International Chessopen Graz 2027 takes place from February 14 to February 20, 2027 at NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz in Graz, Austria. The 34th edition of this established international chess festival offers five classical sections for players of different ratings and age groups.
The main A, B and C tournaments feature nine rounds, while the Seniors Tournament has seven rounds and the Weekend Tournament offers a compact five-round schedule. All five sections are internationally rated, while the B, C, Seniors and Weekend tournaments also count for Austrian national rating.
The festival offers a €12,500 prize fund, an opening blitz tournament, a guided city tour and a Players’ Night. The tournament hotel and playing venue are located in the same complex.
♟️ Event Details
| Event name | International Chessopen Graz 2027 |
| Edition | 34th International Chessopen Graz |
| Dates | February 14–20, 2027 |
| City / Country | Graz, Austria |
| Venue | NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz – Fischeraustraße 22, 8051 Graz, Austria |
| Format | Classical |
| Sections | A, B, C, Seniors and Weekend |
| Rounds | A/B/C: 9; Seniors: 7; Weekend: 5 |
| System | Swiss system |
| International rating | A, B, C, Seniors and Weekend |
| National rating | B, C, Seniors and Weekend |
| Tournament Director | IO Andrea Schmidbauer |
| Chief Arbiter | IA Manfred Mussnig |
| Organizer | ChessGraz / Steirischer Schachverband |
| Official website | https://www.chessopengraz.com/en |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1482880.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
All five sections use the same classical time control.
| First time period | 90 minutes for 40 moves |
| Second time period | 15 minutes for the rest of the game |
| Increment | 30 seconds per move from move 1 |
| Default time | 15 minutes |
| Pairing system | Swiss system |
| Pairing software | Swiss-Manager |
Draw offers are not permitted before move 30.
Half-Point Bye
Players in the A, B and C Tournaments may request one half-point bye during Rounds 1–3.
A player may use this option only once during the tournament.
For Round 1, the request must be sent to registration@chessgraz.com by February 14 at 11:00. The bye becomes valid only after written confirmation from the organizer, and the player’s tournament fee must already have been paid.
For Round 2 or Round 3, the request must be made at the arbiter’s table before the end of the preceding round.
Half-point byes are not available in the Seniors or Weekend Tournament under this rule.
Tie-Breaks
- Direct Encounter
- Variable Buchholz Cut 1
- Buchholz
- Sonneborn-Berger
🏆 Prize Fund
The total published prize fund is €12,500 (approximately $14,530).
Prizes are not shared. Each player may receive only one prize, and prizewinners must be present at the award ceremony. The published prizes are guaranteed from 150 participants.
A Tournament – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | €1,500 | $1,750 |
| 2nd | €1,000 | $1,170 |
| 3rd | €800 | $930 |
| 4th | €600 | $700 |
| 5th | €400 | $470 |
| 6th | €300 | $350 |
| 7th | €250 | $300 |
| 8th | €200 | $240 |
| 9th | €150 | $180 |
| 10th | €100 | $120 |
B Tournament – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | €600 | $700 |
| 2nd | €500 | $590 |
| 3rd | €350 | $410 |
| 4th | €250 | $300 |
| 5th | €200 | $240 |
| 6th | €100 | $120 |
| 7th | €50 | $60 |
C Tournament – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | €200 | $240 |
| 2nd | €150 | $180 |
| 3rd | €100 | $120 |
| 4th | €50 | $60 |
Seniors Tournament – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | €450 | $530 |
| 2nd | €350 | $410 |
| 3rd | €250 | $300 |
| 4th | €150 | $180 |
| 5th | €100 | $120 |
| 6th | €50 | $60 |
Weekend Tournament – Main Prizes
| Place | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | €450 | $530 |
| 2nd | €300 | $350 |
| 3rd | €200 | $240 |
| 4th | €100 | $120 |
| 5th | €50 | $60 |
| 6th | €50 | $60 |
A Tournament – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Best Woman – 1st | €150 | $180 |
| Best Woman – 2nd | €100 | $120 |
| Best Youth | €100 | $120 |
| Best Elo 2150–2299 | €100 | $120 |
| Best Elo under 2150 | €100 | $120 |
| Best Austrian | €400 | $470 |
B Tournament – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Best Woman – 1st | €70 | $90 |
| Best Woman – 2nd | €50 | $60 |
| Best Senior | €50 | $60 |
| Best Youth U14 | €50 | $60 |
| Best Elo under 1800 | €50 | $60 |
C Tournament – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Best Woman | €30 | $40 |
| Best Senior | €30 | $40 |
| Best Youth U14 | €30 | $40 |
Seniors Tournament – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Best Woman | €50 | $60 |
| Best Elo under 2000 | €50 | $60 |
| Best Elo under 1700 | €50 | $60 |
| Senior Over 65 – 1st | €200 | $240 |
| Senior Over 65 – 2nd | €100 | $120 |
Weekend Tournament – Special Prizes
| Category | Prize | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Best Woman | €50 | $60 |
| Best Senior | €50 | $60 |
| Best Youth U18 | €50 | $60 |
| Best Elo under 2000 | €50 | $60 |
For the general special-prize categories, Senior means players born in 1962 or earlier, while Youth means players born in 2009 or later unless another age category is specifically stated.
These prize definitions are separate from eligibility for the Seniors Tournament.
♟️ Sections / Groups
A Tournament
| Eligibility | FIDE Elo 2050+ |
| Conditional entry | FIDE Elo 2000–2049 with €55 surcharge |
| Rounds | 9 |
| Rating | FIDE international rating |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1482880.aspx?lan=1 |
B Tournament
| Eligibility | FIDE Elo 1750–2049 |
| Conditional entry | Below 1750 with €30 surcharge |
| Rounds | 9 |
| Rating | FIDE international + Austrian national rating |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1482881.aspx?lan=1 |
C Tournament
| Eligibility | Below 1750 |
| Austrian players | FIDE Elo or Austrian Elo may be used |
| Rounds | 9 |
| Rating | FIDE international + Austrian national rating |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1482882.aspx?lan=1 |
Seniors Tournament
| Eligibility | Players born in 1977 or earlier |
| Rounds | 7 |
| Rating | FIDE international + Austrian national rating |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1482883.aspx?lan=1 |
Weekend Tournament
| Eligibility | Open to all players |
| Dates | February 14–16, 2027 |
| Rounds | 5 |
| Rating | FIDE international + Austrian national rating |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1482884.aspx?lan=1 |
📅 Schedule
Registration & Opening – February 14
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 12:00–15:00 | Mandatory attendance confirmation |
| 15:30 | Opening Ceremony and pairings |
| 16:00 | Round 1 – all sections |
A / B / C Tournaments
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| February 14 | Round 1 | 16:00 |
| February 15 | Round 2 | 09:30 |
| February 15 | Round 3 | 16:00 |
| February 16 | Round 4 | 16:00 |
| February 17 | Round 5 | 09:30 |
| February 17 | Round 6 | 16:00 |
| February 18 | Round 7 | 16:00 |
| February 19 | Round 8 | 16:00 |
| February 20 | Round 9 | 09:30 |
Seniors Tournament
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| February 14 | Round 1 | 16:00 |
| February 15 | Round 2 | 16:00 |
| February 16 | Round 3 | 16:00 |
| February 17 | Round 4 | 16:00 |
| February 18 | Round 5 | 16:00 |
| February 19 | Round 6 | 16:00 |
| February 20 | Round 7 | 09:30 |
Weekend Tournament
| Date | Round | Time |
|---|---|---|
| February 14 | Round 1 | 16:00 |
| February 15 | Round 2 | 09:30 |
| February 15 | Round 3 | 16:00 |
| February 16 | Round 4 | 09:30 |
| February 16 | Round 5 | 16:00 |
The main festival award ceremony is scheduled for approximately 15:30 on February 20.
📝 Registration
Advance registration is made by email:
The registration deadline is February 8, 2027.
The organizer states that new registrations at the start of the tournament will not be possible. Therefore, players should complete their entry before the deadline.
Entry-fee transfers should also be made by February 8, 2027.
All registered participants must personally confirm their attendance in the playing hall on February 14 between 12:00 and 15:00. Players who do not confirm their presence will not be paired.
A Tournament – Entry Fees
| Category | Fee | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| General | €90 | $110 |
| Women / Senior prize category | €85 | $100 |
| Youth | €70 | $90 |
| IM | €35 | $50 |
| GM | Free | Free |
Players rated 2000–2049 FIDE who enter the A Tournament pay an additional €55 (approximately $70).
B Tournament – Entry Fees
| Category | Fee | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| General | €70 | $90 |
| Women / Senior prize category | €65 | $80 |
| Youth | €50 | $60 |
Players rated below 1750 FIDE who enter the B Tournament pay an additional €30 (approximately $40).
C Tournament – Entry Fees
| Category | Fee | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| General | €60 | $70 |
| Women / Senior prize category | €55 | $70 |
| Youth | €40 | $50 |
Seniors Tournament – Entry Fees
| Category | Fee | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| General | €65 | $80 |
| Women / Senior prize category | €60 | $70 |
Weekend Tournament – Entry Fees
| Category | Fee | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| General | €60 | $70 |
| Women / Senior prize category | €55 | $70 |
| Youth | €40 | $50 |
Late Payment
Payment after February 8, 2027 carries an additional:
€15 (approximately $20)
Players should distinguish between advance registration and the mandatory on-site attendance confirmation. Being registered in advance does not remove the requirement to confirm attendance on February 14.
👥 Organizer
| Organizer | ChessGraz / Steirischer Schachverband |
| Contact Person | Andrea Schmidbauer |
| office@chessgraz.com | |
| Phone | +43 699 1111 999 1 |
📍 Venue
NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz – Fischeraustraße 22, 8051 Graz, Austria
NOVAPARK is a large hotel, conference and event complex in northern Graz. The tournament hall and official accommodation are therefore located in the same property.
The hotel offers restaurants, bars, conference facilities and a wellness area. One of its most distinctive features is NOVA-AIR, where two real aircraft are incorporated into the hotel complex.
Around 350 parking spaces are available directly at NOVAPARK, together with electric-vehicle charging facilities.
🚆 How to Get There
From Graz Main Station
Take Bus 52 toward Andritz and get off at Exerzierplatzstraße.
Graz Hauptbahnhof is approximately 3.5 km from NOVAPARK.
From Graz City Centre
From Jakominiplatz, take Bus 40 toward Gösting and get off at Exerzierplatzstraße.
Alternatively, Bus 67 serves the Fischeraustraße stop near the hotel.
From Graz Airport
Take the S5 train from Graz Airport to Graz Hauptbahnhof. From the main station, continue with Bus 52 to Exerzierplatzstraße.
By Car
NOVAPARK has approximately 350 on-site parking spaces.
The first hour is free. Further parking is chargeable according to the hotel’s current parking conditions.
ℹ️ Other Information
🏨 Official Tournament Hotel
NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz is both the playing venue and the official tournament hotel.
The special tournament accommodation includes breakfast buffet and dinner buffet.
| Economy Room | Rate / Night | Approx. USD |
|---|---|---|
| Single room | €109.50 | $130 |
| Double room | €169 | $200 |
Tournament hotel booking:
https://www.novapark.at/chessopen
⚡ Opening Blitz Tournament
A separate blitz tournament is scheduled for February 13, 2027, one day before the classical festival begins.
🚶 Guided City Tour
A guided tour of Graz city centre is planned for February 18.
🍺 Players’ Night
The official social programme includes a Players’ Night on February 18 after the tournament round at the Brot und Spiele bar.
📵 Fair Play & Electronic Devices
Electronic devices are prohibited in the tournament area.
Mobile phones and other technical devices may be completely switched off and stored in designated areas inside the playing hall at the owner’s own risk.
The arbiter team may conduct random fair-play checks.
Players are also expected to wear appropriate clothing and behave in a correct and sporting manner throughout the tournament.
🔗 Official Links
Official Tournament Website:
https://www.chessopengraz.com/en
A Tournament:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1482880.aspx?lan=1
B Tournament:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1482881.aspx?lan=1
C Tournament:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1482882.aspx?lan=1
Seniors Tournament:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1482883.aspx?lan=1
Weekend Tournament:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1482884.aspx?lan=1
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $14,530
Organizer
♟️ About ChessGraz eV
ChessGraz eV is a chess organization and international tournament organizer based in Graz, Styria, Austria. Founded by Andrea Schmidbauer, the organization was created to promote chess across traditional club boundaries, with an emphasis on youth development and the organization of major chess events. ChessGraz works closely with the Steirischer Schachverband (Styrian Chess Federation) and other Austrian chess organizations, while its most internationally visible project is the long-running International Chessopen Graz.
ChessGraz focuses primarily on tournament organization and chess development rather than operating as a conventional league club. Over the years, its projects have included international classical Opens, rapid and blitz events, Austrian championship competitions, and youth activities. The International Chessopen Graz brings together professionals, titled players, juniors, amateurs, women, and senior competitors in several rating sections. In recent editions, the event has developed into one of Austria’s largest international open chess festivals.
IO Andrea Schmidbauer is the founder and principal organizer of ChessGraz and serves as Tournament Director of the International Chessopen Graz. She has extensive experience in Austrian chess administration and tournament organization and received the FIDE International Organizer title in 2015. The 2026 Graz Open attracted 556 players from 56 federations, while preparations are already underway for the 34th International Chessopen Graz, scheduled for February 14–20, 2027 at NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz.
🏛️ Chess Organization and Development
ChessGraz was established with the aim of developing chess beyond the structure of a single traditional club. Its activities have included youth work as well as the organization of tournaments serving players from across Austria and abroad.
Andrea Schmidbauer has played a central role in these projects for many years. Her organizational work has included editions of the International Graz Open, Austrian rapid and blitz championship events, and other competitions staged in Styria.
ChessGraz also works closely with the Steirischer Schachverband, which provides the wider regional framework for organized chess in Styria. This cooperation connects the Graz Open with regional youth development, arbiters, clubs, and the broader Austrian chess system.
🌟 International Chessopen Graz
The International Chessopen Graz is the flagship project associated with ChessGraz and has developed into a large international festival.
The 2026 edition took place from February 14–20, 2026 at NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz. Across the festival, participation reached 556 players representing 56 federations. The strong international field included grandmasters, international masters, and a substantial contingent of young players.
The main A tournament was won by IM Loïc Travadon of France, who scored 7.5/9. GM Lalit Babu M R of India and Ukrainian IM Roman Dehtiarov also finished on 7.5 points, with Travadon taking first place on tiebreak.
The tournament was directed by IO Andrea Schmidbauer, while IA Manfred Mussnig served as Chief Arbiter.
🎓 Youth and International Participation
Youth chess remains closely connected with the Graz Open. The tournament gives developing Austrian players an opportunity to face international opposition while remaining within their home region.
In 2026, the Styrian youth squad entered 28 players in the festival. The players also received structured preparation and post-game analysis during the event.
The Open’s multiple rating groups make the festival accessible beyond elite players. Strong competitors can enter the A tournament, while the B and C sections provide appropriate competition for developing players. A separate Seniors tournament and shorter Weekend event further broaden participation.
🏆 International Chessopen Graz 2027
The 34th International Chessopen Graz is scheduled for February 14–20, 2027 at NOVAPARK Flugzeughotel Graz.
The festival will again include A, B, C, Seniors, and Weekend tournaments. The A, B, and C competitions will consist of nine rounds, while the Seniors section will have seven rounds and the Weekend tournament five.
Games will use a classical time control of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 15 additional minutes, with a 30-second increment from move one. The principal tournament sections will be FIDE rated.
The announced total prize fund is €12,500. In addition, the festival program begins with a separate blitz tournament on February 13, 2027 and includes social activities during the main event.
Chess-Results officially lists ChessGraz as organizer, IO Andrea Schmidbauer as Tournament Director, and IA Manfred Mussnig as Chief Arbiter for the 2027 edition.
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
