Chessence Open – December 2027 takes place from December 3 to December 5, 2027 at Sauerland Stern Hotel in Willingen (Upland), Germany. The tournament features five rounds of classical chess across four rating-based groups: Chessence Masters and Premium Open A, B and C.

All four groups count for DWZ rating. In addition, Chessence Masters, Premium Open A and Premium Open B count for FIDE Elo rating. Players receive 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 15 minutes for the remainder of the game. Moreover, a 30-second increment applies from move one.

Cash prizes are available in every group with at least six participants. Players can also join a separate FIDE-rated Midnight Blitz Tournament on Saturday evening.

♟️ Event Details

Official Tournament & Registration:
https://kurse.chessence.de/turnier-anmeldung-4/

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All four classical groups play five rounds using the Swiss system.

Chessence applies the current FIDE Laws of Chess throughout the tournament.

Players must reach their board within 30 minutes after the scheduled start of a round. Otherwise, they lose the game by forfeit.

⚖️ Tie-Breaks

The tournament uses the following ranking criteria:

1. Points
2. Sonneborn-Berger
3. Additional tie-break criteria if required

⏸️ Half-Point Bye

Players may request one half-point bye in Round 1.

A player who takes the bye receives half a point for Round 1.

The bye request deadline is:

December 2, 2027 at 20:00

However, players with a Round 1 bye must still confirm their participation by telephone shortly before the tournament. They should contact Jürgen Kehr during the official attendance-confirmation period.

🏆 Prize Fund

Cash prizes are awarded in every group with at least six participants.

The same prize structure applies to:

Chessence Masters · Premium Open A · Premium Open B · Premium Open C

Depending on participation numbers, Chessence may increase the prize money.

🧩 Sections / Groups

The Chessence Open consists of four separate rating-based groups.

👑 Chessence Masters

Players with a DWZ and/or FIDE Elo of at least 2000 normally enter Chessence Masters.

However, players with a DWZ and/or FIDE Elo of at least 1950 may choose between Premium Open A and Chessence Masters during registration.

In addition, holders of a Chessence Excellence membership may enter the Masters group.

🔵 Chessence Premium Open A

🟠 Chessence Premium Open B

🟢 Chessence Premium Open C

Chessence assigns players to groups according to the ratings provided during registration.

If a player has neither a DWZ nor a FIDE Elo rating, the Tournament Director determines the appropriate group.

Chessence aims for at least 10 participants in each group. Therefore, the Tournament Director may adjust group assignments when necessary.

For example, the Tournament Director may move an individual player to another group to avoid an odd number of participants. In addition, Chessence may combine two groups if participation numbers are too low.

🆔 FIDE ID

Players in the following groups need a valid FIDE ID:

• Chessence Masters
• Premium Open A
• Premium Open B

Games in these three groups count for FIDE Elo rating.

Therefore, players who do not yet have a FIDE ID should apply for one at least two weeks before the tournament.

Premium Open C counts for DWZ rating.

📅 Schedule

Players must confirm their attendance in addition to completing the tournament registration.

They may confirm personally or by telephone during the published periods.

Therefore, Chessence cannot guarantee participation in Round 1 if a player misses the attendance-confirmation period.

The attendance-confirmation requirement also applies to players who requested a Round 1 bye.

📝 Registration

Chessence handles the official tournament registration directly.

Official Registration:
https://kurse.chessence.de/turnier-anmeldung-4/

Registration Conditions

Players may register online until:

December 2, 2027 at 19:00

After that time, Chessence accepts new registrations only by telephone.

Finally, the registration period closes on:

December 3, 2027 at 08:00

Registered players must also confirm their attendance. They may do so on December 2 from 19:00–20:00 or on December 3 from 08:00–08:45.

↩️ Cancellation & Refund

Players may cancel their tournament registration and receive a refund of the entry fee until:

November 19, 2027

⭐ Chessence Membership

Members of the full Chessence Premium programme and the Excellence programme receive free tournament entry.

Eligible members should log into their Chessence account and complete the free tournament registration there.

♟️ Chess Club Membership

Every participant must belong to a chess club.

In particular, Premium Open C players cannot participate if they have not joined a club by the start of the tournament.

Players without a club may join SC Chessence 64 e.V. online. They may also complete the club registration at the tournament venue no later than the tournament day.

📋 Registration Information

The registration form requests information including:

• First name and surname
• Email address
• Date of birth
• FIDE Elo
• DWZ
• FIDE ID
• Chess club membership
• Excellence membership status
• Selected tournament group
• Round 1 bye request
• Telephone number
• Address
• Hotel requirements
• Arrival date
• Departure date
• Meal requirements

For registration questions, players can contact:

kontakt@chessence.de

👥 Organizer

Chessence publishes the tournament telephone number shortly before the event for attendance confirmation, last-minute registrations and tournament-day communication.

📍 Venue

Sauerland Stern Hotel – Kneippweg 1, 34508 Willingen (Upland), Germany

The Chessence Open takes place directly at Sauerland Stern Hotel in Willingen.

Therefore, players who choose the tournament accommodation can stay, eat and play at the same location.

The hotel has approximately 500 parking spaces and also offers charging facilities for electric vehicles.

Moreover, Willingen railway station lies within walking distance of the hotel.

🚆 How to Get There

Venue address: Sauerland Stern Hotel – Kneippweg 1, 34508 Willingen (Upland), Germany

🚗 By Car

Drivers can reach the venue through the regional road network around the B251.

For navigation systems, use:

Sauerland Stern Hotel – Kneippweg 1, 34508 Willingen (Upland), Germany

🚆 By Train

Willingen railway station lies approximately 500 metres from Sauerland Stern Hotel.

Alternatively, players may use Brilon-Wald station, approximately 5 km away.

For long-distance rail connections, Kassel-Wilhelmshöhe ICE station lies approximately 70 km from Willingen.

✈️ By Plane

Paderborn-Lippstadt Airport lies approximately 50 km from the venue.

Players may continue to Willingen by taxi, bus or another road transfer.

🚕 Taxi Transfer

Taxi Sinemus
Phone: +49 5632 6504
Email: berndsinemus@t-online.de
Website: https://www.taxi-willingen.eu/

🚌 Bus Transfer

Auto Hellwig Busreisen
Phone: +49 5632 6397
Email: info@hellwig-reisen.de
Website: https://www.hellwig-reisen.de/

🅿️ Free Tournament Parking

Chessence participants can use the hotel parking free of charge during the tournament after completing the special tournament parking registration.

To activate free parking:

1. Park the vehicle.
2. Note the official licence plate number.
3. Scan the Chessence parking QR code on the calendar day of arrival.
4. Enter the licence plate number.
5. Confirm the registration.

Chessence provides the QR code at the Tournament Office.

After successful registration, the vehicle receives parking authorization for seven days.

Players who stay longer must register the vehicle again.

The QR code is intended only for tournament participants and must not be shared with third parties.

Failure to follow the parking conditions may result in:

• increased parking charges;
• a €38 contractual penalty per calendar day;
• additional administrative fees.

For questions about hotel parking:

Sauerland Stern Hotel Sales Department
Phone: +49 5632 404951

ℹ️ Other Information

🏨 Official Tournament Accommodation

Chessence offers special full-board accommodation at Sauerland Stern Hotel, which also hosts the tournament.

The tournament allocation includes a maximum of 50 rooms.

The double-room tournament rate requires a booking for at least two people.

🍽️ Full-Board Package

The accommodation package includes:

• Overnight stay
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Soft drinks with lunch for 1.5 hours
• Dinner
• Beer, wine and soft drinks with dinner for 1.5 hours

🍴 Meals for Day Guests

Players who do not stay at Sauerland Stern Hotel may book individual meals as day guests.

The rate is:

€30 per person per meal

The registration form includes meal options for:

📅 Hotel Booking Conditions

The special hotel conditions remain available until 14 days before the tournament or until the allocation of 50 rooms fills, whichever happens first.

The online Chessence hotel booking form closes on:

November 21, 2027

From November 22, 2027, players who still need accommodation should contact Sauerland Stern Hotel directly.

From that date, the hotel’s current daily rates apply.

🏨 Direct Hotel Booking

Players may book directly with Sauerland Stern Hotel if they:

• do not want full board;
• prefer another room category; or
• arrange their accommodation independently.

Players who book directly with the hotel should still complete the Chessence tournament registration and select “No” for hotel booking.

🏨 Hotel Contact from November 22

Sandra Kurkowski
Phone: +49 5632 404953
Email: kurkowski@sauerland-stern-hotel.de

Hotel Website:
https://www.sauerland-stern-hotel.de/

⚡ Midnight Blitz Tournament

A separate FIDE-rated Midnight Blitz Tournament takes place on:

Saturday, December 4 at 21:00

Players need a valid FIDE ID to participate in the Midnight Blitz.

🔗 Official Links

Official Tournament & Registration:
https://kurse.chessence.de/turnier-anmeldung-4/

Chessence:
https://chessence.de/

Chessence Events:
https://chessence.de/chessence-events/

Sauerland Stern Hotel:
https://www.sauerland-stern-hotel.de/

FIDE Ratings / FIDE ID Search:
https://ratings.fide.com/

German Chess Federation – FIDE ID Information:
https://www.schachbund.de/fide-identifikationsnummer.html