Sel Hótel Mývatn/Mývatn Öl Open 2026 takes place from November 19-22, 2026, at Skjólbrekka Community Center in the Lake Mývatn area, Iceland. The tournament offers a 6-round international Swiss open in a scenic North Iceland setting.
This is a chess tournament in Lake Mývatn, Iceland, in 2026. Players will compete in FIDE-rated classical games with one open group, unless the entry list grows beyond 64 players.
The event combines rated chess, live game broadcasts, special accommodation arrangements, and a planned social program. In addition, the venue sits close to Sel Hótel Mývatn, which makes the tournament practical for visitors.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | Sel Hótel Mývatn/Mývatn Öl Open 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 19-22, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Lake Mývatn area, Iceland |
| 🏛️ Venue | Skjólbrekka Community Center |
| 📌 Address | Skjólbrekka, 660 Mývatn, Iceland |
| ♟️ Format | 6-round Swiss open |
| 🧩 Sections | One open section; possible 2000+ and under-2000 split if more than 64 players enter |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated classical tournament |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes per player + 30 seconds per move |
| 👥 Player Limit | 64 players before a possible section split |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Gunnar Björnsson, International Arbiter |
| 💰 Prize Fund | ISK 400,000 / approx. USD 3,270 |
| ⏳ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| 📺 Live Games | Planned broadcast on lichess.org, 30+ boards |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | Confirmed tournament listing available |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Players receive 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one. The tournament uses this classical time control in all rounds.
The event follows a 6-round Swiss system. Pairings use Swiss-Manager, and games count for international FIDE rating.
A player loses by default after arriving more than 30 minutes late for a round. Therefore, players should reach the venue early and check pairings before each game.
Tie-breaks follow this order: more games played, Buchholz -1, Buchholz, head-to-head results, Sonneborn-Berger, and more games with black.
Players may request up to two half-point byes in Rounds 1–5. However, they must give notice before all games finish in the round before the requested bye.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a total prize fund of ISK 400,000, which equals approximately USD 3,270. Prizes are shared if players finish on the same score.
Prize Fund Overview
| Prize / Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st place | ISK 150,000 |
| 2nd place | ISK 100,000 |
| 3rd place | ISK 50,000 |
| Best 65+ player | ISK 25,000 |
| Best U18 player | ISK 25,000 |
| Best U1800 player | ISK 25,000 |
| Best unrated player | ISK 25,000 |
| Total published prize fund | ISK 400,000 / approx. USD 3,270 |
If the tournament splits into a separate under-2000 Elo section, that section will include a first prize of ISK 50,000.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The tournament starts as one open section. It accepts up to 64 players before any split becomes necessary.
If more than 64 players register, the organizers will divide the event into two rating groups: 2000+ Elo and under 2000 Elo. The rating list from November 1, 2026 will determine the split.
Titled players rated 1900–1999 Elo may choose either category if the tournament divides into two sections.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, November 19 | 19:00 | Round 1 |
| Friday, November 20 | 10:00 | Round 2 |
| Friday, November 20 | 16:00 | Round 3 |
| Saturday, November 21 | 10:00 | Round 4 |
| Saturday, November 21 | 16:00 | Round 5 |
| Saturday, November 21 | 21:00 | Blitz tournament at Sel Hótel |
| Sunday, November 22 | 10:00 | Round 6 |
The Saturday night blitz tournament uses a 3 minutes + 2 seconds time control. It is planned as a non-rated side event.
The organizers also plan social activities during the tournament period. These include a Mývatn Öl Brewery tour and other visitor activities in the Lake Mývatn area.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Online registration form |
| Player Limit | 64 players before possible section split |
| Standard Entry Fee | ISK 10,000 |
| U18 / Unrated Entry Fee | ISK 7,000 |
| Registration Validation | Entry becomes valid only after payment |
| FIDE ID | Required |
| Contact Email | lyngbrekku@simnet.is |
Players should register online and complete payment early. The organizer will not treat an entry as valid or publish it until payment has been completed.
👥 Organizer
Goðinn Chess Club organizes the tournament together with Sel Hótel Mývatn/Mývatn Öl. The event builds on the successful Goðinn anniversary tournament format and brings international classical chess back to Skjólbrekka.
Phone: +354 821 3187
Email: lyngbrekku@simnet.is
🏛️ Venue
Skjólbrekka Community Center – Skjólbrekka, 660 Mývatn, Iceland
The tournament takes place at Skjólbrekka Community Center on the shore of Lake Mývatn. The venue is close to Sel Hótel Mývatn, which is around 600–700 meters away.
The setting gives players a quiet playing environment in one of North Iceland’s most recognizable natural areas. In addition, the compact schedule allows time for rest and local sightseeing between games.
🛏️ Accommodation
The organizers have arranged accommodation options with Sel Hótel Mývatn. Players can use the booking code myvatnchess for the tournament accommodation offer.
Other accommodation options are also available in the Mývatn region. Since the event takes place in a smaller destination area, players should book early and keep transport distance in mind.
🚆 How to Get There
Skjólbrekka and Sel Hótel Mývatn are about a 60-minute drive from Akureyri. From Reykjavík, the drive to the Lake Mývatn area takes about six hours.
The organizers recommend a planned bus round trip for players. The bus is expected to leave BSÍ in Reykjavík at 10:00 on November 19 and arrive near the venue before Round 1.
The return bus is planned for Sunday, November 22, after the final round. It is expected to leave the Skjólbrekka / Sel Hótel / Skútustaðir area around 15:00 and arrive in Reykjavík later that evening.
Players arriving by air can compare travel through Akureyri or Reykjavík. However, they should plan the final transfer carefully because the first round starts at 19:00 on Thursday.
Sel Hótel Mývatn/Mývatn Öl Open 2026 offers FIDE-rated chess, a compact four-day schedule, and a distinctive North Iceland tournament setting near Lake Mývatn.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $3,270
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Goðinn Chess Club, also known as Skákfélagið Goðinn, is an active Icelandic chess club based in Húsavík and Þingeyjarsveit. The club serves players across a large part of North East Iceland, while some members also live in Reykjavík. It welcomes new players and gives the region a strong local chess base outside the capital area.
The club was founded on March 15, 2005, by twelve chess players. Since then, it has grown into one of Iceland’s largest chess clubs outside the Reykjavík area. Goðinn runs regular activity through the chess season, with weekly chess practice usually taking place on Monday evenings from September until early May. This steady rhythm helps local players stay active and gives newcomers a simple way to join the chess community.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Goðinn Chess Club organizes regular FIDE-rated tournaments and internal competitions. Its main club championship usually takes place in January or February. In addition, the club runs rapid and blitz events during the season. The club also travels to Reykjavík twice a year to compete in the Icelandic Chess Team Championship, which gives members team experience at national level.
The club has also developed destination-style chess events in the Mývatn area. Its 20th anniversary tournament in 2025 marked an important milestone for the organization. Moreover, the Sel Hotel Mývatn Open continues that wider tournament direction and brings players to one of Iceland’s most distinctive regions. These events combine competitive chess with the landscape, hospitality, and travel appeal of northern Iceland.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who join Goðinn Chess Club can expect a friendly chess environment with regular practice, rated competition, and a strong local identity. The club’s activity takes place in several venues, including Húsavík, the Mývatn area, Laugar, and Fnjóskadalur. Therefore, Goðinn supports chess across a wider rural region, not only one town.
The club also contributes to school chess and youth development. In 2025, it started using its Tún venue in Húsavík and supported chess teaching in schools in Norðurþing. This gives the club an important community role beyond tournament play. As a result, Goðinn Chess Club suits adult competitors, improving juniors, local club players, and visitors who want chess in North East Iceland.
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