The Selectist Chess Cup 2 — Istanbul 2026 takes place on November 21–22, 2026, at Frankhan by Selectist in Karaköy, Istanbul, Türkiye. Organized by Selectist, Starbucks and Midas, this FIDE-rated classical tournament offers ₺350,000 in cash prizes to a field capped at 32 players.

Competitors play five Swiss-system rounds with 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move. The event has one A Category; licensed players must satisfy rating and age conditions. Entries are selected by maximum rating, so registration alone does not guarantee participation.

The application deadline is November 16, 8:00 PM Istanbul time. Saturday check-in begins at 9:00 AM, and Round 1 starts at 10:00 AM. The final two rounds take place Sunday. This guide explains the official schedule, eligibility, cash awards, competition venue, nearby hotels and restaurants, and practical travel connections.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

The tournament consists of five rounds of individual Swiss chess. Each participant receives 60 minutes plus 30 seconds after every move; the increment adds to the clock and is not a delay. The organizer recognizes results for both FIDE Standard ELO and national TSF UKD ratings. Thus, this is a classical rated competition rather than rapid chess.

The regulations set a 15-minute default time. Players arriving too late after a round starts risk forfeiture. In addition, the tournament does not restrict draw offers by move number. FIDE Laws of Chess apply together with the relevant Turkish Chess Federation regulations, including the prescribed handling of disputes and appeals.

The published document refers tie-break procedures to the applicable national competition rules. Since it does not reproduce a specific tie-break hierarchy, players should not assume that a particular Buchholz calculation will determine the final standings. The tournament organizers pay the FIDE ELO contribution fee.

🏆 Prize Fund

Cash prizes total ₺350,000, or approximately $7,000 at the November 2026 exchange rate. The entire published fund goes to the first three finishers. These are overall prizes for one playing group, not separate awards for different rating sections.

The top three players and the best female player also receive trophies. The top ten finishers and the best female player receive medals. Consequently, the female recognition is an award category within the same event; the regulations do not list an additional cash prize or a separate Women’s tournament.

📅 Schedule

Participants should complete check-in before the technical meeting on Saturday. The schedule provides three games on the first day and the final two on Sunday. All times are Istanbul local time (UTC+3).

The organizers have not specified the exact time of Sunday’s prize ceremony. Therefore, players should avoid arranging tightly timed onward travel directly after Round 5. Moreover, the 15-minute default-time rule makes it essential to allow for check-in, venue access and local transport delays.

📝 Registration

Applications close on Monday, November 16, 2026, at 8:00 PM. The tournament selects a maximum of 32 participants by maximum rating; an application does not automatically secure a starting place. Entrants must have a valid TSF license with current 2026–2027 season validation and must have been born in 2020 or earlier.

Register on the Official Tournament Website. Applicants should confirm eligibility and the final selection with the organizing federation. This external application process is separate from the MyChess.Events registration function; the site’s standard sidebar registration destination should remain unchanged.

🏛️ Organizer

Selectist hosts this tournament in partnership with Starbucks and Midas. Selectist is an Istanbul-based event producer and operator of the Frankhan venue in Karaköy. The Istanbul Chess Provincial Representative publishes the competition’s official regulations and manages the federation registration system.

Filiz Begüm Yeşilürdü serves as tournament director, assisted by Hulagu Tolga Mete as coordinator. The official regulation includes their contact numbers in case of questions about entry, qualification, and competition operations. The event-specific regulations remain the definitive source for sporting rules and participant obligations.

📍 Venue

The competition takes place at Frankhan by Selectist, Kemankeş Karamustafa Paşa Mahallesi, Kemankeş Caddesi No:73, 34425 Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Türkiye. Frankhan is an established multipurpose venue in Karaköy, Beyoğlu, on the European side of Istanbul. Its location on Kemankeş Caddesi places it within a neighborhood of historic buildings, hotels, cafés, and waterfront transport services.

The regulations identify the building but not a particular playing floor or room. Therefore, participants should follow the competition signs and staff directions on arrival. The venue also hosts other cultural programming; the chess timetable is independent of any concerts or other evening events that Frankhan may advertise.

🏨 Accommodation

For Saturday’s early registration, staying in Karaköy may simplify access to the playing hall. The following four properties have separately identifiable accommodation listings and are located in the same neighborhood or its central transport area. Compare the actual room and cancellation conditions before committing to a booking.

These booking links start with November 20–23, 2026, allowing arrival the night before the competition and departure after the weekend. You may adjust dates and guests when booking. Availability, total cost, breakfast, taxes and cancellation rules depend on the room and selected rate.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

Karaköy’s restaurants and cafés offer convenient options before or after play. The following nearby establishments have verified addresses, although Saturday’s round schedule leaves limited time for a lengthy restaurant meal. Check current opening hours before making plans.

🚆 How to Get There

The playing hall stands on Kemankeş Caddesi No:73 in Karaköy. Tram, ferry and funicular connections serve the surrounding area. From the appropriate Karaköy stop, continue along local streets to Frankhan; participants should allow extra time for the Saturday check-in.

For current routes and operating information, consult Metro Istanbul or Şehir Hatları. Neither the timetable nor local road conditions guarantee a particular journey duration, so confirm transport arrangements for the actual travel date.

ℹ️ Other Information

One playing category. The tournament awards the main cash prizes for overall placement in the single A Category. The additional best female player trophy and medal are not a separate playing division. Therefore, all eligible entrants follow the same Swiss pairing structure.

Technical obligations. The 15-minute default time applies, and no minimum move number limits draw offers. FIDE and Turkish Chess Federation regulations govern play, appeals and final standings. The official tournament document sets the requirements that control participation.

Final-day planning. Round 5 starts Sunday at 1:30 PM. The prize ceremony is held after that round, without a specified finish time. Consequently, players should leave flexibility in their onward travel plans.

Useful official document. The Selectist Chess Cup 2 tournament regulations (PDF) provide the competition’s formal schedule, eligibility rules, contact details and prize allocation.