The 12th International Francophone Chess Meetings (RIDEF) 2026 will bring the Francophone chess community to Lomé, Togo, from December 18 to 28, 2026. Competitive events take place from December 19 through 27. The program includes a nine-round classical championship, an eleven-round blitz championship and two FIDE training courses. The playing venue is Hôtel École Lébénè.

The Association Internationale des Échecs Francophones (AIDEF) organizes the festival in cooperation with the Fédération Togolaise des Échecs. Together, they have announced a guaranteed prize fund of €11,200. Moreover, the event awards five Francophone titles covering the classical, women’s, senior, veteran and blitz competitions.

The gathering is open to eligible players connected to the Francophone chess community. The organizers also plan seminars for chess arbiters and school instructors. Consequently, RIDEF combines serious international competition with training and cultural exchange. The host hotel provides both the playing venue and the principal accommodation location.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The classical championship consists of nine rounds using the Swiss system. Each player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the remainder. In addition, the clock adds 30 seconds for every move starting with move one. The published Chess-Results registration confirms national and international rating calculations.

The blitz championship follows an eleven-round Swiss format on December 27. Its control is 5 minutes plus 10 seconds per move. Therefore, participants should distinguish the two competitions when checking pairings and schedules. Both official Chess-Results pages provide separate entries and tournament records.

🏆 Prize Fund

The organizers guarantee €11,200 across the two championships. Of that amount, €9,000 is assigned to classical chess and €2,200 to blitz. Trophies complement the cash prizes. Additionally, awards cover the overall standings and several special categories.

The event recognizes the Francophone classical champion, women’s champion, Senior 50+ champion, Veteran 65+ champion and blitz champion. Furthermore, the official announcement includes prizes for junior and rating groups. Check the complete event regulations for the distribution among individual places.

👥 Sections / Groups

Eligibility follows the updated AIDEF participation rules. These allow players from AIDEF member federations, as well as qualifying nationals of full or associate members of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. Consequently, eligible participants are not necessarily limited to FIDE registration under an AIDEF member federation.

📅 Schedule

The official program spans December 18–28. However, the classical competition begins on December 19 and ends on December 26. The blitz championship follows on December 27. The individual daily round times should be checked against the official classical schedule and blitz tournament page.

📝 Registration

Players should review the official AIDEF announcement and the full event dossier before registering. The organizers provide eligibility conditions and participation instructions through AIDEF and the national federation. Moreover, the announcement describes support arrangements for selected official representatives from participating countries.

The main event includes both classical and blitz competitions. As a result, participants should confirm whether their registration covers both disciplines and any accommodation package. The published official communication remains the appropriate source for entry deadlines and payment instructions.

🏛️ Organizer

Association Internationale des Échecs Francophones (AIDEF) stages the RIDEF series in cooperation with its member chess organizations. For the Lomé edition, its local partner is Fédération Togolaise des Échecs. The Togolese federation promotes national chess competitions, club development and chess education. In addition, the organizers have arranged official FIDE training opportunities alongside the championships.

📍 Venue

Hôtel École Lébénè is located on Avenue du Général de Gaulle, Quartier Administratif, Lomé, Togo. The hotel is the official playing location and the principal accommodation venue for RIDEF 2026. It is an established hospitality property near the Atlantic coast. Furthermore, its own website confirms the street address and provides contact details for travelers.

The property also hosted official chess activity in Lomé earlier in 2026. In particular, the Togolese Chess Federation announced the Zone 4.2 Individual Championships there. The hotel coordinates are approximately 6.121656, 1.217719. These identify the property itself rather than a general point in Lomé.

🏨 Accommodation

Hôtel École Lébénè is the principal hotel for participants. Staying at the playing venue may simplify tournament logistics, especially during a multi-day event. The hotel offers accommodation and hospitality services at the official address on Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Therefore, players who want to stay on site should check availability and conditions with the organizers and hotel.

The hotel can be reached through its official contact page. It publishes an email address at info@lebenehotel.com and telephone numbers for accommodation enquiries. In addition, travelers can compare other properties in Lomé’s administrative quarter or central coastal area. However, those alternatives are not designated RIDEF hotels.

When choosing another property, assess the distance to the playing hall and allow time for daily transfers. Also confirm breakfast arrangements and check-in times for arrival on December 18. The host hotel’s proximity to the coastal district can help visitors identify its location.

🚗 How to Get There

✈️ International Arrivals

Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport (LFW) serves Lomé. Visitors arriving by air can arrange a licensed taxi or prebooked transfer to the city center. The official tournament hotel is in the Quartier Administratif, on Avenue du Général de Gaulle. Therefore, use that full address when booking transport.

🚕 Local Transport

Lomé’s administrative quarter lies close to the city’s Atlantic waterfront. Travelers can use a taxi or a hotel-arranged transfer to reach Hôtel École Lébénè. Moreover, those staying elsewhere should confirm their morning travel time before the first scheduled game. The hotel’s contact page provides the destination address and phone numbers.

🚘 Arrival by Road

Players arriving by car should navigate to Hôtel École Lébénè, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, Lomé. The map location is approximately 6.121656° N, 1.217719° E. The hotel is close to the coastline. As a result, the administrative quarter and the hotel name are useful orientation points for a local driver.

🧳 Travel Planning

International visitors should check entry conditions for their nationality and confirm passport requirements before departure. Additionally, players should consider arrival on December 18, the day before classical games begin. The official festival period extends through December 28, after the blitz championship.

ℹ️ Other Information

The 12th RIDEF also includes two FIDE education activities. International Arbiter Laurent Freyd leads an arbiters’ seminar from December 16 to 18. Meanwhile, FIDE Senior Lead Instructor Denis Lemouton conducts a School Instructor course between December 20 and 24. These courses add a professional-development component to the chess festival.

For event updates, consult AIDEF’s official RIDEF announcement, the classical Chess-Results record and the blitz Chess-Results record.