34th Erkel Ferenc Memorial will take place from October 24-30, 2026, at Erkel Ferenc High School in Gyula, Hungary. The tournament honors Ferenc Erkel, the famous Hungarian composer who was born in Gyula and also had a strong connection with chess.
This is a chess tournament in Gyula, Hungary, in 2026. The event continues a long local chess tradition and welcomes players to a FIDE-rated Swiss open with two groups.
The tournament offers a full one-week playing schedule, practical venue access, guaranteed prize conditions, and useful visitor benefits in a historic spa town. Therefore, it suits players who want serious rated chess with a friendly memorial atmosphere.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | 34th Erkel Ferenc Memorial |
| 📅 Dates | October 24–30, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Gyula, Hungary |
| 🏛️ Venue | Erkel Ferenc High School, István Szigeti Gym Hall |
| 📌 Address | 5700 Gyula, Dr. Adler Ignác Street 3 |
| ♟️ Format | Swiss open FIDE tournament |
| 🧩 Groups | Group A and Group B |
| 🔢 Rounds | Group A: 9 rounds; Group B: 7 rounds |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated tournament |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Gábor Somogyi, NA |
| ⏳ Waiting Time | 60 minutes |
| 💰 Prize Fund | HUF 670,000 / approx. USD 2,145 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | A group listing confirmed |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Group A uses a classical time control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to the end, with a 30-second increment from move one. Group B uses 90 minutes for the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. Players must keep score until the end of the game.
The tournament follows the Swiss system. Group A has 9 rounds, while Group B has 7 rounds. Chess-Results also lists Group A as a 9-round Swiss tournament with international rating calculation.
💰 Prize Fund
The published cash prize fund for the two main groups totals HUF 670,000, which is approximately USD 2,145. This total includes the listed main prizes and category prizes in both groups. The non-cash special sausage prize and the optional blitz/schnell side event are not included in this cash total.
Prize Fund Overview
| Group | Published Cash Prizes |
|---|---|
| Group A | HUF 435,000 |
| Group B | HUF 235,000 |
| Total | HUF 670,000 / approx. USD 2,145 |
Group A Prizes
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | HUF 150,000 + trophy |
| 2nd place | HUF 100,000 |
| 3rd place | HUF 70,000 |
| 4th place | HUF 40,000 |
| 5th place | HUF 30,000 |
| Best woman player | HUF 15,000 |
| Best youth player | HUF 15,000 |
| Best player over 65 | HUF 15,000 |
Group B Prizes
| Place / Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | HUF 70,000 + trophy |
| 2nd place | HUF 50,000 |
| 3rd place | HUF 35,000 |
| 4th place | HUF 20,000 |
| 5th place | HUF 15,000 |
| Best woman player | HUF 15,000 |
| Best youth player | HUF 15,000 |
| Best player over 65 | HUF 15,000 |
The prizes are net amounts and will not be shared. Group A prizes depend on at least 30 participants, while Group B prizes depend on at least 40 participants. Also, each player can win only one prize.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The event has two playing groups. Group A mainly welcomes players rated above 1900 Elo. Players rated 1800–1899 may also enter Group A with an additional fee.
Group B is for players rated 0–1899 Elo. Unrated players may only play in Group B. This structure gives stronger players a longer 9-round event, while Group B offers a 7-round schedule with one game per day after the opening round.
Optional Companion Tournament
If enough players enter, the organizers plan a 7-round blitz/schnell tournament on Tuesday, October 27, at 15:00. The time control is 5 minutes per player, the entry fee is HUF 2,000, and 70% of collected entry fees will form the prize fund. This side event is not FIDE-rated.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Group A | Group B |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 24, Saturday | 10:00–13:45 | On-site registration | On-site registration |
| October 24, Saturday | 14:00 | Opening ceremony | Opening ceremony |
| October 24, Saturday | 14:30 | Round 1 | Round 1 |
| October 25, Sunday | 09:00 | Round 2 | Round 2 |
| October 25, Sunday | 15:00 | Round 3 | — |
| October 26, Monday | 09:00 | Round 4 | Round 3 |
| October 27, Tuesday | 09:00 | Round 5 | Round 4 |
| October 27, Tuesday | 15:00 | Optional blitz/schnell side event | Optional blitz/schnell side event |
| October 28, Wednesday | 09:00 | Round 6 | Round 5 |
| October 28, Wednesday | 15:00 | Round 7 | — |
| October 29, Thursday | 09:00 | Round 8 | Round 6 |
| October 30, Friday | 09:00 | Round 9 | Round 7 |
| October 30, Friday | After the last game | Closing ceremony | Closing ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Deadline | October 23, 2026 |
| Registration Email | korge95@gmail.com |
| On-site Registration | October 24, 10:00–13:45 |
| Group A Entry Fee | Above 2300 Elo: free |
| Group A Entry Fee | 2100–2299 Elo: HUF 12,000 |
| Group A Entry Fee | 1900–2099 Elo: HUF 15,000 |
| Group A Entry Fee | 1800–1899 Elo: HUF 20,000 |
| Group B Entry Fee | 0–1899 Elo: HUF 12,000 |
| License Requirement | Annual tournament license valid for 2026 |
| Foreign Players | Valid Hungarian Playing License permit required |
| Photo / Video Consent | Players consent to photography and filming by paying the entry fee |
Players should register before the deadline by email. The organizers confirm whether each entry has been accepted or rejected.
👥 Organizer
Gyulai SE organizes the event together with the listed local tournament team. The Hungarian Chess Federation calendar also confirms Gyulai SE as the organizer and lists the same venue, dates, and registration email.
Email: korge95@gmail.com
🏛️ Venue
Erkel Ferenc High School, István Szigeti Gym Hall
5700 Gyula, Dr. Adler Ignác Street 3, Hungary
Players should enter from Kossuth Square through the gray gate next to the dormitory. The schoolyard offers free parking, which makes the venue practical for players arriving by car.
Player Services
During the tournament, players can receive free coffee, mineral water, soft drinks, and salty snacks. In addition, chess players receive a 50% discount on the entrance fee to Gyula Castle Bath between October 24 and 30. Accommodation and meals should be arranged individually.
🚆 How to Get There
The venue sits close to central Gyula. The main square, restaurants, and the bus station are within about a 5-minute walk, so players can manage daily meals and local movement easily.
Drivers can use the free parking in the schoolyard. Meanwhile, players arriving by public transport can use the nearby bus station and then walk to the school entrance from the town center area.
The 34th Erkel Ferenc Memorial offers a well-structured week of rated chess in Gyula, with two groups, useful player services, and a strong local memorial tradition.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $2,145
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Gyulai SE Sakk Szakosztály is the chess section of Gyulai SE in Gyula, Békés County, Hungary. The section gives local players a structured base for over-the-board chess, tournament practice, and regional competition. Its public chess activity connects the city of Gyula with a long local tradition, including events that honor important figures in the area’s chess history.
The organizer works with local institutions and chess partners to run practical tournament programs in Gyula. Its activity includes adult events, youth sections, rapid tournaments, classical events, and team-related chess work. In addition, Gyulai SE players appear regularly in Hungarian tournament results, which keeps the club visible within Hungarian chess and the wider Békés County chess scene.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Gyulai SE Sakk Szakosztály organizes the Gyöngyösi Lázár Sakk Emlékverseny, a memorial tournament held in cooperation with Körös-vidéki Vízügyi Igazgatóság. The event gives players an early-year competition opportunity in Gyula. It has included open and youth groups, Swiss-system pairings, rapid time controls, and a format designed for local and invited players.
The chess section also plays a key role in the Erkel Ferenc Emlékverseny, one of the important annual chess events in Gyula. The tournament continues a long tradition and uses the Erkel Ferenc Gimnázium sports hall as a playing venue. Recent editions include A and B groups, multi-round Swiss formats, and a classical tournament rhythm. Therefore, players can find both serious long games and youth-friendly competition under the same local organizer.
Gyulai SE chess activity also reaches beyond local memorial events. Its players have appeared in NB team competition, regional tournaments, rapid events, and nearby international or cross-border chess activity. This gives the club a practical role in Békés County chess tournaments and regional player development.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who attend events organized by Gyulai SE Sakk Szakosztály can expect a direct local tournament environment with clear registration, familiar venues, and practical communication through the organizer. The Gyula events often use schools, public institutional venues, and large rooms suited for tournament play. As a result, players can focus on the games while staying close to the city center.
The club’s events serve several player groups. Adult competitors can use the classical tournaments for serious over-the-board games. Young players can enter youth sections and gain experience with clocks, pairings, and tournament rules. Moreover, memorial tournaments help preserve the city’s chess heritage while giving active players new competition opportunities.
For visiting players, Gyula offers a recognizable destination for chess tournaments in Hungary. Gyulai SE Sakk Szakosztály connects local tradition, regional chess contacts, and regular event organization in one active chess setting.
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