XI Open Internacional de Ajedrez Semana Santa San Vicente del Raspeig 2027 takes place from March 24 to March 29, 2027 in San Vicente del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain. The international Easter chess festival is organized by Club de Ajedrez Dama Negra and reaches its 11th edition in 2027.

The tournament features nine classical Swiss-system rounds across six days and is divided into two FIDE-rated sections. Group A is an unrestricted open and is also valid for international title norms, while Group B is reserved for players whose FIDE Standard rating does not exceed 2000.

The previous edition attracted around 700 participants, making the Semana Santa Open one of the largest recurring open chess events in Spain.

♟️ Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Both sections play nine rounds using the Swiss system.

Default Time

Players may arrive up to:

After the applicable default time, an absent player loses the game unless the arbiter decides otherwise.

Half-Point Byes

Players may request up to three half-point byes during the first seven rounds.

If additional byes are required, they are scored as zero points. A player may have a maximum of four byes of any type during the tournament.

A Round 1 bye must be requested before the registration deadline and is valid only after the organizer confirms it.

Subsequent bye requests must be submitted in writing to the Chief Arbiter at the playing venue. Requests by WhatsApp, phone, email or verbally are not accepted for those rounds.

The deadline for requesting a later bye is two hours after the start of the previous round.

Tie-Breaks

The published regulations list the following tie-break order:

1. Direct encounter
2. Buchholz Cut 1
3. Number of rounds selected to play
4. Sonneborn-Berger
5. Average Perfect Performance of Opponents
6. Number of wins

♟️ Sections / Groups

Group A – Open

Group A is open without Elo or age restrictions.

Spanish players must hold a valid federation licence. Players representing another federation must have a valid FIDE ID.

Players with FIDE rating below 2000 on the March 2027 rating list who nevertheless choose Group A pay the special Group A Sub-2000 entry fee.

Players holding an international title – CM, FM, IM, GM or the corresponding women’s titles – are exempt from that Sub-2000 surcharge.

Group B – FIDE 2000 and Below

Group B is intended for players whose FIDE Standard rating on the March 2027 rating list does not exceed 2000.

Spanish participants must be federated. International players must have a valid FIDE ID.

Each participant is responsible for registering in the correct section.

📅 Schedule

The tournament runs over six competition days from March 24–29, 2027, with nine rounds in total. Therefore, several days will contain both a morning and an afternoon round.

March 24 – Arrival and Accreditation

Players who have already paid their entry fee are considered accredited for the first round.

The detailed 2027 round-by-round timetable has not yet been published in the current official regulations.

📝 Registration

Registration is handled through the official tournament organization.

Official website:
https://opendeajedrez.com/

Registration email:
info@opendeajedrez.com

General organizer email:
clubdeajedrezdamanegra@gmail.com

Entry Fees

Internationally titled players in Group A are exempt from the €150 Sub-2000 surcharge and pay the normal Group A conditions.

Payment

Entry fees are paid by bank transfer.

IBAN: ES76 0081 1341 1100 0143 9048
SWIFT/BIC: BSABESBB
Payment reference: Player’s surname

Players should ensure that their registration and payment are correctly recorded before travelling.

Grandmasters interested in special participation conditions can contact:

conditions@opendeajedrez.com

👥 Organizer

Patricia Claros Aguilar is an International Organizer and serves as Tournament Director of the Semana Santa Open.

📍 Venue

Pabellón Deportivo El Sequet – C/ Major, 03690 Sant Vicent del Raspeig, Alicante, Spain

The 2027 tournament returns to Pabellón Deportivo El Sequet in San Vicente del Raspeig.

The modern sports hall is located near the University of Alicante Faculty of Education, the Complejo Deportivo Sur and the municipal velodrome.

Its large indoor space allows the organizer to accommodate the substantial field that the Semana Santa Open regularly attracts.

🚆 How to Get There

San Vicente del Raspeig lies immediately north-west of Alicante and is well connected with the city and the University of Alicante area.

🚋 By Tram

San Vicente del Raspeig is connected to Alicante by the TRAM d’Alacant network. Players staying in Alicante can use public transport toward the university and San Vicente area before continuing to the sports complex.

🚆 By Train

Alicante-Terminal is the main long-distance railway station serving the region, with connections to Madrid and other major Spanish cities.

From Alicante city centre, participants can continue to San Vicente del Raspeig by tram, bus or taxi.

✈️ By Air

The nearest major airport is Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport.

International players can travel from the airport to Alicante and continue onward to San Vicente del Raspeig by public transport, taxi or rental car.

ℹ️ Other Information

The Open Internacional de Ajedrez Semana Santa has grown steadily since its creation and has become one of Club de Ajedrez Dama Negra’s flagship tournaments.

For 2027, the organizer continues the successful two-section structure used in recent editions. Group A provides an unrestricted international open with opportunities for title norms, while Group B creates a separate FIDE-rated competition for players rated 2000 and below.

The organizer reported approximately 700 participants in the 2026 edition, illustrating the scale that the tournament has reached.

Participants should check the official website before travelling because additional information, including the complete round schedule and further tournament conditions, may still be published.

Official Tournament Website:
https://opendeajedrez.com/

Chess-Results – Group A:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1471895.aspx?lan=1

Chess-Results – Group B:
https://chess-results.com/tnr1471886.aspx?lan=1

Info64 – Group A:
https://info64.org/xi-open-internacional-de-ajedrez-semana-santa-san-vicente-del-raspeig-2027-a

Info64 – Group B:
https://info64.org/xi-open-internacional-de-ajedrez-semana-santa-san-vicente-del-raspeig-2027-b