The 9th Arsenal FIDE Open 2027 takes place on January 16β17, 2027, in Le Robert, Martinique, an overseas region of France in the Caribbean. Arsenal Γchecs organizes the weekend tournament at Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose in the Mansarde district. The French Chess Federation (FFE) lists five rounds of classical chess and an under-2400 rating ceiling.
Players receive 60 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, while the organizer uses the pairing system identified as Haley in the federation record. Furthermore, the published podium awards are β¬150, β¬120 and β¬90. The French federation approves the competition, and the announcement identifies club president Gilles Suez-Panama as arbiter and contact.
Entrants can register by contacting the organizer and should confirm the precise round timetable before traveling. In addition, local accommodations and restaurants in Le Robert provide options for competitors coming from elsewhere on the island.
π Event Details
| Item | Verified Details |
|---|---|
| π Tournament | 9e Open FIDE de l’Arsenal (U2400), 2027 |
| π Dates | Jan 16β17, 2027 |
| π City & Country | Le Robert, Martinique, France (French overseas region) |
| βοΈ Organizer | Arsenal Γchecs β Le Robert, Martinique |
| ποΈ Venue | Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose, Rue des Γcoles, Quartier Mansarde, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique, France |
| β±οΈ Time Control | 60 minutes plus a 30-second increment per move |
| π’ Rounds | 5 |
| π Pairing Method | Haley (as recorded by the FFE) |
| β Rating Status | FFE-approved FIDE classical (Standard) Open |
| ποΈ Rating Ceiling | Under 2400 |
| π° Entry Fee | Adults β¬35 / juniors β¬25 before Jan 13; β¬40 / β¬30 starting Jan 13 |
| π¨ββοΈ Chief Arbiter | Gilles Suez-Panama |
| π Official FFE Event Listing | French Chess Federation β event reference 74371 |
| π Registration Contact | arsenalechecs@gmail.com |
| π Contact Telephone | +596 696 45 10 49 |
β±οΈ Time Control & Pairings
The French Chess Federation lists five classical rounds for the ninth Arsenal Open. Each player starts with 60 minutes and receives a 30-second increment after every move. Therefore, participants should allow plenty of time for each game and avoid assuming that a round will finish after two fixed hours.
The event carries an under-2400 rating ceiling. In addition, the FFE records Haley in its pairing-system field. That is the federation’s published description; consequently, this page does not silently replace it with an unsupported assertion that the edition uses the Swiss system.
Arsenal Γchecs has organized earlier editions at the same school and control. However, the January 2027 announcement does not confirm that those editions’ playing hours or additional rules will repeat. Players should therefore request the current instructions directly from arbiter Gilles Suez-Panama rather than relying on a 2025 or 2026 timetable.
π Prize Fund
The FFE confirms three cash podium awards for the January 2027 edition. The organizer lists β¬150 for first place, β¬120 for second and β¬90 for third, a combined β¬360 for these three positions. However, the announcement does not specify an overall tournament-wide prize fund, so no unverified total is claimed.
| Podium Position | Announced Award |
|---|---|
| π₯ First place | β¬150 |
| π₯ Second place | β¬120 |
| π₯ Third place | β¬90 |
| Subtotal of published podium amounts | β¬360 (not an announced overall prize fund) |
The tournament may apply its own final regulations to award sharing, tied scores or other categories. Therefore, competitors should ask the organizer to clarify any additional trophies, category awards or conditions before registering. No separate prize categories appear in the federation’s confirmed January 2027 record.
βοΈ Sections / Groups
The ninth Arsenal FIDE Open appears as one under-2400 playing group. In contrast, the FFE notice does not identify additional U1800, U1600 or junior pairing sections. It also does not establish different playing formats by age or gender.
| Playing Group | Eligibility and Format |
|---|---|
| Open U2400 | Players eligible under the advertised 2400 rating limit; five classical rounds at 60+30. |
| Adult entrants | Main adult entry tariff applies, subject to the January 13 fee increase. |
| Junior entrants | Lower junior entry tariff applies; juniors compete under the same published event format. |
| Arbiter and eligibility | Gilles Suez-Panama oversees the event; confirm applicable license and rating details before entering. |
Players from mainland France and other countries should verify their federation registration and identification requirements. Moreover, anyone close to the 2400 threshold should contact the chief arbiter before paying, because the FFE summary does not explain every rating calculation or exception.
π Schedule
The federation confirms the two playing dates and five total rounds. However, it has not published the precise January 2027 start time for each round, the registration desk opening time, or the awards ceremony. Consequently, the schedule below shows only verified dates rather than borrowing hours from a previous edition.
| Local Date | Confirmed Activity |
|---|---|
| Sat, Jan 16 | First day of the 9th Arsenal FIDE Open; classical chess competition at Hector Sainte-Rose school. |
| Sun, Jan 17 | Second and final day of the tournament; five rounds are scheduled across the full weekend. |
| Time zone | Martinique local time (Atlantic Standard Time, UTCβ4 year-round). |
For round-by-round check-in, contact the organizers using the email address or telephone number in Event Details. Furthermore, players should be aware that Martinique is five hours behind mainland France in January, which matters when communicating with an organizer from Europe.
π Registration
To enter the 9e Open FIDE de l’Arsenal, contact the tournament organizer at arsenalechecs@gmail.com or call +596 696 45 10 49. The official FFE announcement is the definitive reference for the January 2027 edition. No independent edition-specific online payment form has been confirmed for this tournament.
| Entry Category | Published Tariff |
|---|---|
| Adult registration | β¬35 before Jan 13, 2027; β¬40 starting Jan 13. |
| Junior registration | β¬25 before Jan 13, 2027; β¬30 starting Jan 13. |
| Registration by email | arsenalechecs@gmail.com |
| Registration by telephone | +596 696 45 10 49 |
| Playing site | Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose, Rue des Γcoles, Quartier Mansarde, Le Robert. |
The higher adult and junior tariffs begin on January 13, 2027. Therefore, contact the organizer early to arrange payment, confirm your rating eligibility and establish the exact arrival time. In addition, check whether your French chess license or national federation credentials meet the event’s participation requirements.
The registration contact appears only as ordinary text links inside this article. Importantly, this MyChess.Events listing does not assign any external URL to its separate Register for this tournament button. The organizer can request such a button link later if desired.
ποΈ Organizer
Arsenal Γchecs is an FFE-affiliated chess club based in Le Robert, Martinique. The federation identifies the club under code Z9D001 and names Gilles Suez-Panama as its president and tournament contact. Moreover, the club takes part in the local chess ecosystem through FFE-listed regional and junior team competition.
The club has organized successive Open FIDE de l’Arsenal editions at its Le Robert playing location, including the seventh in December 2025 and the eighth in November 2026. It also held FFE-listed rapid and blitz events during 2026. Consequently, visitors can review the club’s established activity through its full MyChess.Events organizer profile and official FFE club record.
For this tournament, Gilles Suez-Panama is also the named arbiter. However, he should confirm all specific January 2027 entry procedures and time slots, because earlier tournament editions are not a substitute for the current announcement.
π Venue
The tournament takes place at Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose, Rue des Γcoles, Quartier Mansarde, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique, France. The map of Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose identifies the school on Rue des Γcoles in the Mansarde area of Le Robert, on Martinique’s Atlantic side. In addition, France’s Ministry of Education confirms the Hector Sainte-Rose elementary school in the Mansarde neighborhood.
The school is a public educational building rather than a conventional hotel conference center. Therefore, visitors should follow event instructions about the correct gate, access hours and any available parking. The venue coordinates point to the school itself, not merely the center of Le Robert.
The FFE’s Arsenal club record describes the club’s regular playing location as wheelchair accessible. Nevertheless, a tournament-specific mobility arrangement, toilet access or parking requirement should be checked with the organizer before arrival.
π¨ Accommodation
Le Robert has several individually bookable villas and guest accommodations rather than a large concentration of conventional hotels beside the school. As a result, the options below emphasize actual named Booking.com properties in Le Robert. Confirm the drive from your selected property to Rue des Γcoles rather than assuming every address is within easy walking distance.
The Stay22 links preset January 15 check-in and January 18 checkout, giving visitors a day before and after the two tournament dates. Guests may change dates, occupancy and accommodation preferences before completing payment. These links do not imply a special tournament room rate.
| Property | Verified Address and Booking |
|---|---|
| Bungalow Domaine Kaliope | 9 Quartier Mansarde, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique. Guesthouse/bungalow in Quartier Mansarde, the same broad neighborhood as the playing school; the listing notes that children are not accepted. Check availability & book |
| Lagon du Robert | Augrain Nord, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique. Two-bedroom self-catering property in Augrain Nord; arrange your own transport to the school. Check availability & book |
| Bungalow le manikou | 25 Boulevard Henri AuzΓ©, Pointe Savane, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique. Private one-bedroom vacation bungalow at Pointe Savane, with a separate drive into the town’s Mansarde district. Check availability & book |
For junior players and families, note that Bungalow Domaine Kaliope does not accept children under its current published property rules. Therefore, choose accommodation compatible with your party before paying. Also verify exact property names, parking, availability and cancellation terms; tournament entry must be arranged separately.
π½οΈ Nearby Restaurants & CafΓ©s
Le Robert has local Caribbean and Asian dining in the town center and waterfront district. However, these restaurants are outside the school, so allow sufficient travel time during the tournament. The following businesses have verified individual street addresses and are independent of the organizers.
| Restaurant or CafΓ© | Location and Dining |
|---|---|
| Le Jardin β Cuisine CaribΓ©enne | 2 Rue PΓ¨re Labat, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique. Caribbean-style restaurant in the town center, with a lunch and dinner offering. |
| Edenne Sushi | 13 Rue Père Labat, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique. Sushi and Japanese-inspired dishes; consider advance ordering at busy weekend times. |
| Le Kalinago | 41 Boulevard Henri AuzΓ©, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique. Caribbean cuisine and a waterfront setting by the bay. |
Opening hours may change around the tournament weekend. Consequently, contact a restaurant before planning a meal between rounds, especially since exact round times have not been announced. A packed snack is also useful when the competition runs across a long Saturday or Sunday.
π How to Get There
The destination is Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose, Rue des Γcoles, Quartier Mansarde, 97231 Le Robert, Martinique, France, in the Mansarde district of Le Robert. International and regional flights arrive at Martinique AimΓ© CΓ©saire International Airport, near Le Lamentin. Therefore, visitors should plan a separate road journey from the airport to the playing school rather than expect the venue to provide a shuttle.
| Starting Point | Practical Route |
|---|---|
| βοΈ Martinique AimΓ© CΓ©saire International Airport | Use a licensed taxi or rental car from the airport and enter Γcole ΓlΓ©mentaire Hector Sainte-Rose, Rue des Γcoles, 97231 Le Robert as the exact destination. |
| π Le Lamentin / Fort-de-France area | Follow signed major roads toward Le Robert, then navigate to Rue des Γcoles in Quartier Mansarde. Do not rely on a town-center destination alone. |
| π Public transportation | Check the current Martinique regional bus connections serving Le Robert. However, confirm the last local leg to the Mansarde school before choosing a bus-only journey. |
| πΆ Le Robert town center | The playing school lies on Rue des Γcoles, away from the waterfront dining strip. Use a local map and check the school entrance with the organizer before setting out. |
The school’s mapped location provides the most useful pin for the final approach. In addition, allow extra time for weekend road traffic, luggage and a possibly unfamiliar school entrance. Use a mobile navigation map with the full playing address, not a generic pin for Le Robert.
βΉοΈ Other Information
This is an FFE-approved under-2400 Open with five rounds at 60+30. The official January 2027 record identifies the pairing method as Haley and names Gilles Suez-Panama as arbiter. Moreover, the FFE’s prize statement confirms podium amounts of β¬150, β¬120 and β¬90 without declaring a complete overall fund.
Martinique is an overseas department and region of France in the Caribbean. Consequently, visitors from mainland France should plan for a different local time zone and air travel. The venue is the same school named in the club’s FFE affiliation record, while the official ninth-edition event listing should remain the authoritative source for changed entry arrangements or round times.
Tournament organizer Arsenal Γchecs β Le Robert, Martinique Arsenal Γchecs is an established chess club based in Le Robert, Martinique, France. Affiliated with theβ¦ Read moreRead less
Hotels Near the Venue
Find nearby accommodation for this tournament location.
