XVII Open Internacional de Xadrez Marquês de Pombal 2026
XVII Open Internacional de Xadrez Marquês de Pombal 2026 takes place from December 26 – 29, 2026, at Bombeiros Voluntários de Pombal in Pombal, Portugal. The tournament is part of the Portuguese Chess Federation’s National Classical Circuit and the Portugal Chess Tour.
This is a chess tournament in Pombal, Portugal, in 2026. Players will compete in a 7-round Swiss open with classical time control and FIDE rating calculation.
The event offers a confirmed cash prize fund of €1,450 / approx. $1,690, with an additional €500 added if the tournament reaches at least 75 registered players. In addition, players can compete for youth, team, 50+, 65+, and special category awards.
♟️ Event Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Tournament | XVII Open Internacional de Xadrez Marquês de Pombal 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | December 26 – 29, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Pombal, Portugal |
| 🏛️ Venue | Bombeiros Voluntários de Pombal – Rua Carlos Alberto de Mota Pinto, 3100-492 Pombal, Portugal |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss open |
| 🧩 Sections | One open section |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated |
| 🏅 Circuit | FPX National Classical Circuit and Portugal Chess Tour |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes per player + 30 seconds per move |
| 👤 Tournament Director | Jorge Barrento |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Carlos Ferreira |
| 💰 Prize Fund | €1,450 / approx. $1,690; rises by €500 if the event reaches 75 entries |
| 📝 Registration Deadline | December 25, 2026, 00:00 |
| ⏳ Default Time | 60 minutes |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://s2.chess-results.com/tnr1397991.aspx?lan=1&flag=30&turdet=YES&SNode=S0 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Players receive 90 minutes for the game, plus a 30-second increment from move one. This gives the tournament a classical format across four playing days.
The event uses a 7-round Swiss system. Moreover, the tournament counts for FIDE rating, so players should make sure their federation registration is valid before entering.
The default time is 60 minutes. Therefore, players should arrive early, check pairings before each round, and avoid unnecessary forfeit risks.
Players may request up to two half-point byes. However, bye requests must reach the organizer in writing before Round 1, and they apply only during the first four rounds.
Draw agreements before move 30 require arbiter approval. After finishing a game, players should leave the playing area so the remaining games can continue without crowding.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a confirmed cash prize fund of €1,450 / approx. $1,690.
If the tournament reaches at least 75 registered players, the organizer will add €500 / approx. $580 to the prizes. In that case, the prize fund rises to €1,950 / approx. $2,270.
Prize Fund Overview
| Prize Information | Amount |
|---|---|
| Confirmed cash prize fund | €1,450 / approx. $1,690 |
| Additional prize increase from 75 entries | €500 / approx. $580 |
| Possible total with 75+ entries | €1,950 / approx. $2,270 |
Main Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st place | €450 + trophy |
| 2nd place | €300 + trophy |
| 3rd place | €200 + trophy |
| 4th place | €150 + trophy |
| 5th place | €100 + trophy |
| 6th place | €80 + trophy |
| 7th place | €70 + trophy |
| 8th place | €60 + trophy |
| 9th place | €50 + trophy |
| 10th place | €40 + trophy |
Special Awards
The tournament also awards prizes or trophies for U08, U10, U12, U14, U16, U18, 50+, 65+, and team categories.
In addition, the event includes a special “Partida Beleza” award for a beautiful game. Players must attend the closing ceremony to receive prizes.
🧩 Sections / Groups
The tournament has one open section. All eligible players compete in the same 7-round Swiss event.
This format gives players a direct classical tournament experience. At the same time, the category awards create extra goals for youth players, club players, teams, and older players.
The event also belongs to the Portugal Chess Tour. Therefore, it can attract local players, national circuit participants, and international visitors looking for a post-Christmas rated tournament in Portugal.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, December 26 | 16:00 | Welcome and accreditation starts |
| Saturday, December 26 | 20:30 | Round 1 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 14:30 | Round 2 |
| Sunday, December 27 | 20:30 | Round 3 |
| Monday, December 28 | 14:30 | Round 4 |
| Monday, December 28 | 20:30 | Round 5 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 09:45 | Round 6 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 14:15 | Round 7 |
| Tuesday, December 29 | 30–40 minutes after the games finish | Closing ceremony and prize awards |
Players should complete accreditation before the first round. In addition, they should plan carefully for the evening rounds on December 26, 27, and 28.
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Registration Method | Email registration with advance payment |
| Registration Deadline | December 25, 2026, 00:00 |
| Registration Email | axocp.openpombal@gmail.com |
| Payment Proof | Send payment confirmation by email |
| Payment Account | NIB AXOCP: PT50 0193 0000 1050 4416 4530 3 |
| Required Federation Status | FPX registration required |
| Bye Requests | Send written bye requests by email before Round 1 |
Entry Fees
| Deadline / Player Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| General entry until November 20 | €35 |
| Youth players U08–U16 and members until November 20 | €30 |
| Oficina Criativa de Pombal players until November 20 | €25 |
| General entry from November 21 to December 25 | €40 |
| Youth players U08–U16 and members from November 21 to December 25 | €35 |
| Oficina Criativa de Pombal players from November 21 to December 25 | €25 |
| GM, IM, FM, WGM, WIM, and WFM players | Free entry |
Players should pay the entry fee before the tournament. The organizer may leave unpaid players out of the first-round pairings.
Non-registered FPX players should request federation registration and pay the related cost through the organizing club.
👥 Organizer
Associação de Xadrez Oficina Criativa de Pombal organizes XVII Open Internacional de Xadrez Marquês de Pombal 2026. The event also receives support from the Portuguese Chess Federation, Leiria Chess Association, Pombal Municipality, and Pombal Parish Council.
Phone: +351 919 850 373
Email: axocp.openpombal@gmail.com
🏛️ Venue
Bombeiros Voluntários de Pombal – Rua Carlos Alberto de Mota Pinto, 3100-492 Pombal, Portugal
The tournament takes place at Bombeiros Voluntários de Pombal. The venue gives players a central local setting for the four-day classical open.
Players should use the full venue address when planning arrival. In addition, they should allow enough time for accreditation before the late first-round start.
🛏️ Accommodation
The tournament information includes several accommodation options in Pombal.
Belém Hotel
| Room Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Single room with breakfast | €55 |
| Double room with breakfast | €65 |
Hotel Contact: +351 236 200 800
Hotel Email: hotel@senhoradebelem.com
Hotel Address: Avenida Heróis do Ultramar, 3100-462 Pombal, Portugal
Cardal Hotel
| Room Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Single room with breakfast | €55 |
| Double room with breakfast | €65 |
| Triple room with breakfast | €80 |
| Quadruple room with breakfast | €95 |
Hotel Contact: +351 236 200 220
Hotel Email: info@cardalhotel.com
Hotel Address: Largo do Cardal, 3100-440 Pombal, Portugal
Telesico Residência
Telesico Residência offers guesthouse-style accommodation in Pombal, with Wi-Fi, a garden, terrace, and 24-hour reception.
Contact Email: celia.telesico@gmail.com
Phone: +351 914 669 944
Address: Rua da Cartilha Maternal Lt. M2, 3100-508 Pombal, Portugal
🚆 How to Get There
Players should travel to Bombeiros Voluntários de Pombal – Rua Carlos Alberto de Mota Pinto, 3100-492 Pombal, Portugal.
Pombal has rail connections through CP – Comboios de Portugal. Therefore, players arriving from Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra, or other Portuguese cities can plan travel by train.
Players can also use national bus routes to reach Pombal. Drivers should use the full venue address for navigation and allow extra time for arrival before accreditation.
ℹ️ Other Information
Players who miss Round 1 may leave the tournament list, unless the tournament direction accepts an exceptional reason.
Two no-shows also remove a player from the tournament. Therefore, players should inform the organizer early if a serious travel or health issue affects attendance.
The appeal committee includes Jorge Barrento, Micael Gomes, and Francisco Veiga as main members. Henrique Oscar and Fernando Alves serve as reserves.
XVII Open Internacional de Xadrez Marquês de Pombal 2026 offers a FIDE-rated post-Christmas chess event in central Portugal, with classical games, local support, and a clear Portugal Chess Tour setting.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $1,690
Organizer
♟️ About the Organizer
Associação de Xadrez Oficina Criativa de Pombal, also known as AXOCP, is a chess association based in Pombal, Portugal. The association was formally registered in 2019 and has quickly become one of the main chess references in the Leiria district. It promotes over-the-board chess, training activity, tournament play, and community participation.
The association works from Travessa dos Loureiros 4, in Pombal. It gives local players a regular place for chess practice, learning, and competition. Its activity connects children, adults, club players, and experienced competitors through a practical and welcoming chess environment.
AXOCP has a clear local identity through the phrase “Conhecer Pombal à boleia de um xeque-mate.” This idea links chess with the city of Pombal and helps promote the municipality through tournament activity. Therefore, the organizer offers more than regular club play. It also uses chess as a cultural, educational, and social tool.
🏆 Chess Events and Activities
Associação de Xadrez Oficina Criativa de Pombal organizes and supports several chess events in Pombal and the Leiria region. Its activity includes classical tournaments, rapid and semi-rapid events, district competitions, team chess, and training sessions. This broad program gives players several ways to enter chess and improve through regular play.
The association is best known for the Open Internacional de Xadrez Marquês de Pombal. This event has become a recognized tournament in the Portuguese chess calendar and has appeared in the Portugal Chess Tour and the Circuito Nacional de Clássicas of the Portuguese Chess Federation. The tournament offers FIDE-rated classical games and attracts players from different parts of Portugal.
AXOCP also has a strong connection with team chess. Its teams have competed in national Portuguese chess structures, which gives members regular match experience and a stronger competitive path. In addition, the association works with local partners, including municipal and regional institutions, to keep chess active and visible in Pombal.
🌍 Player Experience and Community
Players who join Associação de Xadrez Oficina Criativa de Pombal can expect an active and community-focused chess setting. The association welcomes young players, adults, beginners, and tournament competitors. This makes it suitable for families, local chess fans, and players who want regular over-the-board activity.
The organizer’s events also help visiting players discover Pombal. Its tournament model combines rated chess with local hospitality, practical venues, and clear communication. Moreover, the association’s regular contact channels make it easy for players to ask questions, register for events, and follow tournament updates.
For players searching for chess in Pombal, chess tournaments in Portugal, or a reliable chess organizer in the Leiria district, Associação de Xadrez Oficina Criativa de Pombal offers a strong regional option. Its mix of training, team chess, FIDE-rated events, youth participation, and community engagement gives the organizer a clear place in Portuguese chess.
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