International Chess Festival “Trofeul Unirii” Slatina 2026
The International Chess Festival Trofeul Unirii Slatina 2026 will take place from November 27–30, 2026, in Slatina, Romania. The third edition brings together three competitions: a FIDE-rated Open, a FIDE-rated U1600/U14 tournament, and a one-evening Amateur Rapid tournament for players without Elo ratings in classical, rapid, or blitz chess.
CSM Slatina and Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina organize the festival in partnership with the Municipality of Slatina. The two main tournaments run across seven Swiss-system rounds from Friday to Monday, while the Amateur competition consists of six rapid rounds on Friday evening.
The festival offers a published net cash prize fund of 24,500 RON (approximately $5,350). The Open accounts for 14,400 RON, the U1600 section for 6,200 RON, and the Amateur tournament for 3,900 RON. In addition, the organizers provide official accommodation and meal arrangements for visiting players.
♟️ Event Details
The International Chess Festival Trofeul Unirii Slatina 2026 combines rated classical chess with an accessible amateur rapid tournament.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏷️ Title | International Chess Festival Trofeul Unirii Slatina 2026 |
| 📅 Dates | November 27–30, 2026 |
| 🌎 Country | Romania |
| 📍 City | Slatina |
| 🏛️ Venue | Liceul cu Program Sportiv Slatina – Complex Comercial Profi, Strada Toamnei 10, Slatina, Romania |
| 👥 Organizers | CSM Slatina; Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina |
| 🤝 Partner | Municipality of Slatina |
| ♟️ Formats | Classical + Rapid |
| 🧩 Competitions | Open, U1600/U14, Amateur |
| 💰 Total Net Prize Fund | 24,500 RON (approx. $5,350) |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – Open | https://chess-results.com/tnr1480703.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – U1600 | https://chess-results.com/tnr1480718.aspx?lan=1 |
| 🔗 Chess-Results – Amateur | https://chess-results.com/tnr1480728.aspx?lan=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The three competitions use different time controls and rating rules. Therefore, players should check the exact format of their chosen section before registering.
Open
The Open plays seven Swiss-system rounds.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rounds | 7 |
| Time Control | 60 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| Rating | FIDE + Romanian national rating |
| System | Swiss System |
U1600 / U14
The U1600 competition also runs for seven rounds. However, it uses a shorter classical time control.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rounds | 7 |
| Time Control | 30 minutes + 30 seconds per move |
| Rating | FIDE + Romanian national rating |
| System | Swiss System |
The official prospect labels this competition “U1600 / U14 – birth year 2012.”
Amateur
The Amateur tournament takes place entirely on Friday evening.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Rounds | 6 |
| Time Control | 10 minutes per player |
| Rating | Unrated |
| System | Swiss System |
This competition is specifically intended for players without Elo ratings in classical, rapid, or blitz chess.
Byes
Players in the Open and U1600 competitions may request a maximum of two byes during the first three rounds.
The official prospect does not specify how many points a requested bye carries. Therefore, players who intend to use a bye should confirm that detail with the tournament director.
🏆 Prize Fund
The organizers publish a total of 24,500 RON in net cash prizes, equivalent to approximately $5,350 at the current reference exchange rate.
The published amounts add up exactly to the stated total.
Open – 14,400 RON
The Open offers 14,400 RON (approximately $3,140).
Overall Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 2,000 RON (approx. $440) |
| 2nd | 1,600 RON (approx. $350) |
| 3rd | 1,400 RON (approx. $310) |
| 4th | 1,200 RON (approx. $270) |
| 5th | 1,000 RON (approx. $220) |
The overall Open prizes total 7,200 RON.
Additional Open Categories
The Open also awards identical prize structures in four categories:
Women, 60+, U1800, and U2000.
| Place in Each Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 800 RON (approx. $180) |
| 2nd | 600 RON (approx. $140) |
| 3rd | 400 RON (approx. $90) |
Each category contributes 1,800 RON. Consequently, the four additional categories add another 7,200 RON.
U1600 – 6,200 RON
The U1600 competition offers 6,200 RON (approximately $1,360).
Overall Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 800 RON (approx. $180) |
| 2nd | 600 RON (approx. $140) |
| 3rd | 500 RON (approx. $110) |
| 4th | 400 RON (approx. $90) |
| 5th | 300 RON (approx. $70) |
The five overall prizes total 2,600 RON.
Additional U1600 Categories
Four additional categories receive the same three-prize structure:
U1450, U8, U10, and U12.
| Place in Each Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 400 RON (approx. $90) |
| 2nd | 300 RON (approx. $70) |
| 3rd | 200 RON (approx. $50) |
These additional category prizes total 3,600 RON.
Amateur – 3,900 RON
The Amateur tournament offers 3,900 RON (approximately $860).
Overall Prizes
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 500 RON (approx. $110) |
| 2nd | 400 RON (approx. $90) |
| 3rd | 300 RON (approx. $70) |
| 4th | 200 RON (approx. $50) |
| 5th | 100 RON (approx. $30) |
The overall prizes total 1,500 RON.
Amateur Youth Categories
The Amateur tournament also awards prizes in U8, U10, U12, and U14.
| Place in Each Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | 300 RON (approx. $70) |
| 2nd | 200 RON (approx. $50) |
| 3rd | 100 RON (approx. $30) |
These youth prizes contribute another 2,400 RON.
Prize Rules
All published prizes are net amounts.
The organizers pay prize money to the bank account of the winner or, for a minor, to the legal guardian.
A player who qualifies for several awards receives only the highest-value prize rather than multiple prizes.
Tiebreaks
The organizers use the following order when players finish level on points:
- Direct result / mini-table among tied players
- Number of wins
- Performance rating – FIDE competitions only
- Sonneborn-Berger
- Buchholz
🧩 Sections / Groups
The festival offers three distinct competitive levels.
Open
The Open provides the strongest unrestricted classical competition. It receives both FIDE and national rating calculation.
Players can also compete for Women, 60+, U1800, and U2000 category prizes.
U1600 / U14
The official 2026 prospect labels the second classical tournament:
U1600 – U14, birth year 2012
It also provides separate U1450, U8, U10, and U12 prizes.
Because the published wording combines both rating and age references, players near an eligibility boundary should select the category shown by the official Quchess registration system or confirm eligibility with the tournament director.
Amateur
The Amateur event is reserved for players who have no Elo rating in classical, rapid, or blitz chess.
Unlike the Open and U1600 tournaments, this six-round rapid event does not receive rating calculation.
🗓️ Schedule
The Open and U1600 tournaments run across four days. Meanwhile, the entire Amateur tournament takes place on Friday evening.
Friday, November 27
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Technical Meeting – Open & U1600 | 13:00 |
| Round 1 – Open & U1600 | 13:30 |
| Amateur Tournament – 6 rounds begin | 17:30 |
| Amateur Prize Ceremony | 20:00 |
Saturday, November 28
| Round | Time |
|---|---|
| Round 2 – Open & U1600 | 09:30 |
| Round 3 – Open & U1600 | 16:30 |
Sunday, November 29
| Round | Time |
|---|---|
| Round 4 – Open & U1600 | 09:30 |
| Round 5 – Open & U1600 | 16:30 |
Monday, November 30
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Round 6 – Open & U1600 | 09:00 |
| Round 7 – Open & U1600 | 14:30 |
| Prize Ceremony | 18:30–19:00 |
📝 Registration
Registration closes on November 26, 2026 at 00:00, according to the official prospect.
Players must register exclusively online through Quchess.
Official tournament and registration platform:
Entry Fees
| Competition | Entry Fee |
|---|---|
| Open | 200 RON (approx. $50) |
| U1600 / U14 | 150 RON (approx. $40) |
| Amateur | 50 RON (approx. $20) |
Payment
Players pay the entry fee to:
Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina
Bank: Banca Transilvania
IBAN:
RO09BTRLRONCRT0609838301
Because the organizers use the Quchess platform for registration, players should complete the online entry before the published deadline.
👥 Organizer
Two Slatina organizations jointly run the festival.
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| 👥 Organizer | CSM Slatina |
| 👤 Director | Octavian Smărăndescu |
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| 👥 Organizer | Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina |
| 👤 Director / Tournament Director | Dumitru Barbărasă |
| ☎️ Phone | +40 752 541 222 |
The Municipality of Slatina supports the festival as an official partner.
Arbiting Team
Chess-Results currently lists:
| Role | Official |
|---|---|
| Chief Arbiter | Emil-Aurel Deliman |
| Deputy Chief Arbiter | Antonio-Emil Deliman |
| Arbiter | Iliuta-Daniel Moti |
📍 Venue
The festival takes place at:
Liceul cu Program Sportiv Slatina – Complex Comercial Profi, Strada Toamnei 10, 230003 Slatina, Romania
The Sports High School hosts all three competitions.
Because the Amateur tournament starts at 17:30 on Friday, Amateur entrants should allow sufficient time to reach the venue before the evening session. Meanwhile, Open and U1600 players should arrive before the 13:00 technical meeting.
The organizers have not published dedicated tournament parking arrangements. Therefore, drivers should follow local signs and legal parking restrictions around Strada Toamnei.
🏨 Accommodation
The organizers have arranged an official accommodation option at Hotel Bulevard Prestige Slatina.
Hotel Bulevard Prestige – Bulevardul Alexandru Ioan Cuza 12, Slatina, Romania
Telephone:
+40 349 801 810
Official Tournament Rates
| Accommodation | Price |
|---|---|
| Double Room – per person, breakfast included | 145 RON (approx. $40) |
| Single Room – breakfast included | 250 RON (approx. $60) |
Meals
The organizers also publish meal pricing.
| Meal | Price |
|---|---|
| Lunch | 50 RON (approx. $20) |
| Dinner | 50 RON (approx. $20) |
| Lunch + Dinner | 100 RON (approx. $30) |
Alternative Accommodation
Another accommodation and meal option is available through the dormitory of Liceul Economic “Petre S. Aurelian” Slatina.
Players who want meals through this option must pay 10 days in advance. The organizer will communicate the final price after confirming the arrangements with the institution.
For accommodation and meal information, contact:
Dumitru Barbărasă – +40 752 541 222
🚆 How to Get There
Slatina lies in Olt County in southern Romania and has both rail and road connections.
By Train
Slatina Railway Station serves the city.
Players arriving by rail can continue from the station to the tournament venue at Strada Toamnei 10 by local transport or taxi.
Because schedules can change, especially around weekend travel, players should check the current CFR timetable before departure.
By Air
The closest airport is Craiova International Airport, approximately 40–45 km from Slatina.
Therefore, international players may find Craiova the most convenient airport when suitable flights are available.
Bucharest Henri Coandă Airport provides a much wider international network and also has road and bus connections toward Slatina. However, it lies considerably farther away.
By Car
Use the tournament address:
Liceul cu Program Sportiv Slatina – Strada Toamnei 10, 230003 Slatina, Romania
Players arriving for the Open or U1600 should plan to reach the venue before the 13:00 technical meeting on Friday.
ℹ️ Other Information
Chess-Results
The Romanian Chess Federation has already published separate Chess-Results records for all three 2026 competitions.
Open
https://chess-results.com/tnr1480703.aspx?lan=1
U1600
https://chess-results.com/tnr1480718.aspx?lan=1
Amateur
https://chess-results.com/tnr1480728.aspx?lan=1
The Open and U1600 records confirm national and international rating calculation. Meanwhile, the Amateur event is explicitly unrated.
Third Edition
The 2026 festival is officially presented as the third edition of Trofeul Unirii in Slatina.
The event continues to bring together experienced rated competitors, junior players, and local amateur players within one festival program.
CSM Slatina Chess Development
CSM Slatina established its chess section in August 2025.
By September 2026, the section reported 19 players affiliated with the Romanian Chess Federation alongside approximately 50 amateur players in training. Dumitru Barbărasă and Florin Adrian Rișcă coordinate the section’s chess activities.
Net Prize Payments
The organizers explicitly describe all listed awards as net prizes.
Moreover, they pay the money directly into the winner’s bank account or the legal guardian’s account when the prize winner is a minor.
Important
Players should verify their competition choice, rating and age eligibility, Quchess registration, entry-fee payment, and requested byes before the deadline.
Open and U1600 participants should also remember that the official technical meeting begins at 13:00 on Friday, November 27, with Round 1 starting at 13:30.
Additional Details
Prize Fund (approx.) - $5,350
Organizer
♟️ About Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina
Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina is a chess organization based in Slatina, Olt County, Romania. Established in 2020, the association promotes chess through training, organized competition, community activities, and participation in rated events. Its work has helped strengthen organized chess in Slatina and create more opportunities for both young players and adults.
The association is led by Dumitru Barbărasă, who has been closely involved in chess development in Slatina for several years. Before the establishment of the municipal chess section, Barbărasă worked with children through activities at the county library and organized local tournaments. The association has also collaborated with public institutions, including the Olt County Library, on chess-related programs and community initiatives.
Today, Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina works closely with CSM Slatina and local authorities on larger competitions. This cooperation has helped create a more structured chess environment in the city, combining introductory chess, junior development, rated competition, and events that attract players from outside the region.
🏆 Tournaments & Chess Activities
Tournament organization is an important part of the association’s activities. In 2023, Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina organized a national chess tournament in cooperation with the Olt Prefecture. The competition included both registered players and an amateur section, giving developing players an opportunity to participate alongside more experienced competitors.
The association is also one of the principal organizers of the International Chess Festival “Trofeul Unirii” in Slatina. Together with CSM Slatina and with support from the Municipality of Slatina, it has developed the festival into a multi-section event that includes rated and amateur competition. The 2025 festival featured classical, blitz, and amateur tournaments, while the program continued to expand in subsequent editions.
For 2026, Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina and CSM Slatina are jointly organizing the third edition of the International Chess Festival “Trofeul Unirii.” The festival runs from November 27–30 and includes an Open, a U1600/U14 competition, and an Amateur rapid tournament. Dumitru Barbărasă serves as Tournament Director.
🌱 Chess Development in Slatina
The association’s activities form part of a broader effort to rebuild organized chess in Slatina. Dumitru Barbărasă had worked with children locally for approximately eight years before the launch of the CSM Slatina chess section in 2025. That new municipal section created a formal pathway for local players to train and compete without needing to register through clubs in other Romanian cities.
The development has progressed quickly. By September 2026, the CSM Slatina chess section had 19 players affiliated with the Romanian Chess Federation and approximately 50 additional amateur players in training. Its players had already recorded 27 podium finishes in competitions around Romania and had entered the national team competition in Division B. The section is coordinated by Dumitru Barbărasă and Florin Adrian Rișcă.
Through tournament organization, training initiatives, and cooperation with local institutions, Asociația Club de Șah Gen Olt Slatina continues to contribute to the growth of chess in Slatina and the wider Olt region.
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