European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026

Registrations have closed.

European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026

The European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026 will take place from Thursday, 8 January to Monday, 12 January 2026 in Monaco, hosted at the Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo. Bringing together Europe’s strongest women, the championships feature a single-day Blitz and a two-day Rapid under the auspices of the European Chess Union, with substantial prize funds and professional organisation in the heart of Monte-Carlo.

Set a stone’s throw from Monaco-Monte-Carlo railway station, the venue offers smooth access, modern halls and on-site amenities, making it ideal for a compact, high-level speed-chess festival. Clear ECU tie-break procedures, strict anti-cheating rules, and an experienced arbiter team ensure a fair competitive environment for titled stars and ambitious rising talents alike.

🗓️ Event Details

Item	Details
🗓️ Dates	8-12 January 2026 (arrival 8 Jan; Blitz 9 Jan; Rapid 10-11 Jan; departures 12 Jan)
📍 Location	Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo, 16 boulevard Princesse Charlotte, 98000 Monaco
♟️ Format	Blitz: 13-round Swiss • Rapid: 11-round Swiss
⏱️ Time Control	Blitz: 3′+2″ • Rapid: 15′+10″ (from move 1)
⭐ Rating	ECU event; FIDE Rapid/Blitz Laws apply; ECU tie-breaks for standings/prizes
✅ Eligibility	Open to players from ECU-member federations
💵 Entry Fees	Blitz: €20 (incl. ECU fee) • Rapid: €40 (incl. ECU fee)
🧾 Deadlines	Registration by 19 Dec 2025 • Payments (entry & hotel) due by 1 Dec 2025
🧑‍⚖️ Chief Arbiter	Stéphane Escafre (FRA)
👤 Tournament Director	Jean-Michel Rapaire — Email: cemc@libello.com • Phone: +33 6 50 57 63 54
🏛️ Organiser	Fédération Monégasque des Échecs (FME), 5 rue des Oliviers, MC-98000 Monaco

🏆 Prize Fund

Blitz — Total €15,200

Prize	Amount
1st–3rd	€2,000 • €1,700 • €1,500
4th–8th	€1,300 • €1,100 • €1,000 • €800 • €700
9th–12th	€600 • €500 • €400 • €300
13th–20th	€200 each
Category	Best 50+ €200 • 2nd 50+ €100 • Best U2200 €100 • Best U2000 €100 • Best U1800 €100 • Best U1600 €100 • Best MNC €200 • 2nd MNC €100
Regional	PACA resident: 1st €300 • 2nd €200 • Alpes-Maritimes resident: €200

Rapid — Total €31,300

Prize	Amount
1st–3rd	€5,000 • €4,000 • €3,000
4th–8th	€2,200 • €2,000 • €1,800 • €1,600 • €1,400
9th–12th	€1,200 • €1,000 • €800 • €600
13th–20th	€400 each
Category	Best 50+ €400 • 2nd 50+ €200 • Best U2200 €200 • Best U2000 €200 • Best U1800 €200 • Best U1600 €100 • Best MNC €250 • 2nd MNC €150
Regional	PACA residents: 1st €600 • 2nd €400 • 3rd €300 • 4th €200 • Alpes-Maritimes resident: €300

Money prizes follow ECU tie-breaks and are non-cumulative (each player receives the single highest prize they qualify for).

⏱️ Time Control & Pairings

Blitz: 13 rounds, 3 minutes + 2 seconds from move 1.
Rapid: 11 rounds, 15 minutes + 10 seconds from move 1.
Swiss pairings; ECU regulations and tie-break order apply.
Anti-cheating and device rules strictly enforced in the playing hall.

📂 Sections / Groups

Championship	Section
European Women’s Blitz	Single women’s open section
European Women’s Rapid	Single women’s open section

📅 Schedule

Date	Time	Activity
Thu, 8 Jan 2026	15:00–21:00	Arrival & registration
Fri, 9 Jan 2026	10:00–13:00	Blitz registration
Fri, 9 Jan 2026	13:00	Blitz opening
Fri, 9 Jan 2026	13:30–18:30	Blitz Rounds 1–13 • Closing
Sat, 10 Jan 2026	10:00–13:30	Rapid registration
Sat, 10 Jan 2026	14:00	Rapid opening
Sat, 10 Jan 2026	14:15–18:50	Rapid Rounds 1–5
Sun, 11 Jan 2026	10:00–16:30	Rapid Rounds 6–11
Sun, 11 Jan 2026	19:00	Rapid closing ceremony
Mon, 12 Jan 2026	—	Departures

📝 Registration

Who may enter: Players representing ECU-member federations.
How to register: Email the Tournament Director at cemc@libello.com with player details (name, federation, FIDE ID, ratings, section).
Entry fees & hotel payments: Must arrive by 1 December 2025.
Bank transfer (EUR):
- Beneficiary: Fédération Monégasque d’Échecs
- Bank: BNP Paribas, 1 boulevard des Moulins, 98000 Monte-Carlo
- IBAN: MC58 3000 4091 7000 0032 9698 976
- BIC: BNPAMCM1XXX
Fees are non-refundable; players bear bank charges. Invoices on request.

👥 Organizer

Fédération Monégasque des Échecs (FME) — Monaco’s national chess federation and organiser of major ECU/FIDE women’s events, working with an experienced arbiter team to deliver a top-class rapid & blitz festival in central Monte-Carlo. FME oversees all logistics, venue operations, hospitality, and media.

Address: 5 rue des Oliviers, MC-98000 Monaco
Email: cemc@libello.com
Phone: +33 6 50 57 63 54
Website: https://www.europechess.org/

🏨 Venue

Hotel Novotel Monte-Carlo
16 boulevard Princesse Charlotte, 98000 Monaco

A modern, centrally located hotel-conference property roughly 100 m from Monaco-Monte-Carlo railway station, offering comfortable halls for top-level rapid and blitz, on-site F&B, and quick access to cafés and services around the station district.

🛎️ Accommodation

Novotel Monte-Carlo: Single with breakfast €186 • Double with breakfast €206.
Aparthotel Adagio Palais Joséphine (24 avenue du Général de Gaulle, 06240 Beausoleil): Studios/Apartments with kitchens; suitable for small teams or families.
Aparthotel Adagio Monte Cristo (2A rue des Martyrs de la Résistance, 06240 Beausoleil): Studios/Apartments; breakfast available; local tourist tax applies.
Early booking is recommended around the New Year period; check hotel payment deadlines associated with registration.

🚗 How to Get There

From Nice Airport (NCE): Direct bus to Monaco; or tram/train via Nice-Saint-Augustin/Nice-Ville to Monaco-Monte-Carlo.
By rail: Frequent TER trains to Monaco-Monte-Carlo; the hotel is a short walk from the station.
By car: Use central Monaco parking; allow time for traffic and parking guidance near the venue.

Make your first event of the year a rapid-and-blitz showcase on the Riviera — the European Women’s Rapid & Blitz Chess Championships 2026 in Monaco pair elite organisation with serious prizes and a superb city-centre venue.