Herbst-Open Würselen 2026 will take place from October 16–18, 2026, in Würselen, Germany. This is a chess tournament in Würselen, Germany, in 2026.
The event offers a FIDE-rated classical chess tournament with 5 accelerated Swiss-system rounds. It also counts for DWZ rating, which gives players both national and international rating value.
The tournament suits club players, youth players, students, coaches, and visitors who want a compact rated weekend event near Aachen. In addition, the venue offers warm and cold food and drinks during the tournament.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Tournament | Herbst-Open Würselen 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | October 16–18, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Würselen, Germany |
| 🏛️ Venue | Kulturzentrum Altes Rathaus, Großer Saal, Kaiserstraße 36, 52146 Würselen, Germany |
| ♟️ Format | Classical open tournament |
| 🌍 Rating | FIDE-rated and DWZ-rated |
| 🔢 Rounds | 5 |
| 🧩 Pairing system | Accelerated Swiss system with Baku Acceleration |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move 1 |
| ⏳ Default time | 15 minutes |
| 👥 Capacity | Minimum 30 players; maximum 60 players |
| 🧑⚖️ Chief arbiter | FA Dr. Johannes Baier |
| 💶 Entry fee | Standard: €35; reduced: €25 |
| 🆓 Free entry | GM, IM, and WGM players |
| 🏆 Prize fund | €1,865 in listed cash prizes, approximately US$2,160 |
| ♟️ Chess-Results | Tournament listing available |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V. |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses a classical time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves. After that, each player receives 30 minutes for the rest of the game. In addition, a 30-second increment applies from move 1.
Pairings follow a 5-round accelerated Swiss system with Baku Acceleration. Therefore, players get a compact but serious rated tournament across one weekend.
The event counts for FIDE rating and DWZ rating. Buchholz with one cut decides ties first, followed by Sonneborn-Berger.
🏆 Prize Fund
The listed cash prizes total €1,865, approximately US$2,160. Main prizes use the Hort system for players on equal points, and players cannot receive multiple prizes.
| Prize Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €600 |
| 2nd place | €400 |
| 3rd place | €250 |
| TWZ up to 2000 | €150 |
| TWZ up to 1800 | €100 |
| TWZ up to 1600 | €75 |
| TWZ up to 1400 | €50 |
| Women | €60 |
| Players born before October 15, 1961 | €60 |
| Youth prize | €60 |
| Best SV Würselen player | €60 |
Rating prizes require at least 3 participants in the relevant rating group. The tournament rating number uses Elo when available; otherwise, DWZ applies.
👥 Sections / Groups
Open Tournament
The Herbst-Open Würselen 2026 runs as one open tournament with a maximum of 60 players. All participants compete in the same 5-round accelerated Swiss-system event.
Rating and Special Prize Groups
The prize structure includes TWZ rating groups up to 2000, 1800, 1600, and 1400. It also includes prizes for women, youth players, players born before October 15, 1961, and the best player from SV Würselen.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|
| October 16, 2026 | 18:00 | Registration deadline |
| October 16, 2026 | 19:00 | Round 1 |
| October 17, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 2 |
| October 17, 2026 | 15:00 | Round 3 |
| October 18, 2026 | 09:00 | Round 4 |
| October 18, 2026 | 15:00 | Round 5 |
| October 18, 2026 | Around 20:30 | Prize ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Registration Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Registration method | Email registration |
| Registration email | erwin.sanen@gmx.de |
| Registration deadline | October 16, 2026, at 18:00 |
| Required information | Name, date of birth, and club |
| Standard entry fee | €35 |
| Reduced entry fee | €25 for youth players born after October 18, 2008, students with student ID, and club members |
| Free entry | GM, IM, and WGM players |
| Payment recipient | Schachverein Würselen 1926 |
| Bank | Sparkasse Aachen |
| IBAN | DE21 3905 0000 1070 6214 10 |
| BIC | AACSDE33XXX |
| Capacity | Minimum 30 players; maximum 60 players |
🏛️ Organizer
Organizer: Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V.
Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V. organizes Herbst-Open Würselen 2026 as a compact rated weekend tournament. The club provides a 5-round classical format, a clear playing schedule, and a limited field of up to 60 players.
Email: erwin.sanen@gmx.de
Phone: +49 2405 83550
📍 Venue
Kulturzentrum Altes Rathaus, Großer Saal, Kaiserstraße 36, 52146 Würselen, Germany
The tournament takes place in the Großer Saal at Kulturzentrum Altes Rathaus in Würselen. Players should use the full venue address for map navigation and arrive before the Friday evening registration deadline.
🚆 How to Get There
Players and visitors can travel directly to Kulturzentrum Altes Rathaus at Kaiserstraße 36 in Würselen. The venue address gives local players, families, and visitors a clear arrival point for the weekend tournament.
ℹ️ Other Practical Information
The venue offers warm and cold food and drinks during the tournament. Therefore, players should use the on-site food service and avoid eating in the tournament hall.
Current FIDE chess rules apply. Also, tournament participation includes consent for the publication of tournament data, results, games, photos, and reports connected with the event.
Overall, this event gives players a practical opportunity to play rated classical chess in Würselen during a structured weekend tournament.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $2,160
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V. is a historic chess club in Würselen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. The club was founded in 1926 and gives local players a regular home for over-the-board chess, training, league play, and tournament activity. Its playing venue is in the Altes Rathaus on Kaiserstraße 36.
The club welcomes players of different ages and playing strengths. Youth chess starts on Friday evenings, while the main adult club evening begins later the same night. In addition, the club uses separate youth training sessions for beginners and advanced young players. This structure gives families, juniors, casual players, and team competitors a clear weekly rhythm for chess in Würselen.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V. runs regular club chess and tournament activity. Its calendar includes the Neujahrsopen, the Herbst-Open, youth tournament activity, internal competitions, and team matches. The Herbst-Open Würselen uses five Swiss-system rounds with a classical time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest of the game, plus 30 seconds per move.
Team chess also plays a central role in the club’s program. For the 2025/2026 season, the club lists three teams. The first team competes in the SVM Verbandsliga West, while the second and third teams play in Aachener Schachverband league structures. Therefore, members can find team chess in Würselen at several competitive levels.
The club has also reached important competitive milestones in its history. Its first team earned promotion to the 2. Bundesliga after a strong 2015/2016 Oberliga NRW season. That history reflects the club’s long-term connection with serious regional and national team chess.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who visit Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V. find a practical club setting with weekly playing times, youth training, tournament preparation, and league opportunities. The Altes Rathaus venue gives the club a stable central base. As a result, players can combine friendly games, training, and rated competition within one local chess environment.
The club also gives young players a structured route into youth chess training. Beginner and advanced groups meet at the Altes Rathaus, and the club maintains a separate youth chess presence for youth events and training information. Moreover, its activity includes school chess projects and local youth work, which helps new players enter organized chess before moving into club tournaments.
For tournament players, Schachverein Würselen 1926 e.V. offers a useful mix of classical chess events, rapid or seasonal formats, and official league play. The Neujahrsopen and Herbst-Open add open tournament options to the regular club schedule. Meanwhile, the club’s team structure gives ambitious players a path from weekly practice into serious match play.
📞 Contact Details
Address: Kaiserstraße 36, 1st floor, Room 4, 52146 Würselen, Germany
Email: info@schachverein-wuerselen.de
Email 2: havenith.mike@googlemail.com
Phone: +49 2405 83550
Website: https://schachverein-wuerselen.de/
Main contact: Michael Havenith
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