Donau Open 2026
The Donau‑Open 2026 will be held from Saturday, 26 December – Thursday, 31 December 2026 in Aschach an der Donau (Upper Austria), Austria. This internationally rated Swiss-system tournament features three sections (A-FIDE Open / B / C) and welcomes players of all levels to conclude the year with serious competitive chess in a scenic Danube-area venue.
Players will enjoy classical time controls, FIDE- and national rating eligibility, and the strong tradition of this long-running Austrian event.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 26 – 31 December 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Aschach an der Donau, Austria |
| ♟️ Format | 7-Round Swiss System |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 100 minutes + 30 seconds per move for first 40 moves, then remaining time (all sections) |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE-rated (A-section) and national-rated for B & C |
| ✅ Eligibility | Open to all players (A-section); B & C restricted by rating thresholds |
| 🎫 Entry Fee | A-section: €55 (reduced if rating < 1900) • B-section: €50 (rating < 2000) • C-section: €45 (rating < 1650) |
| 🏆 Prize Fund | A-section: 1st €1,000 / 2nd €750 / 3rd €500, etc. • B-section: 1st €250 / 2nd €150 • C-section: 1st €150 / 2nd €100 |
| 🏛️ Organizer | Sportunion Hartkirchen & local chess clubs |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
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All sections play 7 rounds in Swiss-system format.
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Time control: 100 minutes for each player + 30 seconds per move from move 1, with an additional time extension after 40 moves.
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Default (forfeit) time: 30 minutes after the scheduled round start.
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Pairings generated with Swiss-Manager software; tie-breaks according to tournament regulations.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| A-FIDE Open | Open to all players (FIDE-rated) |
| B-Tournament | Players with Elo < 2000 (national or international) |
| C-Tournament | Players with Elo < 1650 (national or international) |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Sat, 26 Dec 2026 | Round 1 |
| Sun, 27 Dec 2026 | Round 2 |
| Mon, 28 Dec 2026 | Round 3 |
| Tue, 29 Dec 2026 | Round 4 |
| Wed, 30 Dec 2026 | Round 5 |
| Thu, 31 Dec 2026 | Rounds 6 & 7 + Prize Ceremony |
📝 Registration
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Online registration and all information available via the tournament website.
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Entry fees must be transferred by deadline or onsite registration surcharge applies.
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Participants should provide FIDE-ID and federation affiliation upon registration.
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Late registrations accepted but subject to additional fee.
👥 Organizer
Organised by the chess section of Sportunion Hartkirchen together with the local club network, the Donau-Open offers high-quality tournament organisation, experienced arbiters and ratings processed for national and FIDE lists.
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📧 Email: office@donauopen.at
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🌐 Website: https://www.donauopen.at
🏨 Venue
Event takes place in the centre of Aschach an der Donau, on the banks of the Danube in Upper Austria. The venue is well equipped for chess tournaments and situated in a scenic region suitable for players and accompanying persons.
🚗 How to Get There
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By Car: Easily accessible via Austrian motorway network (A8, A1) to the Upper Austria Danube region. Parking available near the venue.
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By Train: Regional rail connections to Aschach/Donau or nearby stations; short local transfer to venue.
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By Air: Nearest major airports are Salzburg and Linz; domestic connections also available.
Prepare to finish your chess year strongly with the Donau-Open 2026 — a high-standard tournament in Austria’s Danube region with broad participation, excellent organisation and a festive end-of-year atmosphere.
