Sahel International Chess Festival 2026
Sahel International Chess Festival 2026 brings a broad international program to Hotel El Habib in Monastir from October 24 to November 1. Moreover, the festival divides the classical field into Open A, B, C, and D groups and adds youth and senior classifications. The residential seaside setting supports nine rounds, training, side events, and social activities.
The main classical sections use 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move from move one. In addition, Open A operates within a title-norm framework for a suitably composed international field. The official results service handles entries, pairings, standings, and FIDE rating data across the festival.
The organizer promotes an €8,000 cash prize fund, approximately $9,160 after conversion and upward rounding. Therefore, the official promotion identifies the complete festival total. A published residential offer of €480 covers eight nights on an all-inclusive basis and places participants inside the playing hotel.
📌 Event Details
| 📅 Dates | October 24–November 1, 2026 |
| 🌍 Location | Monastir, Tunisia |
| 📍 Venue | Hotel El Habib – Monastir, Tunisia |
| 🏢 Organizer | Tunisian Chess Federation and Association Le Carré Royal |
| ♟️ Format | International festival with Open A, B, C, D, youth, senior, and side events |
| 🔢 Rounds | Main classical sections: 9 |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move from move one |
| 📊 Rating | FIDE standard rating; Open A provides title-norm opportunities under the published framework |
| 💰 Prize Fund | $9,160 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1435415.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The main classical competitions use nine rounds at 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Moreover, each Open group follows its published rating eligibility and pairing rules. Open A can support title norms when the final field and individual performances satisfy every FIDE requirement.
🏆 Prize Fund
The official festival promotion publishes an €8,000 prize fund. Consequently, the converted equivalent is approximately $9,160 after upward rounding. The detailed regulations allocate awards among the festival sections and categories.
| Prize Category | Verified Award |
|---|---|
| Published festival prize fund | €8,000 |
| Converted total | Approximately $9,160 |
| Distribution | Across published festival sections and categories |
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility / Dates | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Open A | Highest festival group under the published entry conditions | 9-round FIDE-rated Swiss with norm framework |
| Open B | Published rating eligibility | 9-round FIDE-rated Swiss |
| Open C | Published rating eligibility | 9-round FIDE-rated Swiss |
| Open D | Published rating eligibility | 9-round FIDE-rated Swiss |
| Youth and Senior Classifications | Age eligibility under the regulations | Festival awards and standings |
🗓️ Schedule
| Date / Stage | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| October 24 | Arrival program | Participant arrival and accommodation check-in |
| October 25–31 | Published round calendar | Nine classical rounds and side activities |
| November 1 | Departure program | Festival departures |
📝 Registration
Players should use the official festival channel and the official results file. In addition, participants should identify their correct Open group and provide accurate FIDE ID, federation, rating, age-category, and accommodation information. The residential package should be booked through the organizer under the published payment and cancellation conditions.
👤 Organizer
| 🏢 Organizers | Tunisian Chess Federation and Association Le Carré Royal |
| 🌐 Festival Channel | https://www.facebook.com/SahelInternationalChessFestival/ |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1435415.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🌐 Tunisian Chess Federation | https://www.ft-echecs.com/ |
📍 Venue
Hotel El Habib hosts the playing halls and residential festival program in Monastir. Furthermore, the all-inclusive package combines accommodation, meals, and direct access to the tournament rooms. Participants should use the organizer’s rooming and arrival instructions.
🚗 How to Get There
| Travel Option | Practical Information |
|---|---|
| By Air | Monastir Habib Bourguiba International Airport is the closest airport. |
| Airport Transfer | Taxi, hotel transfer, and organizer arrangements connect the airport with central Monastir. |
| By Train | Rail services connect Monastir with Sousse and other Tunisian cities. |
| By Car | Use the hotel name and organizer directions for the final entrance and parking. |
🏨 Accommodation Near the Venue
| Accommodation Option | Details |
|---|---|
| Hotel El Habib | Official playing venue and residential package hotel. |
| Marina Cap Monastir hotels | Alternative waterfront properties within the city. |
| Sousse accommodation | Broader resort choices for visitors who arrange reliable daily transport. |
ℹ️ Other Information
- The festival offers several rating-based Open groups.
- Open A can provide title-norm opportunities under full FIDE conditions.
- The published residential package is €480 for eight all-inclusive nights.
- The official results file controls participant acceptance, pairings, and standings.
✅ Final Checks Before Travel
- First, verify the accepted-player list, section, rating identifiers, and payment status.
- In addition, review the published round schedule, default time, bye rules, tie-breaks, and device policy.
- Moreover, save the venue route and organizer contact before travel.
- Finally, recheck accommodation, parking, meals, and cancellation conditions.
🔗 Official Resources
| Resource | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Official Festival Channel | https://www.facebook.com/SahelInternationalChessFestival/ |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1435415.aspx?lan=1 |
| Tunisian Chess Federation | https://www.ft-echecs.com/ |
| Monastir Airport | https://www.oaca.nat.tn/ |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $9,160
Organizer
♟️ About the Tunisian Chess Federation
The Tunisian Chess Federation, officially known in French as the Fédération Tunisienne des Échecs, is the national governing body for chess in Tunisia. Founded in 1957, it has represented Tunisia within the International Chess Federation since 1958. The federation is also part of the African, Arab, Mediterranean, and Francophone international chess structures. It regulates organized chess across Tunisia through affiliated clubs, officials, arbiters, trainers, and competition committees. Its responsibilities include player registration, FIDE rating administration, national regulations, club competition, official championships, international representation, and cooperation with tournament organizers. Sofien Majdoub currently serves as federation president.
🏆 National Championships and Chess Development
The federation oversees Tunisia’s national chess program for adults, women, juniors, school players, seniors, and club teams. Its competition structure includes individual championships, national team leagues, youth championships, rapid and blitz events, qualification competitions, and other rated tournaments. In addition, the federation registers international competitions with FIDE and supports Tunisian players who represent the country at African, Arab, Mediterranean, world, and continental events. It also cooperates with FIDE commissions to stage seminars for arbiters and trainers. These programs strengthen Tunisia’s technical chess infrastructure by developing qualified officials alongside competitive players. The federation maintains its headquarters in El Menzah, Tunis, and acts as the primary institutional link between Tunisian chess and FIDE.
🌍 Role in the Sahel International Chess Festival
The Tunisian Chess Federation is credited alongside Association Le Carré Royal in the official presentation of the Sahel International Chess Festival 2026. It issued the international invitation circulated to national federations and encouraged titled players, norm seekers, juniors, seniors, and accompanying guests to participate. The federation provides the national regulatory and institutional framework for the event, while Association Le Carré Royal manages its principal operational organization. This distinction explains why Chess-Results names the association as tournament organizer, while official festival materials and international invitations also credit the federation. The federation’s participation supports FIDE registration, international communication, national authorization, technical coordination, and cooperation with foreign chess federations. Consequently, it should appear as a separate organizer profile rather than being combined with the local association.
♟️ About Association Le Carré Royal de Ksibet El Mediouni
Association Le Carré Royal de Ksibet El Mediouni is an active Tunisian chess organization based in Ksibet El Mediouni, in the Monastir Governorate. The association participates in Tunisia’s organized chess structure and supports competitive over-the-board chess through club teams, local activities, and international tournament projects. It has represented Ksibet El Mediouni in national team competition and works with players, arbiters, tournament directors, national chess officials, hotels, and international participants. The association’s activities connect local chess development with larger events designed to attract players from Tunisia, North Africa, Europe, and other regions. International Organizer Chaher Eddine Miladi is closely associated with its tournament work and serves as its principal organizational representative.
🏆 International Tournaments and Chess Activities
The association has extensive experience with chess festivals and international tournament organization. It has previously helped deliver FIDE-rated events in the Sousse and Monastir regions, including international classical tournaments, youth competitions, blitz events, and activities for senior players. Moreover, it has worked with the Tunisian Chess Federation on technical and educational projects. In September 2025, the two organizations jointly staged a FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar in Monastir under the auspices of the FIDE Arbiters’ Commission. This seminar provided formal instruction, examination, and title opportunities for Tunisian arbiters. The association also competes within Tunisia’s national club structure under the name Le Carré Royal d’Échecs Ksibet El Mediouni. Therefore, its work combines club participation, tournament management, arbiter development, and international chess promotion.
🌍 Sahel International Chess Festival
Association Le Carré Royal de Ksibet El Mediouni is the principal operational organizer of the Sahel International Chess Festival 2026 in Monastir. Chess-Results identifies the association as the organizer across the festival’s classical and blitz sections. The registered organizing team includes Chief Organizer Chaher Eddine Miladi, together with Hassen Abdellali and Vadim Tsypin. The program includes several rating-based classical groups, a senior competition, blitz chess, and title-norm opportunities under the applicable FIDE conditions. The association coordinates tournament preparation, participant communication, playing sections, arbiters, technical reporting, and local arrangements. In addition, the festival’s official communication channels provide registration information, accommodation details, schedules, and international delegation support. Through this project, the association promotes the Tunisian Sahel as a destination for serious international chess and chess-related tourism.
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