45th International Chess Tournament “Plungė 2026” will take place from July 14 – 19, 2026, in Plateliai, Lithuania. This is a chess tournament in Plateliai, Lithuania, in 2026.

The tournament honors the memory of Lithuanian honored coach Vitalius Vladas Andriušaitis. Moreover, it brings classical chess, rapid chess, and blitz chess to Plateliai in the Plungė district.

In addition, the event offers separate A and B tournaments with rating limits. Therefore, players can choose a suitable section and also add rapid or blitz chess to the same summer chess trip.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Classical Events

Open A uses a time control of 60 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1. Therefore, this section gives players a serious classical format with a compact daily rhythm.

Open B uses 30 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1. In addition, it gives players below the listed rating limit a separate tournament with nine rounds.

Rapid and Blitz Events

The rapid tournament uses 6 minutes + 5 seconds increment from move 1. Meanwhile, the blitz tournament uses 3 minutes + 2 seconds increment from move 1.

Both side events are open without a rating limit. As a result, players from different levels can add faster chess to the main festival program.

Pairings and Tie-Breaks

Open A and Open B use the Swiss System with 9 rounds. Also, Swiss-Manager handles the official tournament files and pairings.

Final standings use Buchholz Cut 1 first. After that, the tie-break order is full Buchholz, progressive score, Arranz system, and Sonneborn-Berger.

The default time is 20 minutes. Therefore, players should arrive before each round and avoid unnecessary forfeit risk.

💰 Prize Fund

Prize Fund Overview

Open A has a listed prize fund of at least €1,500 if at least 50 players participate. In addition, the first prize in Open A is guaranteed at €500.

Open B has a listed prize fund of €500. Therefore, the combined listed cash prize value can reach at least €2,000, approx. $2,350, when the Open A participation condition is met.

Open A Prizes

Open B Prizes

Prizes are not shared and cannot be received in several categories. Therefore, final prize allocation follows the tournament’s additional indicators and category rules.

🏆 Sections / Groups

Main Tournament Sections

The section structure gives players several choices. Moreover, Open A and Open B allow players to select a classical event that better matches their rating level.

Special Prize Groups

In addition, the youth and category awards create extra goals beyond the main standings. Thus, the tournament can suit adults, juniors, local players, and visiting competitors.

📅 Schedule

Open A Schedule

Open B Schedule

Rapid and Blitz Schedule

The festival has several double-round days. Therefore, players should plan meals, rest, and preparation carefully, especially from July 15 to July 17.

📝 Registration

Registration Details

Players should send applications by email before the deadline. In addition, they should include accommodation needs if they want organizer assistance.

Players who apply after July 1 may join the participant list only if possible. Therefore, early registration is strongly recommended.

🧑‍💼 Organizer

Plungės VŠK “Bokštas” organizes the 45th International Chess Tournament “Plungė 2026”. As a result, the event continues a long-running chess tradition connected with Plungė and Lithuanian chess.

Moreover, the tournament honors Vitalius Vladas Andriušaitis and brings several playing formats into one summer program. The mix of classical, rapid, and blitz chess gives participants a fuller festival experience.

Email: jergusss@gmail.com
Phone: +370 648 84342

📍 Venue

Playing Hall

Liepijų mokyklos Platelių skyrius – Mokyklos g. 3, Plateliai, Plungė District, Lithuania

Venue Notes

The tournament takes place at Liepijų mokykla in Plateliai. Therefore, players should use Mokyklos g. 3 as the main venue address.

Plateliai is located in the Plungė district. As a result, visiting players should plan local travel and accommodation before arriving for the first round.

🏨 Accommodation

Accommodation Support

The organizers can help players arrange affordable accommodation when they register in advance. Listed budget accommodation starts from €15 per day.

Players who need accommodation should mention this clearly in the registration email. Moreover, they should contact the organizers early because support depends on advance planning.

Arrival Notes

Players should come to Mokyklos g. 3 in Plateliai upon arrival. In addition, anyone who wants to arrive earlier should inform the organizers in the application.

✈️ How to Get There

Travel to Plateliai

Plateliai is in the Plungė district of western Lithuania. Therefore, visitors can travel through larger Lithuanian cities and continue to the venue by road.

Players arriving from abroad should plan the final local transfer carefully. In addition, the first Open A round starts at 15:00 on July 14, so same-day arrival needs enough buffer time.

Local Planning

The schedule includes morning, afternoon, and evening chess activity. Therefore, staying close to the venue can make the event more comfortable.

Players who join several events should also plan extra rest time. This is especially useful when rapid or blitz games follow classical rounds.

ℹ️ Other Information

Appeals

A player who disagrees with an arbiter decision may submit a written protest. The protest must include a €100 deposit.

The Appeals Committee has three members and gives the final decision. If the appeal succeeds, the deposit is returned. However, if the appeal fails, the deposit is not returned.

Tournament Rules

The chief arbiter is IA Donatas Vaznonis. In addition, the tournament is registered for FIDE purposes through the official tournament structure.

The organizers may make necessary changes to the regulations. Therefore, players should follow organizer updates before traveling.

Finally, the 45th International Chess Tournament “Plungė 2026” offers classical chess, rapid chess, blitz chess, category prizes, and a long-standing Lithuanian chess tradition in Plateliai.