The 2nd Maasch & Kirsch Chess Festival 2027 – Classical Open A, B & C takes place in Burghausen, Germany, April 16–18, 2027. Its classical sections offer €5,250 in itemized cash prizes. The event is organized by Maasch & Kirsch GmbH & Co. KG.

The competition consists of three FIDE- and DWZ-rated classical Swiss tournaments, each with five rounds. The time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 15 minutes, plus a 30-second increment from move one. Players are divided into Open A, B and C using the higher of their FIDE Elo and DWZ ratings.

Standard entry fees range from €20 to €40, with lower fees for eligible youth players. To secure a place, players must pay by April 11, 2027, subject to capacity. The festival has a combined limit of 252 participants; it also features separate rapid and blitz competitions.

📌 Event Details

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

All three classical sections use a five-round Swiss system. Each player receives 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, 15 additional minutes for the rest of the game, and a 30-second increment from move one. The organizers have registered the Opens for FIDE Standard and German DWZ rating.

Tie-break System

Open A uses points, TWZ performance, Buchholz, sum of Buchholz and Sonneborn–Berger, in that order. Open B and Open C use points, Buchholz, sum of Buchholz and Sonneborn–Berger. Cash prizes are shared in the event of tied places, and players cannot receive duplicate prizes.

🏆 Prize Fund

The three classical Opens offer a combined €5,250 in cash awards, including youth category prizes. The separate rapid and blitz competitions have their own awards, which are not included in this classical total.

Open A — €3,950

Open B — €925

Open C — €375

Prize conditions: Equal-place prizes are shared; a player cannot receive multiple prizes. The organizers also offer separate rapid and blitz cash awards.

♟️ Sections / Groups

Players enter one of three independently paired classical Opens according to their tournament rating (TWZ), defined as the higher of their FIDE Elo and German DWZ. Each group has five rounds and follows the same weekend schedule.

The organizers may combine Open B and Open C if fewer than 25 players enter either section. They may grant exceptions to the published minimum rating thresholds in justified cases, but players cannot demand admission outside the stated limits.

📅 Schedule

The classical competition runs from Friday, April 16, through Sunday, April 18, 2027. It begins with one Friday evening round, followed by two rounds each on Saturday and Sunday. All times are local to Burghausen.

A separate blitz tournament takes place on Saturday and a rapid tournament on Sunday; these are not additional rounds of the classical Opens.

📝 Registration

Players can submit an entry through the official tournament registration form. Guaranteed participation requires receipt of the entry fee by April 11, 2027, while places remain available. Later applications or payments may be placed on a waiting list. The maximum capacity across the festival is 252 players.

Entry Fees

How to Register

Official Online Registration: Complete the organizer’s entry form. Submit the requested player details and follow the published payment instructions. Registered participants must complete the on-site attendance check before the first round.

Eligibility & Player Identification

Players must have been born before January 1, 2014, or hold a DWZ/Elo rating above 900. All entrants need FIDE registration. German and Austrian participants may complete the relevant registration paperwork on site; participants younger than 16 need a parent or guardian’s signature. Players of other nationalities must obtain the required FIDE or national identification before arriving.

Registration email: info@maasch-kirsch-schachfestival.de. The full address is shown so it can also be copied.

🏛️ Organizer

Maasch & Kirsch GmbH & Co. KG, a Burghausen-based industrial company, organizes the second edition of its chess festival. Johannes Wolfmaier directs the tournament, and Harald Koppen serves as arbiter for the classical Opens.

📍 Venue

The tournament takes place at Bürgerhaus Burghausen, located at Marktler Straße 15a, 84489 Burghausen, Germany. This municipal events center has accessible tournament rooms; the Bürgerplatz and Stadtpark are nearby. Parking is available at the adjoining underground garage and near the Messehalle.

🏨 Accommodation

Players and accompanying families can choose from several hotels in Burghausen, including accommodation near the castle and the old town. The five options below offer different facilities; use the Stay22 booking links to check room availability and conditions for your travel dates.

🍽️ Nearby Restaurants & Cafés

Several cafés and restaurants are located at Bürgerplatz and along Marktler Straße, making it convenient to find food near the playing hall between rounds. Select a venue name to open its location in Google Maps.

🚆 How to Get There

The playing hall is in Burghausen, Bavaria, close to the Austrian border. Visitors can travel by regional rail and onward local transport or drive directly to the Bürgerhaus.

🚆 By Train

Use Burghausen railway station for regional rail travel, then continue to Marktler Straße 15a. Check connections and operating times before travel: Deutsche Bahn — Timetables & Tickets.

🚗 By Car & Parking

Enter Bürgerhaus Burghausen, Marktler Straße 15a as the destination. The organizer identifies free parking at the adjacent underground garage or at the Messehalle, approximately 200 m away. The tournament rooms are accessible to visitors with reduced mobility.

ℹ️ Other Information

The festival also hosts independent blitz and rapid tournaments. Players may join these events separately from the three classical Opens. Food and drinks are available at the Bürgerhaus, but consumption of food brought from outside is restricted to designated areas.

Useful Official Links