22. Internat. Dolomitenbank LIENZ OPEN 2025
22nd Dolomitenbank Lienz Open 2025 brings another strong winter chess week to Lienz, Austria from February 8 to February 15, 2025. The tournament takes place at Handelsakademie Lienz and continues one of the best-known open events in East Tyrol.
The event uses a 9-round Swiss system with a classical 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, plus a 30-second increment from move 1. Moreover, it counts for both FIDE and Austrian national rating, which makes it attractive for international players as well as local club competitors.
The tournament also offers much more than the games alone. In addition, the organizers publish a full side program, a broad category prize structure, live transmission from selected boards, and a practical accommodation list for visitors staying in and around Lienz.
🏁 Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dates | February 8–15, 2025 |
| Location | Lienz, Austria |
| Format | 9-round Swiss open |
| Time control | 90 minutes for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish, with 30 seconds per move from move 1 |
| Rating | FIDE Standard and Austrian national rating |
| Sections | One open section |
| Prize fund | EUR 12,000 total (approx. USD 13,000) |
| Chess-Results | https://chess-results.com/tnr1041950.aspx?art=1 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The tournament runs as a 9-round Swiss event. Swiss-Manager handles the pairings, and the full field plays in one open section. In addition, the organizers use the international rating first and then the national rating for the starting order.
The time control is fully classical. Each player gets 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, then 30 more minutes to finish the game, with a 30-second increment from move 1. The default time is 15 minutes, so players need to reach the board promptly.
The event also applies clear playing-hall rules. Alcohol, mobile phones, and other electronic communication devices are strictly forbidden in the playing hall. Therefore, players should leave all such devices outside the playing area before the round begins.
💰 Prize Fund
The tournament offers a total confirmed cash prize fund of EUR 12,000 (approx. USD 13,000). In addition, the event awards special gold-ducat prizes and a full category prize structure across five rating bands.
| Main Prize | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | EUR 2,200 |
| 2nd | EUR 1,550 |
| 3rd | EUR 1,100 |
| 4th | EUR 900 |
| 5th | EUR 700 |
| 6th | EUR 450 |
| 7th | EUR 300 |
| 8th | EUR 150 |
| Special Prize | Award |
|---|---|
| Best Senior 70+ | 1 gold ducat |
| Best Woman | 1 gold ducat |
| Best Player of an East Tyrolean Club | 1 gold ducat |
The special gold-ducat prizes are awarded only to players who are present at the ceremony. Otherwise, the prize passes to the next eligible player.
| Rating Category | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2200–2000 | EUR 350 | EUR 250 | EUR 150 |
| 1999–1800 | EUR 350 | EUR 250 | EUR 150 |
| 1799–1600 | EUR 350 | EUR 250 | EUR 150 |
| 1599–1400 | EUR 350 | EUR 250 | EUR 150 |
| Up to 1399 (U14) | EUR 350 | EUR 250 | EUR 150 |
Players are responsible for the taxation of their winnings.
♟️ Sections / Groups
| Section | Details |
|---|---|
| Open Section | Single Swiss group for the full field |
The event uses one unified section rather than separate A and B groups. As a result, titled players, experienced club players, juniors, and ambitious amateurs all compete in the same tournament.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|
| February 8, 2025 | 12:00–15:00 | Registration |
| February 8, 2025 | 16:00 | Opening and Round 1 |
| February 9, 2025 | 09:00 | Round 2 |
| February 9, 2025 | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| February 10, 2025 | 18:00 | Round 4 |
| February 11, 2025 | 18:00 | Round 5 |
| February 12, 2025 | 18:00 | Round 6 |
| February 13, 2025 | 18:00 | Round 7 |
| February 14, 2025 | 18:00 | Round 8 |
| February 15, 2025 | 09:00 | Round 9 |
| February 15, 2025 | 15:00 | Closing Ceremony |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Entry deadline | February 7, 2025 by post or email |
| Late entry | Possible on February 8, 2025 until 15:00 |
| Late-entry surcharge | EUR 10 |
| Adult entry fee | EUR 100 |
| Youth entry fee | EUR 55 |
| Youth category | Players born in 2006 or later |
| Free entry | GM, IM, and players rated above 2400 on the January 2025 list |
| Registration methods | Online registration, email registration, or on-site registration |
| Payment method | Bank transfer to the organizer account |
| On-site requirement | Personal check-in at reception on February 8 from 12:00 to 15:00 |
The entry becomes practical only after personal check-in, because the organizers pair only players who are physically present. Therefore, every player must report to reception before the first round window closes.
👤 Organizer
Schachklub DolomitenBank Lienz organizes the tournament and continues a long-running open tradition in East Tyrol. The local club also coordinates registration, playing operations, and the side program during the event week.
Phone: +43 664 111 9055
Email: open@schachklub-lienz.com
📍 Venue
Handelsakademie Lienz, Weidengasse 1, 9900 Lienz, Austria
The playing venue offers a practical school setting for a long classical tournament week. In addition, the official site notes that the full tournament area is accessible for players with disabilities.
🛏️ Accommodation
The organizers recommend several accommodation options in Lienz and nearby Tristach and Amlach. Players can also contact the Lienzer Dolomiten Tourist Office for broader local booking support.
| Accommodation | Location | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Dolomitenhof | Dorfstraße 34, 9907 Tristach | +43 4852 63455 |
| harry’s home | Andreas Hofer-Straße 8, 9900 Lienz | +43 50 1214 1590 |
| Hotel Vergeiner’s Traube | Hauptplatz 14, 9900 Lienz | +43 4852 64444 |
| Hotel Sonne | Südtiroler Platz 8, 9900 Lienz | +43 4852 63311 |
| Hotel Laserz | Ulrichsbichl 34, 9908 Amlach | +43 4852 62488 |
| Dolomitenhotel | Dolomitenstraße 2, 9900 Lienz | +43 4852 62962 |
The official accommodation page lists additional guesthouses and hotels as well, so players still have several local options around the venue area.
🚗 How to Get There
Lienz is the host city for the full tournament, and the venue is inside the town at Handelsakademie Lienz. Therefore, players can plan local travel directly around central Lienz and nearby hotel areas. Those staying in Tristach or Amlach can also reach the venue with a short regional transfer by car or taxi.
ℹ️ Other
The tournament includes a substantial side program during the week. The published examples include a sledding outing, a Micado factory visit, a visit connected with the Felbertauern tunnel safety facilities, and an atelier visit with artist Jos Pirkner.
The event also features live transmission from 20 boards. Moreover, the organizers note a useful scheduling detail for players who continue to the Graz Open the following week: anyone who plays the final round in Lienz can claim a half-point bye in Round 1 at Graz.
This Lienz Open combines a strong classical format, a deep prize structure, and a full tournament week in East Tyrol.
Additional Details
Playing Venue - Tourismusbüro Lienzer Dolomiten
Prize Fund (approx.) - EUR 7350
Organizer Name - Schachklub DolomitenBank Lienz
Organizer Phone - +436641119055
Tournament Director - FIDE Arbiter Sandra SCHMIDT
Chief Arbiter - FIDE Arbiter Laima DOMARKAITE
Time control - 90/30/30sec per move
Number of rounds - 9
Tournament system - SWISS
Rating - FIDE-Rating
Regulations -
Organizer
♟️ Club Identity
Schachklub DolomitenBank Lienz is a long-running chess club in Lienz, East Tyrol, Austria. The club was founded in 1945 and has shaped local chess life for decades. It later adopted its current name in 2016, after its long-time sponsor Volksbank Osttirol became DolomitenBank. Today, the club continues to operate from central Lienz under the leadership of Georg Weiler. For players, that identity matters because the club offers a real local structure for regular play, organized competition, and year-round activity. It is not only a historic name. It is also an active organizer with a stable presence in East Tyrol. Moreover, the club combines adult chess with a strong youth base, which helps keep the local scene alive across generations.
🏆 Tournament Activity
The club is best known for the International Dolomitenbank Lienz Open, which started in 1985 and reached its 22nd edition in 2025. That event has become one of the best-known chess tournaments in East Tyrol and a regular meeting point for international players. At local level, the club also runs a broad internal and regional calendar. Its official pages highlight the city championship, club championship, East Tyrol district championship, Three Kings blitz, and summer blitz. Team chess is also a major part of its profile. The homepage states that the club enters four teams in the Carinthian team championship. In addition, it runs a women’s program at national level. The club first entered the Austrian Women’s Bundesliga in 2018/19, and its current site tracks activity in both the 1st and 2nd Women’s Bundesliga structures.
🌱 Youth and School Chess
Youth work sits at the center of the club’s daily life. The club runs weekly training groups for beginners and advanced players, with separate sessions for different levels. It also keeps school chess visible in Lienz. Its official profile notes that children from local primary schools attend club lessons, while chess activity at BG/BRG Lienz has remained especially strong. The club has also helped support the East Tyrol school chess district championship, which gives school teams a clear path toward the Tyrol finals. Beyond that, it promotes first competitive steps through youth series such as the Karnischer Jugendcup, where children from Lienz and nearby towns gain tournament experience. Competitive results support that work as well. The club’s own record lists recent Carinthian youth champions, and a 2026 post notes that club youth players were away at the European Youth Championship in Budva.
