48th International Chess Open Città di Arco 2026 – Group A
48th International Chess Open Città di Arco 2026 – Group A will be played from October 3 to 11, 2026, in Arco, Trentino. The nine-round Open returns to the Salone delle Feste inside the Casinò Municipale complex.
Group A uses the Swiss system and a classical control of 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment from move one. The event counts toward the FIDE Standard rating list.
ASD Scacchi Arco organizes the festival under the direction of IO/IA Cristina Pernici Rigo. IA/IO Nuno Filipe Andrade serves as chief arbiter. The programme includes the general Group A and a separate 65+ Group B. The published festival cash fund is €6,000, and Group A entrants pay an €80 entry fee.
📌 Event Details
Group A is the nine-round general section of the Città di Arco festival. A separate eight-round Open B is reserved for players aged 65 and over.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | October 3–11, 2026 |
| 🌍 Country | Italy |
| 📍 City / Region | Arco, Trentino |
| 🏛️ Venue | Salone delle Feste, Casinò Municipale – Viale delle Palme, 38062 Arco, Trentino, Italy |
| ♟️ Format | International Classical Open – Group A |
| 🔢 Rounds | 9 |
| 🧩 Pairing System | Swiss system |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes for the rest, plus 30 seconds per move |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE Standard and Italian national rating |
| 👤 Organizer | Cristina Pernici Rigo |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439335.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
Group A plays nine rounds without double-round days. The default period is 30 minutes. Half-point byes and wild cards are not available; a PAB receives one half point under the published regulations.
| Technical Item | Tournament Information |
|---|---|
| ♟️ Competition | International Classical Open – Group A |
| 🔢 Number of Rounds | 9 |
| 🧩 Pairing System | Swiss system |
| ⏱️ Clock Setting | 90 minutes for 40 moves + 30 minutes for the rest + 30 seconds per move |
| ⌛ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| ⭐ Rating Calculation | FIDE Standard and Italian national rating |
| Half-point byes | Not available |
| Wild cards | Not available |
🏆 Prize Fund
The festival publishes a total cash prize fund of €6,000 across its two tournaments.
| Prize Item | Published Information |
|---|---|
| Festival cash prize fund | €6,000 |
| Approximate MyChess.Events USD field | $6,840 |
| Prize scope | Open A and Open B festival programme |
📂 Sections / Eligibility
Group A is the general Open covered by this page. Group B is a separate 65+ tournament with eight rounds. Half-point byes are not used in Group A.
| Section / Rule | Player Information |
|---|---|
| Group A | General Open section |
| Group B | 65+ section |
| Rating | FIDE Standard |
| Half-point byes | Not used |
🗓️ Schedule
Accreditation closes at 14:00 on October 3. Round 1 follows on the opening day, Rounds 2–8 continue with one round per day, and Round 9 concludes the tournament on October 11.
| Date / Stage | Tournament Activity |
|---|---|
| Accreditation | Saturday, October 3 – by 14:00 |
| Opening round | Saturday, October 3 |
| Rounds 2–8 | October 4–10 – one round per day |
| Final round | Sunday, October 11 |
📝 Registration
The Group A entry fee is €80. Opening-day accreditation is mandatory and must be completed by 14:00 on October 3.
| Registration Item | Information |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | €80 |
| Accreditation deadline | October 3, 2026 at 14:00 |
| Organizer website | https://www.arcoworldchess.com/ |
| Organizer email | info@arcoworldchess.com |
👤 Organizer
Cristina Pernici Rigo directs the festival. The arbiter team combines international, FIDE, and national arbiters.
| Organizer Item | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Organizer / Tournament Director | Cristina Pernici Rigo |
| ⚖️ Chief Arbiter | IA Nuno Andrade |
| 👥 Arbiter Team | IA Brunetto Casalini; FA Domenico Buffa; NA Giovanni Mascia; NA Danilo Paniga |
| 🌐 Website | http://www.arcoworldchess.com |
| 🔗 Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439335.aspx?lan=1 |
📍 Venue
The Salone delle Feste is part of the Casinò Municipale complex on Viale delle Palme in Arco. The venue lies close to the town centre and the principal local services.
| Venue Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| 🏛️ Playing Venue | Salone delle Feste, Casinò Municipale – Viale delle Palme, 38062 Arco, Trentino, Italy |
| ℹ️ Venue Information | Mandatory player accreditation is completed at the venue by 14:00 on October 3. |
| 🗺️ Map | https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Salone+delle+Feste%2C+Casin%C3%B2+Municipale+%E2%80%93+Viale+delle+Palme%2C+38062+Arco%2C+Trentino%2C+Italy |
🚗 How to Get There
Rovereto is the main nearby rail station for long-distance arrivals. Regional buses and road transfers connect Rovereto with Arco, while Verona is the nearest major international airport.
| Travel Method | Route Information |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Air | Verona Airport provides a major international gateway for Garda Trentino and the southern Alpine region. |
| 🚆 Rail | Rovereto is the principal nearby railway station for onward travel to Arco. |
| 🚌 Bus | Regional buses connect Rovereto, Riva del Garda, and Arco. |
| 🚗 Road | The A22 motorway and the Lake Garda road network provide the main approaches from northern Italy. |
🏨 Accommodation
Arco offers hotels, guesthouses, apartments, and camping accommodation. Riva del Garda and Torbole are nearby alternatives linked by local roads and bus services.
| Accommodation Area | Practical Position |
|---|---|
| Arco | The host town provides the shortest local journey during the tournament. |
| Riva del Garda | A nearby Lake Garda centre with hotels, restaurants, and regional bus connections. |
| Torbole | A lakeside accommodation area with road and bus access to Arco. |
🧭 Travel & Stay Planning
The following plan connects the main arrival gateway, the final local journey, accommodation positioning, and the tournament timetable.
| Planning Area | Practical Detail |
|---|---|
| International airport | Verona provides the closest major international airport for Garda Trentino. |
| Rail gateway | Rovereto is the principal rail station for onward travel to Arco. |
| Regional connection | Bus, taxi, or road transfer completes the journey from Rovereto to Arco. |
| Local stay | Central Arco provides the shortest daily route to the Casinò Municipale complex. |
| Nearby alternatives | Riva del Garda and Torbole offer additional accommodation with local transport or road access. |
♟️ Tournament-Day Planning
A round-day plan reduces avoidable time pressure before the clocks start and helps recovery between games.
| Tournament-Day Stage | Planning Detail |
|---|---|
| Opening day | Complete accreditation before 14:00 on October 3. |
| Daily arrival | Walk or travel to the Casinò Municipale complex with a reliable buffer. |
| Clock stages | Plan separately for the first 40 moves and the 30-minute second period. |
| Recovery | The one-round-per-day structure leaves evening time for food, rest, and analysis. |
| Final day | Keep travel arrangements compatible with the Round 9 timetable. |
🛂 Visa & Travel Documents
Italy is part of the Schengen Area. Travellers need valid passports or identity documents and any visas required for their nationality.
| Travel Document | Information |
|---|---|
| 🛂 Official visa information | https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en |
| 🛃 Passport | Valid travel document for the complete journey |
| 🔁 Transit | Entry conditions for every connecting country |
| 🛡️ Insurance | Medical and travel cover selected for the trip |
📜 Tournament Rules & Competition Administration
The principal competition rules are listed below.
| Rule | Application |
|---|---|
| Open A | General section, 9 rounds |
| Open B | 65+ section, 8 rounds |
| Entry fee | €80 |
| Default time | 30 minutes |
| Half-point byes | Not available |
| Wild cards | Not available |
| PAB | One half point |
| Rating | FIDE Standard and Italian national rating |
| Double-round days | None |
ℹ️ Other Information
- Group A is the general section; the 65+ event has a separate competition structure.
- Accreditation is a required opening-day step before the first round.
- The venue is in the Casinò Municipale complex in central Arco.
- The official organizer website provides the festival’s direct operational information.
| Local Item | Information |
|---|---|
| 💱 Currency | Euro (EUR) |
| 🕒 Time zone | Central European Summer Time – UTC+2 |
| 🗣️ Primary local language | Italian |
| 📍 Tournament city | Arco, Trentino |
| 📅 Competition dates | October 3–11, 2026 |
🎒 Player Preparation
The preparation plan below connects the tournament’s published rules with the practical actions required before the first round and throughout the event.
| Preparation Area | Practical Action |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | Arrange the €80 Group A payment under the organizer’s registration process. |
| Accreditation | Reach the venue before 14:00 on October 3. |
| Playing schedule | Prepare for one classical round on each tournament day. |
| Clock | Practise the 40-move time control followed by the second period. |
| Accommodation | Choose Arco or a nearby Garda Trentino base with daily transport. |
📋 Final Pre-Travel Checklist
| Checklist Item | Action |
|---|---|
| Registration | Complete the Group A entry and €80 fee process. |
| Accreditation | Attend by 14:00 on October 3. |
| Venue | Use Salone delle Feste, Casinò Municipale, Viale delle Palme. |
| Round plan | Allow for nine consecutive playing days. |
| Documents | Carry the identification needed for accreditation and travel. |
🔗 Official Resources
| Resource | Official Link |
|---|---|
| Official Tournament Page | https://www.arcoworldchess.com/ |
| info@arcoworldchess.com | |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1439335.aspx?lan=1 |
| Official visa information | https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en |
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $6,840
Organizer
♟️ About Comitato Organizzatore Manifestazioni Scacchistiche
Comitato Organizzatore Manifestazioni Scacchistiche is an experienced Italian chess event organization based in Arco, Trentino. It operates publicly through the ArcoWorldChess brand and focuses on the organization and promotion of over-the-board chess competitions. Its activities include international opens, senior championships, youth events, rating tournaments, and destination-based chess festivals. The committee works with FIDE, the European Chess Union, the Italian Chess Federation, local authorities, hotels, arbiters, technical partners, and chess organizations. International Organizer Cristina Pernici Rigo leads its tournament program and serves as the principal contact person.
🏆 International Opens and Major Championships
ArcoWorldChess manages several established Italian tournament projects. These include the International Chess Open Città di Arco, the International Chess Open Condino–Borgo Chiese, and international senior competitions. The organization has also played a central role in major FIDE and European events, including the FIDE World Senior Individual Chess Championships and the European Senior Chess Championships. In addition, it cooperates with partner organizations on the Salento International Chess Open and other multi-section festivals. Its responsibilities include tournament planning, registration, schedules, accommodation coordination, participant communication, venue logistics, prize administration, technical operations, airport transfers, and cooperation with international arbiters.
🌍 Chess Events Across Italy
The committee’s tournament portfolio connects competitive chess with well-known Italian destinations. Its traditional events in Arco and Condino promote chess in the Trentino region, while championship projects in Acqui Terme, Assisi, Terrasini, Gallipoli, and other locations attract players from many national federations. Events commonly include FIDE-rated classical chess, several rating or age categories, rapid and blitz side tournaments, senior sections, youth activities, and tourism programs for players and accompanying guests. The committee also provides multilingual participant support and practical travel information. Through ArcoWorldChess, it has developed a recognized international profile in senior chess, open tournament organization, and residential chess festivals. The 24th International Chess Open Condino–Borgo Chiese 2026 continues this program with a six-round classical event and a free promotional tournament for young players.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
