5th Tournoi des 3 Vallées 2026 takes place from November 6-11, 2026, at the CAF in Huy, Belgium. The tournament offers a 7-round FIDE open across a long chess weekend.
This is a chess tournament in Huy, Belgium, in 2026. Players will compete in one Swiss open with classical time control and FIDE-rated conditions.
The event offers more than €3,000 in prizes, a strong main prize list, category prizes, one possible bye, and on-site bar service with light catering. In addition, the schedule gives players one or two games per day across six calendar days.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | 5th Tournoi des 3 Vallées 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 6-11, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Huy, Belgium |
| 🏛️ Venue | Centre d’Autoformation et de Formation continuée (CAF), Tihange |
| 📌 Address | La Neuville 1, 4500 Tihange-Huy |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round FIDE open |
| 🔢 Pairing System | Swiss system |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, plus 30 seconds per move |
| 💰 Prize Fund | More than €3,000 / approx. over USD 3,500 |
| 📝 Entry Fee | €35 before October 31; €40 after October 31 |
| 👨⚖️ Arbiter | Timothé Scaillet |
| ⏳ Default Time | 60 minutes |
| 🍽️ Services | Bar and light catering available |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Players receive 90 minutes for the first 40 moves. After that, they receive 30 minutes for the rest of the game. In addition, every move adds a 30-second increment from move one.
The tournament uses a 7-round Swiss system. As a result, players get a full classical schedule while still keeping the event compact.
Tie-breaks follow Buchholz Cut 1 and then Buchholz. Also, the default time is 60 minutes, so players should reach the board well before each round starts.
Players may request one bye if they announce their absence in advance. However, they should send the request early and follow the organizer’s instructions.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers more than €3,000 in prizes, which equals approximately over USD 3,500.
Prize Fund Overview
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €1,000 |
| 2nd place | €750 |
| 3rd place | €500 |
| Additional prizes | Category prizes |
| Total published prize fund | More than €3,000 / approx. over USD 3,500 |
Prizes are not cumulative. Therefore, if a player qualifies for more than one prize, the player receives the highest available prize.
The other prize then goes to the next eligible player in the ranking. In addition, prizes are not divided.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The event has one open FIDE section. All players compete in the same tournament field.
The format suits players who want a classical open in Belgium with a clear schedule and a traditional Swiss structure.
Category prizes create extra targets beyond the top places. Therefore, players from different rating levels can still compete for meaningful awards.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Friday, November 6 | 19:30 | Round 1 |
| Saturday, November 7 | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| Saturday, November 7 | 16:00 | Round 3 |
| Sunday, November 8 | 14:00 | Round 4 |
| Monday, November 9 | 19:30 | Round 5 |
| Tuesday, November 10 | 19:30 | Round 6 |
| Wednesday, November 11 | 10:00 | Round 7 |
| Wednesday, November 11 | After the final round | Prize ceremony |
Players should plan carefully for the evening rounds on Friday, Monday, and Tuesday. In addition, they should note the earlier final-round start on Wednesday morning.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Online registration or direct contact with the organizer |
| Early Entry Fee | €35 before October 31 |
| Standard Entry Fee | €40 after October 31 |
| Payment Account | BE49 0012 9674 1971 |
| Contact Person | Claude Bikady |
| Contact Phone | +32 499 05 59 41 |
| Contact Email | echiquiermosanasbl@gmail.com |
Players should register and pay early to use the reduced entry fee. Moreover, early registration helps the organizer prepare pairings, venue setup, and category prize planning.
👥 Organizer
Royal Échiquier Mosan organizes the 5th Tournoi des 3 Vallées 2026. The club hosts the event at the CAF in Tihange and offers a classical FIDE open with a practical long-weekend format.
Phone: +32 499 05 59 41
Email: echiquiermosanasbl@gmail.com
🏛️ Venue
Centre d’Autoformation et de Formation continuée (CAF), Tihange – La Neuville 1, 4500 Tihange-Huy, Belgium
The tournament takes place at the CAF in Tihange, in the Huy area. The playing room is located on the first floor of the building in the large courtyard.
The venue also offers bar service and light catering during the event. Therefore, players can stay close to the playing hall between rounds.
🚆 How to Get There
Players should travel to La Neuville 1, 4500 Tihange-Huy, and use the CAF as the destination point.
Those arriving by public transport should plan the final local connection in advance. Meanwhile, players arriving by car should allow enough time to reach the venue before the evening rounds.
5th Tournoi des 3 Vallées 2026 offers a classical FIDE-rated open in Belgium with strong prizes, a clear schedule, and a friendly club-tournament setting.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $3,500
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Royal Échiquier Mosan is a Belgian chess club based at the Centre d’Autoformation et de Formation continuée in Tihange, near Huy. The club traces its roots to 1972, when local chess activity began in Amay and later developed through several club names and playing venues. Today, Royal Échiquier Mosan remains an active chess center for players from the Meuse valley, between Liège and Namur.
The club opens almost every Friday evening from 19:00 to midnight. Players can join regular club nights, internal events, training activity, and team competitions. In addition, newcomers can visit the club before registration, meet members, and start playing from their first evening.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Royal Échiquier Mosan has a long tournament tradition in Belgian chess. Its history includes francophone individual championships, Liège league championships, youth events, FIDE tournaments, active chess events, and major club activities. The club has also competed strongly in national interclub chess, including seasons in Belgium’s top divisions and several European Club Cup appearances.
The organizer runs and supports several competition formats. These include internal club tournaments, FRBE national interclubs, FEFB francophone interclub activity, youth events, and the Tournoi des Trois Vallées. Moreover, the club’s recent activity includes JEF youth rounds and open tournaments, which gives young players and adults regular competitive opportunities.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who join Royal Échiquier Mosan find a club with both competitive depth and community activity. The club has around seventy players of different levels, with team activity in national and francophone divisions. Therefore, it suits experienced competitors as well as club players who want a steady chess environment.
The club also supports youth chess. It has around twenty young members who take part in Friday club competitions, Sunday interclubs, the Belgian Youth Championship, and other external tournaments. In addition, club members provide training and guidance, which helps younger players build tournament experience step by step.
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