The I Torneo della Madonna 2026 takes place from December 5 to 8, 2026, in Civitanova Marche, Italy. Local chess club ASD Alfiere Nero organizes this four-day classical tournament at Drip Games APS, a community gaming venue on Via Enzo Ferrari. The event is registered in the Italian Chess Federation’s calendar and welcomes players in two rating-based sections.
Competitors play six Swiss-system rounds with a time control of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Open A is for players rated 1600 or higher, while Open B is for players below 1600. Both sections follow a compact holiday-weekend schedule, including double-round days on December 6 and 7.
The tournament offers a β¬1,100 cash prize fund (approximately $1,230) across the two sections. Participants should arrive for Saturday afternoon accreditation before the 4:00 PM opening round. Below are the event rules, full playing address, daily timetable, registration conditions and practical travel information.
π Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| π Tournament | I Torneo della Madonna 2026 |
| π Dates | December 5β8, 2026 |
| π City & Country | Civitanova Marche, Italy |
| ποΈ Venue | Drip Games APS, Via Enzo Ferrari 34/A, 62012 Civitanova Marche (MC), Italy |
| βοΈ Organizer | ASD Alfiere Nero |
| β±οΈ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move, from move one |
| π’ Rounds & Pairings | 6, Swiss system |
| β Rating Status | FIDE Standard / Italian national rating as applicable |
| 𧩠Sections | Open A (1600+), Open B (below 1600) |
| π° Entry Fee | β¬65 standard; β¬60 for women, U18 and players over 65; an additional β¬5 club-member reduction |
| π€ Event Contact | Johnny Marinucci |
| βοΈ Email | asdalfierenerocivitanova@gmail.com |
| π Phone | +39 338 294 7577 |
| π Federation Listing | Italian Chess Federation β Marche calendar |
β±οΈ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament uses the Swiss pairing system for six classical games in each section. Each player receives 90 minutes for the game plus 30 seconds per move from the first move. Both sections count toward the relevant FIDE Standard and Italian rating systems under the federation’s published event classification.
The regulations specify a 30-minute default time. They also identify Buchholz Cut 1, total Buchholz and ARO as the announced tie-break sequence. Participants should follow the chief arbiter’s instructions on how to report results, claim a pairing-allocated bye and comply with anti-cheating regulations.
The six-round structure includes two games on both Sunday and Monday. Accordingly, players should allow sufficient time for breaks, meals and preparation between morning and afternoon rounds. The December 8 final round starts in the morning, followed by the scheduled award presentation.
π Prize Fund
The organizer announces a combined β¬1,100 prize fund (approximately $1,230). Open A receives β¬650 in the published overall awards, while Open B receives β¬450 across overall and rating prizes. Together, these section allocations reconcile to the advertised total; no noncash prize values have been added to the USD figure.
| Prize Category | Published Amount |
|---|---|
| π₯ Open A | β¬650 total section awards |
| π₯ Open B | β¬450 total overall and rating-category awards |
| Combined Cash Fund | β¬1,100 (approx. $1,230) |
The currency conversion uses the European Central Bank’s November 6, 2026 reference rate of β¬1 = $1.1165, rounded to the nearest $10. Actual amounts are awarded in euros under the event regulations. Individual prize eligibility and tie-break placement follow the official prospectus.
βοΈ Sections / Groups
Two separate rating groups let players compete against opponents with broadly comparable experience. Open A caters to players with an Elo rating of at least 1600; Open B is intended for competitors below that threshold. Both groups share the playing venue, round schedule, clock setting and pairing format.
| Section | Eligibility & Format |
|---|---|
| Open A | 1600 Elo and above; six-round classical Swiss |
| Open B | Below 1600 Elo; six-round classical Swiss |
Players should use their applicable current rating and federation status when selecting a section. Any exceptions, rating-list cutoff rules or eligibility disputes are resolved under the event’s regulations and by the tournament officials.
π Schedule
The official competition takes place over Saturday, December 5, to Tuesday, December 8. All times below are local Central European Time (CET). In particular, December 6 and 7 each contain a morning and an afternoon round, while the final playing day includes the closing ceremony.
| Local Date & Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| Sat, Dec 5 β from 2:00 PM | Accreditation and entry formalities |
| Sat, Dec 5 β 4:00 PM | Round 1 |
| Sun, Dec 6 β 9:30 AM | Round 2 |
| Sun, Dec 6 β 3:00 PM | Round 3 |
| Mon, Dec 7 β 9:30 AM | Round 4 |
| Mon, Dec 7 β 3:00 PM | Round 5 |
| Tue, Dec 8 β 9:30 AM | Round 6 |
| Tue, Dec 8 β approximately 1:30 PM | Prize presentation and closing |
The morning starts and compact double-round days make local accommodation helpful for players arriving from outside Marche. Travelers departing on December 8 should leave room for the final game and any award ceremony.
π Registration
Standard tournament entry costs β¬65. The organizer applies a reduced fee of β¬60 to women, players under 18 and players over 65. ASD Alfiere Nero members receive an additional β¬5 reduction on the applicable entry rate.
| Entry Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard Entry | β¬65 |
| Women / U18 / Over 65 | β¬60 |
| ASD Alfiere Nero members | Additional β¬5 discount |
Players can register in advance through the organizer’s Vesus registration process or follow the bank-transfer instructions in the official tournament regulations (PDF). The announced on-site payment and accreditation window begins at 2:00 PM on December 5. The tournament’s general Vesus portal is not a substitute for an event-specific registration confirmation; use the organizer’s current instructions when making an entry.
Italian federation membership and eligibility requirements apply. Players traveling from other countries should verify that their FIDE registration and national federation details are suitable for the tournament. For registration questions, use the event contact details in the Event Details table.
ποΈ Organizer
ASD Alfiere Nero is a chess club founded in 2009 in Civitanova Marche. Its founders were Gino Serafini, Mauro Fratini and Johnny Marinucci. The club has organized Italian federation events, school competitions and local tournaments, while also providing chess instruction for children and adults.
The organization has previously hosted significant team-championship finals and stages of the Italian school chess competition. After the COVID-19 interruption, it resumed courses, club games and rated chess events in the region. Its official club website describes the association’s history and activities.
The club’s everyday location is associated with Via Ippodromo 7, but this December tournament is held at the separate Drip Games APS venue. Visitors must use the playing address in Event Details rather than the club’s regular meeting location.
π Venue
The playing hall is Drip Games APS at Via Enzo Ferrari 34/A, 62012 Civitanova Marche (MC), Italy. Drip Games opened in February 2026 as a local meeting space for board games, role-playing games, collectible card games and chess. Its site is in Civitanova Marche’s commercial and industrial district rather than the seaside pedestrian center.
The venue is an association space, so tournament participants should follow the organizer’s entrance, membership and accreditation arrangements. The address has been confirmed in the Italian Chess Federation’s event calendar and independent local coverage. The saved GPS marker uses an address-level point for the Via Enzo Ferrari 34 building complex, not a separately surveyed doorway to unit 34/A.
Nearby Food & Restaurants
Primo Piatto operates on Via Enzo Ferrari 36, immediately adjacent by street numbering to the tournament address. It serves pasta and other Italian dishes, making it a potentially practical option between rounds. The business confirms this location on its official restaurant contact page.
For a sit-down dinner elsewhere in Civitanova Marche, the Cosmopolitan Hotel on Via Alcide De Gasperi 2 has an on-site restaurant. It requires a separate local road trip from Drip Games; no unverified walking distance is assumed. Check service hours in advance, particularly on the December 8 public holiday.
π¨ Accommodation
Participants arriving from outside Civitanova Marche can stay in town and travel to Drip Games by car or taxi. The organizer has not advertised an official accommodation package for the event, and the hotels below are independent options with verified local addresses. Check the live rates for December 4β9, 2026; prices for those nights have not been confirmed.
| Hotel | Location & Practical Details |
|---|---|
| Cosmopolitan Hotel | Via Alcide De Gasperi 2, 62012 Civitanova Marche. Four-star hotel with restaurant, breakfast and parking; suitable for guests arranging local road transport to the venue. |
| Hotel Solarium | Via Giosuè Carducci 33/35, 62012 Civitanova Marche. Three-star hotel offering Wi-Fi, parking and guest rooms; a convenient base for travelers who also need town transport links. |
| Hotel Dimorae | Via Santorre di Santarosa 29, 62012 Civitanova Marche. Three-star accommodation near the seafront and central shopping streets; road transport is needed for the industrial-area playing venue. |
All three properties are separate from the chess venue. Choose a hotel based on transport, cancellation terms and whether you need to travel to both the venue and the rail station during the event.
π How to Get There
The final destination is Drip Games APS, Via Enzo Ferrari 34/A in the industrial area of Civitanova Marche. Since the venue is away from the seafront and rail-station neighborhood, visitors should check the local last-mile connection rather than assume that the tournament is within an easy walk from central hotels.
| Starting Point | Practical Route |
|---|---|
| π Civitanova MarcheβMontegranaro Railway Station | Take a local taxi toward Via Enzo Ferrari in the industrial district and request Drip Games APS, building 34/A. Confirm the exact entrance when you arrive. |
| βοΈ AnconaβFalconara Airport | Travel by airport transfer or rail toward Civitanova Marche, then continue locally to Via Enzo Ferrari. Coordinate the final leg before making time-sensitive tournament connections. |
| π Local Bus | Local transport routes serve the Via Enzo Ferrari area; the Pirelli 2 stop is listed on street-level local transport guides. Check the current timetable and walking approach for December 5β8. |
| π By Car | Use the A14 Civitanova Marche road connections and navigate toward the town’s industrial district. Enter the full Via Enzo Ferrari 34/A address rather than the center of Civitanova Marche. |
| π By Taxi from a Hotel | Give the driver both the street address and the association name, Drip Games APS. Arrange a return journey in advance if evening service is limited. |
The event coincides with December 8, a public holiday in Italy, so transportation and business schedules may differ from regular weekdays. Allow additional time before each round and keep your preferred return-trip option available.
βΉοΈ Other Information
The tournament’s two rating groups share a single venue and the same six-round schedule. The organizer’s regulations govern byes, disputed results, tie-breaks, electronic devices and any rating verification required at check-in. A pairing-allocated bye carries one point under the published competition information.
The Drip Games location also hosts other board-game and chess activities, so visitors should follow the tournament signs or ask staff for the designated playing area. For the most current pairing information and any late procedural changes, refer to communications from ASD Alfiere Nero and the chief arbiter.
Tournament organizer ASD Alfiere Nero ASD Alfiere Nero is an Italian chess club based in Civitanova Marche, Macerata province, Marche. Founded in 2009, it⦠Read moreRead less
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