The VI Santa Bárbara Chess Open 2027 – Classical 45+30 takes place on January 6–8, 2027, at Bar da Estação in Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The Clube de Xadrez Serra do Caraça and Vale+ Eventos Esportivos present the festival, with Leandro Silva Marques listed as tournament organizer. The Classical event brings players together for six Swiss-system rounds over three days.

Each player has 45 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. Importantly, this Classical tournament does not count toward FIDE or Brazilian Chess Confederation (CBX) ratings, although the festival’s separate Rapid and Blitz events are rated. The regulations also set out cash prizes linked to participation, discounted entry fees and a precise round-by-round schedule. Consequently, players can plan their registration and travel around confirmed competition times.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The Classical Open is one six-round Swiss tournament, not a set of separate rating-restricted sections. It is open to all chess players, with no CBX or FIDE registration required for this non-rated event. Swiss-Manager handles pairings. Each game uses a 45-minute starting clock with 30 seconds added after every move.

Players may request up to two half-point byes in advance, by email or at the event before the preceding round finishes. However, a half-point bye is not available in Round 5 or Round 6. The default time for a late arrival is 45 minutes after a round begins; an unjustified default can also result in the player being left out of subsequent pairings.

For tied scores, the regulations specify direct encounter, Sonneborn–Berger, Buchholz excluding the worst result, total Buchholz, number of wins and opponents’ rating sum excluding the lowest. If a tie still remains, the regulations provide for a drawing of lots.

🏆 Prize Fund

The Classical Open offers participation-dependent awards. For a field of up to 20 players, the regulations specify trophies and medals for overall, women’s, senior 50+ and under-16 categories. Cash prizes apply to the following explicitly published participation bands:

For the 51–80-player tier, the ten listed cash awards add up to R$1,500 (approximately $275 at the November 7, 2026 reference exchange rate). The 26–50-player tier instead totals R$1,000. These tiers are alternatives, not amounts to add together; the regulations do not specify a Classical cash prize amount for every possible number of entrants. Cash awards are not cumulative and are paid by bank transfer after the event. Prize recipients must attend the award ceremony to receive their awards, unless the organizer accepts a written justification. The applicable award tier depends on the final number of competitors.

📅 Schedule

All times below are local to Santa Bárbara, Brazil. The Classical event comprises two rounds on each of the first two days and two final rounds on Friday.

Because the awards ceremony follows the final round, participants arranging onward travel should allow time for the last game and prize presentation.

📝 Registration

The organizer requires payment followed by submission of the official online registration form. Select Torneio Clássico (45+30) and use the payment instructions in the official tournament regulations. Payments can be made using the published PIX or bank-transfer methods; registration details must match the participant’s entry.

The following Classical entry-fee deadlines are published for the remaining registration periods:

Players over 60 may request a 50% reduction on the standard fee by November 20, 2026; the age discount cannot be combined with early-entry discounts. Players holding a master title and a FIDE rating of at least 2000 may also request a 50% reduction. GMs, IMs, WGMs and WIMs qualify for free entry if their attendance is confirmed by November 15, 2026, under the published conditions.

Entries are personal and nontransferable, with no refunds or credits under the regulations. If the form fails, contact the event team using the email in Event Details. For those joining more than one festival competition, check the separate event timetables before submitting additional entries.

🏛️ Organizer

Leandro Silva Marques is the organizer identified in the Classical tournament record. The Clube de Xadrez Serra do Caraça and Vale+ Eventos Esportivos jointly invite players to the sixth edition. Francisco José Emery Quites supports the local organization, while FA Erick Alexandre Moreira Ramos handles publicity and pairings.

The same festival also features Rapid, Blitz and a simultaneous exhibition. Further background is available in the Santa Bárbara Chess Open organizer profile.

📍 Venue

Bar da Estação is at Rua da Estação 65, Centro, Santa Bárbara, Minas Gerais 35960-000, Brazil. The venue belongs to the Hotel Quadrado hospitality complex in the town’s historic center. The Minas Gerais tourism listing confirms the restaurant’s address and dining facilities.

The tourism listing notes an external access ramp but also identifies uneven stone paving. Players requiring step-free access should arrange practical details with the organizer before arrival. The tournament’s location fields and interactive map use the Bar da Estação address rather than the address of the hotel’s main reception.

Nearby Restaurants and Cafés

Bar da Estação itself provides food and drinks at the playing venue. For a different meal or coffee break, the following independently listed businesses have verified addresses in central Santa Bárbara. Check their service hours and the walking route before leaving between rounds.

🏨 Accommodation

Three established accommodation options are available in central Santa Bárbara. Room availability and rates for the January tournament dates should be checked directly; no unverified nightly prices are shown here.

For Classical-only participants, a stay from January 5 to January 9 gives time to arrive before Round 1 and depart after the Friday awards ceremony. These are suggested travel dates, not organizer-mandated hotel arrangements.

🚆 How to Get There

The practical destination is Bar da Estação, Rua da Estação 65, in the center of Santa Bárbara. Visitors arriving from outside Minas Gerais can connect through Belo Horizonte, then continue by regional bus or car.

The airport, regional coach and final local transfer are separate legs. Therefore, allow sufficient connection time between services, especially if a flight arrives on the day of a scheduled round. Travelers can also compare regional road connections before choosing their arrival city.

ℹ️ Other Information

During games, participants may not carry or use a mobile phone or other electronic equipment; the published penalty is loss of the game. The organizers also ask players to bring their own chess pieces and clock in good condition, although a limited amount of equipment will be available on site.

A tournament appeals committee will be established at the technical meeting. A written, signed appeal must reach the organizers within 15 minutes after the last game of the relevant round ends, accompanied by a R$500 cash fee under the regulations.

The sixth Santa Bárbara festival also includes a separate 15+5 Rapid tournament on January 8–10 and a 3+2 Blitz tournament on January 9. Additionally, FM Mathias Casalaspro is scheduled for a simultaneous exhibition on January 9. The festival’s triathlon classification combines results from Classical, Rapid and Blitz using a 2:2:1 weighting.