7th Festival Internazionale di Toscolano Maderno 2026
7th Festival Internazionale di Toscolano Maderno 2026 runs from August 28-30, 2026 in Toscolano Maderno, Italy. This is a chess tournament in Toscolano Maderno, Italy, in 2026. The event takes place at Senior Club Bar al Centro, Via Verdi 6, and the playing hall is air-conditioned.
The festival uses a compact 6-round Swiss format over three days. It also splits the field into two sections: Open A for players rated above 1800 Elo and Open B for players rated below 1801 Elo. In addition, both tournaments are valid for FIDE Standard rating changes.
The confirmed cash prizes add up to EUR 1,525, which is approximately USD 1,785 using the ECB euro reference rate of EUR 1 = USD 1.1706 on April 8, 2026. As a result, the event offers a solid late-summer weekend open on Lake Garda with clear section structure and practical scheduling.
🏁 Event Details
The main tournament details are below.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | August 28-30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Senior Club Bar al Centro, Via Verdi 6, Toscolano Maderno, Italy |
| ♟️ Format | 6-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes + 30-second increment per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard rated |
| 👥 Sections | Open A and Open B |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open A: Elo above 1800; Open B: Elo below 1801 |
| 💰 Prize fund | EUR 1,525 (approx. USD 1,785) |
| ❄️ Playing hall | Air-conditioned |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Each game uses a classical 90+30 time control. Therefore, the event fits standard over-the-board chess rather than rapid play. The tournament also uses the FIDE Swiss system.
Tie-breaks follow this order: REP, Total Buchholz, Buchholz Cut-1, and Sonneborn-Berger. Meanwhile, the maximum tolerated delay is 30 minutes. Electronic devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and notebooks are not allowed in the playing area.
Players may also request one forfeit draw / half-point bye for a round, provided they ask at the start of the tournament and do not use it in one of the last two rounds. Moreover, the organizer allows up to five wild cards.
💰 Prize Fund
The event offers EUR 1,525 in confirmed cash prizes. Open A accounts for EUR 975, while Open B adds EUR 550. In addition, both sections include a best Elo gain cash prize.
| Section | Prize details |
|---|---|
| Open A | 1st €300 + plaque, 2nd €250, 3rd €200, 4th €100, 5th €75, best Elo gain €50 |
| Open B | 1st €150 + plaque, 2nd €125, 3rd €100, 4th €75, 5th €50, best Elo gain €50 |
The festival also awards non-cash prizes. In both sections, the best Over 65 player and the best Under 16 player receive a chess book. In addition, the player with the worst Elo variation receives a salami. Cash prizes are shown gross of applicable taxes.
♟️ Sections / Groups
The event keeps the structure simple with two clearly separated Elo groups. Consequently, stronger players can enter Open A, while a wider amateur field can compete in Open B.
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Open A | For players with Elo above 1800 |
| Open B | For players with Elo below 1801 |
📅 Schedule
The event runs from Friday to Sunday with two rounds on Friday, two on Saturday, and two on Sunday.
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 | 08:50 AM | Registration closes |
| August 28, 2026 | 09:10 AM | Players’ meeting |
| August 28, 2026 | 09:30 AM | Round 1 |
| August 28, 2026 | 03:00 PM | Round 2 |
| August 29, 2026 | 09:30 AM | Round 3 |
| August 29, 2026 | 03:00 PM | Round 4 |
| August 30, 2026 | 09:00 AM | Round 5 |
| August 30, 2026 | 02:30 PM | Round 6 |
| August 30, 2026 | After Round 6 | Prize ceremony |
Players who miss the morning roll call may still enter after round one if they completed registration properly.
📝 Registration
Pre-registration is mandatory through Vesus by Wednesday, August 26, 2026. The entry becomes complete after payment by bank transfer no later than Thursday, August 27, 2026. However, the organizer also accepts on-site payment with a €10 surcharge until 8:50 AM on Friday, August 28, 2026.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Open A entry fee | €60 |
| Open B entry fee | €50 |
| Reduced fee | €30 for Under 18 and women’s category |
| Late on-site surcharge | €10 |
| Registration deadline | August 26, 2026 |
| Bank transfer deadline | August 27, 2026 |
| IBAN | IT23U083405474000002155754 |
👤 Organizer
Scuola di Scacchi Torre&Cavallo organizes the festival with the patronage of the Comune di Toscolano Maderno. The club presents itself as an active chess school and association in the Brescia area, and it has promoted chess teaching in the territory since 2007.
Phone: +39 338 839 3292
Email: info@torrecavallo.it
📍 Venue
Senior Club Bar al Centro, Via Verdi 6, Toscolano Maderno, Italy
The tournament takes place at Senior Club Bar al Centro in Toscolano Maderno. Moreover, the playing hall is air-conditioned, which is especially useful for a late-August event on the lake.
🚗 How to Get There
Toscolano Maderno sits on the western shore of Lake Garda, so most players will find the venue easiest to reach by car through the Brescia and Salò area. At the same time, the central venue address makes local navigation straightforward once players arrive in town.
It is a practical Italian weekend open for players who want classical chess, two Elo sections, and a late-summer setting on Lake Garda.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $1,785
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
A.S.D. Scuola di Scacchi Torre&Cavallo is a chess club and organizer based in Sarezzo, in the Province of Brescia, Italy. The association has worked across the Brescia area since 2007. It was founded with the involvement of IM Roberto Messa and built a broader mission than standard club play alone. Chess teaching has always been central to its identity. The club also combines sporting, social, cultural, and educational work in one structure. Its legal seat is in Sarezzo, and Aristide Zorzi has served as president and legal representative. For players, that gives the organizer a clear profile. It is a long-running local chess institution with a stable base, a public activity record, and a strong connection to chess education in the wider Brescia area.
🏆 Tournament Activity
Tournament organization is one of the club’s main strengths. Torre&Cavallo runs and promotes a broad event calendar in Brescia and nearby areas. In 2025, it organized the Campionato Regionale Lombardo in Lumezzane. In the same year, it also promoted the Torneo Internazionale di Scacchi in Polaveno, with Open and Under 14 sections and a €2,000 prize fund. Its current calendar also includes events such as the Torneo di Scacchi Valle delle Cartiere and the Festival Internazionale di Toscolano Maderno. Beyond Brescia, the federation calendar lists the club as co-organizer of international events in Pavia together with Cento Torri Pavia. This range matters for players. Torre&Cavallo does not rely on one annual event. It stays active through rapid tournaments, youth sections, regional championships, and larger open events across different venues.
🌱 Youth Development and Community Activity
Youth and community work are a defining part of Torre&Cavallo’s identity. The club has run its Scacchi a Scuola project since 2010 across schools of every level in the Province of Brescia. That work gives children and families a practical entry point into chess, while also creating a steady path into organized play. The association’s instructors work not only in schools, but also in oratories, libraries, prisons, and day centers. In parallel, the club develops community chess through cultural and promotional events, including living chess games, giant outdoor chessboards, and themed exhibitions. Its broader work has also received national recognition. In 2018, Torre&Cavallo won the FSI Premio Società – Nord. For players, this gives the organizer a distinctive role. It runs tournaments, teaches chess in many settings, and helps chess reach people who might not enter the game through a traditional club alone.
Venue on the Map
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
