Spaß mit Sport

♟️ About Spaß mit Sport

Spaß mit Sport – Edzard Wirtjes is a sports-event organization and specialist endurance-sports business based in Leer, Lower Saxony, Germany. Established in 1996, it is primarily known for running, triathlon, Nordic walking, and endurance-sport activities. However, chess has become an established part of its event portfolio through the annual Schach Open Leer. The organization operates from Am alten Handelshafen in central Leer. Spaß mit Sport organizes the chess tournament in cooperation with the chess section of Fortuna Logabirum, which provides additional chess-specific organizational support. The partnership combines Edzard Wirtjes’s extensive experience in managing large sporting events with local chess expertise. In addition, the tournament uses online registration, published results, live-board coverage, rating sections, and accommodation arrangements at its long-standing venue, Hotel Ostfriesen-Hof. Edzard Wirtjes is the owner of Spaß mit Sport, Chief Organizer of the Schach Open Leer, and the principal contact for chess-related matters. He created the Leer tournament after returning to competitive chess himself, and the first edition took place in 2017. The event has since grown from 80 players in its inaugural year to fields approaching or exceeding 200 participants. The next edition is the 9th Sparkassen Schach Open Leer – NSV Grand Prix, scheduled for October 29–November 1, 2026.

📜 Development of the Schach Open Leer

The first Schach Open Leer took place in 2017 and attracted approximately 80 players. Edzard Wirtjes organized the event together with experienced local chess officials after rediscovering tournament chess through his own participation in competition. Growth came quickly. By 2019, participation had risen to 236 players, establishing the tournament as a substantial classical open in northern Germany. After the interruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the event returned in 2021 with 164 participants and continued its annual development. The 8th Sparkassen Schach Open Leer 2025 attracted almost 200 players across its principal sections. FM Jasper Holtel won the A-Tournament with 5.5 points from seven rounds, finishing ahead of FM Lara Schulze and Robin Keyser on tiebreak. Live transmission has also become an important feature. During the 2025 edition, almost 100 games could be followed from electronic boards, and the organizers plan to continue live coverage in 2026.

🏆 9th Sparkassen Schach Open Leer 2026

The 9th Sparkassen Schach Open Leer – NSV Grand Prix is scheduled from October 29 to November 1, 2026 at Hotel Ostfriesen-Hof, Groninger Straße 109, in Leer. The tournament consists of three rating-based sections. The A Open is intended for players with an Elo or DWZ of at least 2000. The B Tournament has a maximum rating of 2050, while the new C Tournament is limited to players rated no higher than 1700. The A and B sections have a combined capacity of 200 players, while the C section can accommodate another 50 competitors. All sections use a seven-round Swiss system. The classical time control gives each player 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the remainder of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The A and B competitions are submitted for Elo and DWZ rating, subject to the published eligibility rules. The C section receives DWZ evaluation but not FIDE Elo evaluation. FA Johan Zwanepol and Dirk Rütemann are listed as the arbiters for the 2026 edition. Prize categories include the overall standings, women, U18 players, and rating groups. Moreover, titled GM, WGM, IM, and WIM players receive free entry.

🤝 Sport Event Organization and Local Partnerships

Chess represents one part of a much larger sporting event program operated by Spaß mit Sport. Since 1996, the organization has developed expertise in endurance sports and has organized events such as the Ossiloop, Vull wat Manns Loop, Logabirumer Spendenlauf, and other running and community-sport projects. This experience supports the logistical side of the Schach Open Leer. Spaß mit Sport manages registration, participant communication, sponsors, venue coordination, accommodation arrangements, and other organizational requirements. Fortuna Logabirum provides additional support for the chess tournament, while sponsors for the 2026 edition include Sparkasse Leer Wittmund, Spedition Nanno Janssen, Württembergische Versicherung, Bünting Teehandelshaus, Hartmann Reederei, and AS-Steuerberatung. Hotel Ostfriesen-Hof has become the tournament’s established playing venue. As a result, participants can combine accommodation and competition in the same location, while the organizers also provide practical services such as free coffee and sponsored tea during the event.