The Letzi Open 2027 takes place on April 30–May 2, 2027, at Gemeinschaftszentrum Loogarten in Zürich, Switzerland. Schachklub Letzi organizes this fourth edition in the city’s Altstetten district. Moreover, the playing hall has practical tram and bus links for local and visiting chess players.

The open championship combines three rapid rounds on Friday with four classical rounds on Saturday and Sunday. Friday games use 10 minutes plus five seconds per move; weekend games use 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move. Although the games affect different FIDE rating categories, every round counts toward the same Swiss-system competition.

The organizer offers CHF 2,100 in cash awards (approximately $2,560) and limits entry to 100 players. In addition, advance registration and payment can exempt competitors from Friday’s attendance check.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The Letzi Open uses one seven-round Swiss system, rather than separate rapid and classical tournaments. First, rounds 1–3 use a rapid clock of 10 minutes plus five seconds per move. Next, rounds 4–7 use a classical clock of 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move.

The Friday games affect FIDE Rapid ratings, while weekend games affect FIDE Standard ratings. Nevertheless, all seven rounds determine a single final tournament ranking. In addition, the organizer applies a 30-minute default period to the four classical rounds.

The competition follows the latest FIDE Laws of Chess. Therefore, competitors must respect the organizer’s mobile-phone and smoking prohibitions. Moreover, the club has not announced individual start times for Friday’s second and third rapid rounds; the 6:30 PM session covers all three.

🏆 Prize Fund

Schachklub Letzi lists CHF 2,100 in cash prizes, equivalent to approximately $2,560 at the European Central Bank reference rates of November 6, 2026. The first six overall places receive CHF 1,400 in total. In addition, seven category prizes worth CHF 100 each contribute another CHF 700.

The regulations allow one monetary prize per participant. Consequently, a player eligible for an overall award and a category prize cannot claim both. The best-woman award also requires at least three female entrants, while the age and rating prizes recognize competitors in the same open field.

📅 Schedule

The event starts Friday evening and finishes on Sunday. All times use Zürich local time (CEST, UTC+2). Moreover, short date labels keep the schedule readable on mobile phones.

Players who register and pay by Apr 25 may skip the Friday presence check. Otherwise, they should report between 5:00 PM and 6:15 PM. The organizer will hold the prize presentation after Sunday’s final classical round. Therefore, allow extra time before booking an evening return journey.

📝 Registration

The tournament accepts online entries through its official website, with email assistance available. However, the organizer caps participation at 100 players, so check the current starting list and confirm the payment procedure.

After registering, verify the spelling of your name and your FIDE identifiers. In addition, keep your entry and payment confirmations. The organizer’s registration details appear in this description, while the MyChess.Events sidebar registration remains unchanged.

🏛️ Organizer

Schachklub Letzi is a Zürich chess club that marked its centenary in 2025. It supports club play and local tournaments for adults and juniors. In addition, the Letzi Open offers competitors a weekend featuring two chess time controls.

For club information, visit the existing Schachklub Letzi organizer profile. However, remember that the tournament venue differs from the club’s regular Tuesday meeting location.

📍 Venue

The tournament takes place at Gemeinschaftszentrum Loogarten, Salzweg 1, 8048 Zürich, Switzerland. The venue serves the Altstetten community and has the verified map position 47.38848, 8.47258. Therefore, navigate to the community center rather than the adjacent playground.

From Farbhof, players can walk to the venue in about ten minutes. Alternatively, the Salzweg bus stop is approximately two minutes away on foot. The club also provides a small kiosk with coffee, drinks, snacks and sandwiches.

Nearby Restaurants and Cafés

Players looking for a larger meal can explore several restaurants in Altstetten. For example, these established businesses have confirmed addresses. However, their actual service hours during the 2027 tournament weekend may change.

🏨 Accommodation

The community center has no guest rooms. Instead, visitors can stay at one of several established hotels in Altstetten, then travel to the chess hall by tram, bus or taxi. For convenience, compare each hotel’s route to Salzweg 1 before booking.

Because the Friday games begin at 6:30 PM, an arrival early that day or on Thursday may reduce travel pressure. Likewise, a departure on May 3 may give players more flexibility after Sunday’s last game. Always confirm 2027 room availability, renovations and cancellation conditions.

🚆 How to Get There

The playing hall lies in western Zürich, close to local tram and bus connections. Therefore, visitors arriving by rail or air can connect through the city’s public-transport network to Altstetten.

For route planning, use ZVV’s public-transport journey planner. Moreover, allow extra time on Friday because the presence check closes at 6:15 PM.

ℹ️ Other Information

The Letzi Open combines three FIDE Rapid games and four FIDE Standard games in one seven-round Swiss tournament. As a result, the games count for different international ratings but share a single final ranking.

The club offers refreshments at the venue, while local restaurants provide other meal options. Finally, players must respect the organizer’s mobile-phone and no-smoking rules during the event.