by shuttle, taxi, private transfer, or rental car to Ürgüp. The road distance is approximately 48–50 km. |
| ✈️ From Kayseri Erkilet Airport | Travel by shuttle, taxi, private transfer, or rental car to Ürgüp. The road distance is approximately 70 km. |
| 🚌 By Intercity Bus | Use intercity buses to Nevşehir or Ürgüp, then continue locally to the venue. |
| 🚕 From Ürgüp Town Center | Use a local taxi or walk if staying close to the venue. |
| 🚗 By Car | Enter Ürgüp Turgut Özal Congress and Culture Center, İmran, 50400 Ürgüp/Nevşehir into the navigation system. |
Arrival Advice
Players should arrive in Ürgüp before the registration verification period on August 17.
Verification runs from 09:00 to 15:00. The technical meeting begins at 16:00, and Round 1 starts at 17:00.
Players using dormitory accommodation should plan arrival from August 16, the earliest announced check-in date.
ℹ️ Other Information
Capacity
According to the latest published information, categories C and D are currently full after the quota for each section was increased to 300 players.
Players interested in these sections should check the official website for any later updates.
Registration Verification
All players must complete registration verification at the venue before the tournament begins.
The player list will be announced at 15:30 on August 17. Appeals to the player list must be submitted by 15:45.
Accommodation Rules
Dormitory accommodation is provided without meals.
Players and accompanying persons using dormitories must follow the dormitory rules.
Participants should not bring valuables to the dormitories. If they do, they remain responsible for them.
Personal Items
Participants using dormitory accommodation should bring basic personal items such as towels, shampoo, soap, toilet paper, slippers, and other daily necessities.
Local Facilities Near Dormitories
The official accommodation note states that there may be limited shopping and eating options near the dormitories. Players should plan accordingly.
Related Chess-Results Pages
| Category | Chess-Results |
|---|---|
| Category A | https://s3.chess-results.com/tnr1439297.aspx?SNode=S0&lan=1 |
| Category B | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439298.aspx?art=0&flag=30&lan=1&turdet=YES |
| Category C | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439299.aspx?art=0&flag=30&lan=1&turdet=YES |
| Category D | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439303.aspx?art=0&flag=30&lan=1&turdet=YES |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $21,220
Organizer
♟️ About Turkish Chess Federation
The Turkish Chess Federation, officially known as Türkiye Satranç Federasyonu, is the national governing organization for chess in Türkiye. Based in Çankaya, Ankara, the federation manages the country’s official chess structure and represents Türkiye within FIDE and the European Chess Union.
The federation was founded in 1954 and later became a member of FIDE. Today, it coordinates player licensing, national ratings, tournament regulations, club competitions, national championships, coach education, arbiter development, and international representation.
Fethi Apaydın serves as President of the Turkish Chess Federation. He works with the federation’s management board, professional staff, technical committees, national-team departments, provincial representatives, arbiters, coaches, clubs, and institutional partners.
The federation reports more than 1.4 million licensed chess players. Moreover, its organizational network covers all 81 provinces and more than 500 districts. This nationwide structure allows the federation to support both major national competitions and local chess activities throughout Türkiye.
🏆 Championships and Tournament Structure
The Turkish Chess Federation manages a comprehensive programme of individual and team competitions. Its principal team events include the Turkish Chess Super League, First League, Second League, Turkish Clubs Championship, and national youth team competitions.
The individual championship programme includes the Turkish Chess Championship, Turkish Cup, Turkish Women’s Championship, Turkish Senior Championship, Turkish Junior Championship, Turkish Youth and Children’s Championships, and the Turkish Rapid and Blitz Championships.
In addition, provincial and district representatives organize local championships, rating tournaments, memorial competitions, school events, and open tournaments. Therefore, players can progress from local competition to regional, national, and international levels within one coordinated system.
The scale of Turkish youth chess is particularly significant. The 2026 Turkish Children’s and Youth Chess Championships in Antalya brought together 2,884 players in age groups from seven to eighteen. The competition also served as an important selection stage for the national youth-team development pools.
The federation regularly cooperates with municipalities, sports authorities, educational institutions, sponsors, and local organizing committees. These partnerships support international open tournaments across Türkiye, including events in Antalya, Ankara, İstanbul, İzmir, Denizli, Nevşehir, and other major chess centres.
Tournament administration includes published regulations, player registration, licensing, national and FIDE rating procedures, arbiter appointments, pairings, results, disciplinary processes, and official communication.
🎓 Chess Education and Player Development
Chess education forms another major part of the federation’s work. The Turkish Chess Federation organizes coach-training courses, professional-development seminars, arbiter education, certification programmes, and instructional activities for players of different ages and abilities.
The federation also provides educational videos and digital resources covering chess fundamentals, tactics, strategy, tournament preparation, coaching, and competition rules. As a result, players and instructors can access structured learning materials beyond regular club sessions.
Young players can progress through local tournaments, provincial championships, national age-group competitions, training camps, and national-team selection programmes. Strong performers may then represent Türkiye at the Chess Olympiad, European Championships, World Championships, youth events, and other international competitions.
The federation also supports women’s chess, senior chess, school chess, university competitions, and opportunities for players with disabilities. Dedicated committees help develop policies and activities for these different areas of the chess community.
Furthermore, the Turkish Chess Federation trains and appoints arbiters for competitions throughout the country. It also maintains national UKD ratings, manages FIDE rating submissions, registers players and clubs, and publishes official documents for tournament organizers.
Through national championships, regional representation, player education, club development, and international competition, the Turkish Chess Federation connects grassroots participation with elite chess. Its large player base and nationwide organizational network make it one of the most active chess federations in Europe.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
