The Greifswalder Springer 2026 will take place from October 22 to 25, 2026, at VCH Hotel Greifswald in Germany. The traditional four-day tournament is organized by VCH Hotel Greifswald and Schach Events, with Guido Springer responsible for its delivery.

The main Open will be played over seven Swiss-system rounds and submitted for both DWZ and FIDE Elo rating. A parallel Schach Events U20 Youth Tournament is planned for players born in 2007 or later. However, the youth event will be held separately only if at least eight players enter.

The published Open prize schedule totals €1,125 / approximately $1,280, with cash prizes for the top eight places guaranteed when the main tournament reaches at least 36 participants. The combined capacity of the Open and youth tournament is limited to 60 players.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The Greifswalder Springer Open will be played over seven rounds using the Swiss system. Pairings will be produced with Swiss-Manager.

Each player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 additional minutes for the remainder of the game. A 30-second increment per move applies from move one.

A player who arrives more than 15 minutes after the scheduled starting time may lose the game under the published default-time rule.

Tie-Break Criteria

Players finishing with the same number of points will be ranked using the following tie-break criteria:

Players should check their published name, club, federation, DWZ, Elo and FIDE ID before the tournament begins. Any incorrect information should be reported to the organizer.

🏆 Prize Fund

The published cash-prize schedule for the main Open totals €1,125 / approximately $1,280.

Cash prizes for places 1–8 are guaranteed when at least 36 players participate in the Greifswalder Springer Open.

Main Open Prizes

The tournament also provides cups and certificates. Additional category prizes may be awarded depending on:

• The total number of tournament participants
• The number of players in each category
• The final composition of the Open
• The organizer’s published award conditions

The separate U20 Youth Tournament offers chess-related prizes rather than the Open’s published cash-prize schedule.

📂 Sections / Groups

The event consists of the main Greifswalder Springer Open and a planned parallel U20 Youth Tournament.

Greifswalder Springer Open

The main Open is available to adult and junior players. It will be submitted for both DWZ and FIDE Elo rating.

Junior players born in 2007 or later may participate in the Open at the reduced entry fee of €35 / approximately $40.

Schach Events U20 Youth Tournament

The parallel youth tournament is available to players born in 2007 or later.

The organizer recommends the following placement:

The separate youth tournament will be held only if at least eight players register.

When fewer than eight players enter, the organizer plans to integrate the junior players into the Greifswalder Springer Open and provide a separate youth classification within the main tournament.

Participant Capacity

The maximum combined capacity is 60 players across the Open and youth tournament.

Registration may close before the published deadline if all available places are filled.

🗓️ Schedule

Two rounds will be played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The final round and prizegiving are scheduled for Sunday.

The timetable includes three consecutive double-round days. Players should plan sufficient time for meals, rest and travel between the morning and afternoon rounds.

Round 1 begins at 09:00 on Thursday. Players travelling from outside Greifswald should consider arriving on Wednesday, October 21.

📝 Registration

Registration and payment must reach Schach Events no later than September 30, 2026.

Required Registration Information

The official application form requests the following information:

• Full name
• Email address
• Street address
• Postal code and city
• Date of birth
• Country
• Chess club
• FIDE title
• Current Elo rating
• FIDE ID
• Current DWZ
• Selected tournament
• Arrival and departure dates
• Accommodation requirements
• Additional comments or requests

FIDE ID

The official registration form states that players require a FIDE ID.

A participant who does not yet have a FIDE ID may authorize Schach Events to apply for one through the German Chess Federation’s FIDE Rating Officer. The required personal information will then be transmitted for this purpose.

Payment Details

Players should ensure that both the registration and entry-fee payment arrive before the deadline.

Accommodation requests should be included in the registration form because the special tournament hotel rates are available only through Schach Events.

👤 Organizer

The tournament is hosted by VCH Hotel Greifswald and Schach Events. Guido Springer is responsible for tournament organization, participant registration and accommodation arrangements.

Players should contact Guido Springer regarding tournament selection, FIDE IDs, youth eligibility, payment confirmation, accommodation and the bowling evening.

📍 Venue

VCH Hotel Greifswald – Wilhelm-Holtz-Straße 5–8, 17489 Greifswald, Germany.

The VCH Hotel serves as both the playing venue and the official tournament accommodation. The hotel complex contains 78 rooms arranged as single rooms, double rooms and family apartments.

The official hotel website states that its rooms include a shower, toilet and television. Rooms from the first floor upward have a balcony, while some rooms also include a kitchenette.

Official Tournament Accommodation

The hotel accommodation is arranged in apartment-style units. Each apartment contains two rooms that normally share one bathroom.

Special tournament rates apply only when the accommodation is booked through Schach Events.

Shared Bathroom with the Adjoining Tournament Room

The adjoining apartment room may be occupied by another tournament participant.

Private Bathroom Use

The adjoining room remains closed, allowing the booked room exclusive use of the bathroom.

The listed prices are per room and night and include breakfast and VAT. However, the rates remain subject to possible tax changes.

Players should specify their preferred room arrangement, arrival date and departure date when completing the tournament registration form.

Direct hotel bookings may not qualify for the special Schach Events rates.

🚆 How to Get There

VCH Hotel Greifswald is located south of Greifswald’s historic centre and can be reached by train, local bus, taxi or car.

From Greifswald Hauptbahnhof

Players arriving by rail can continue to the hotel by local bus or taxi.

The published hotel directions identify Bus Line 1 and the Siemensallee stop as the local public-transport connection. Because services may change before October, players should verify the current timetable shortly before travelling.

Arrival Planning

Round 1 begins at 09:00 on Thursday, October 22. Players unable to reach the venue early on Thursday should book accommodation beginning on Wednesday, October 21.

Sunday and early-morning public-transport services may be less frequent. Therefore, participants should check their return connections before the final tournament day.

ℹ️ Other Information

Bowling Evening

An optional bowling evening will take place at the VCH Hotel bowling centre.

Players interested in participating should notify the organizer in advance.

Youth Tournament Confirmation

Parents and junior players should confirm whether the separate U20 Youth Tournament has reached the required minimum of eight participants.

When the minimum is not reached, junior players will compete in the main Open with a separate youth classification.

Tournament History

The Greifswalder Springer has been held in various forms since 2003 and traditionally takes place near the end of the autumn school holidays in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The organizer emphasizes affordable entry fees, chess-related prizes and an enjoyable competitive environment.

Tournament Updates

The participant list and Chess-Results links may be added closer to the tournament. Players should continue checking the official event page for:

• Registered participants
• Final confirmation of the U20 tournament
• Chess-Results links
• Pairings and results
• Accommodation availability
• Organizational updates

Official tournament page:

https://schachschule-greifswald.de/schach-events/offene-uni-meisterschaft/g-s-2026/