Nestled in the Salzkammergut’s Almtal region, the 2nd Almtal Chess Open 2026 runs from Wednesday, 3 June, to Sunday, 7 June 2026 in Scharnstein, Austria. A friendly five-day festival with evening rounds, it offers an “A” Open for all players and a “B” tournament for Elo ≤1700, each with clear prizes and a classical time control suited to thoughtful play.
The event is staged at the State Music School in Scharnstein and organized with local support, including a charity simul led by the previous year’s winner. Entry is straightforward, discounts apply for juniors, women, and persons with disabilities (≥50%), and places are limited—early registration is advised.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 3-7 June 2026 (Wed-Sun) |
| 📍 Location | State Music School Scharnstein (Landesmusikschule Scharnstein) |
| 🏠 Address | Kirchenplatz 6, 4644 Scharnstein, Austria |
| ♟️ Format | Two tournaments: A-Open (all players), B-Open (Elo ≤1700) • 5-round Swiss |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90′/40 moves + 30′ to finish, +30″/move from move 1 |
| 🕰️ Default Time | 30 minutes |
| ⭐ Rating | A-Open FIDE & nationally rated • B-Open national rated |
| 👨⚖️ Chief Arbiter | Franz Krassnitzer |
| 🧑💼 Club Head | Manfred Sonntagbauer (SV Almtal) |
| 💵 Entry Fees | A €40 • B €35 • Discounts: –€5 for U18, women, ≥50% disability |
| 🎯 Notes | Participant cap applies; prizes guaranteed with ≥70 total entries |
| 🧩 Tiebreaks | Buchholz • Buchholz Cut-1 (Verfeinerte) • Sonneborn–Berger • Most wins • Shared places (no playoffs) |
| 🤝 Charity Simul | Fri, 5 June, 10:00 – Simultaneous exhibition (limited to 20 players), entry €20; proceeds donated to Balasai Global Care |
🏆 Prize Fund
| Tournament | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
|---|---|---|---|
| A-Open (all players) | €250 | €200 | €150 |
| B-Open (≤1700 Elo) | €150 | €100 | €80 |
Special / Category prizes (non-cumulative):
-
Best Youth U18: €50
-
Best up to Elo 1950: €50
-
Best Senior 60+: €50
-
Best Woman: €50
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| System | Swiss (5 rounds) using Swiss-Manager |
| Cadence | 90′/40 + 30′, with 30″ increment from move 1 |
| Default Time | 30 minutes (forfeit thereafter) |
| Regulations | FIDE Laws apply; A-Open FIDE rated; both events in the national Elo list |
| Tie-breaks | Buchholz → Buchholz Cut-1 → Sonneborn–Berger → Most wins → Shared places (no playoffs) |
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Eligibility | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| A-Open | Open to all players | FIDE & national rated |
| B-Open | Players ≤1700 Elo | National rated |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity / Round |
|---|---|---|
| Wed, 3 Jun 2026 | 18:30 | Final registration & attendance check |
| Wed, 3 Jun 2026 | 19:00 | Round 1 |
| Thu, 4 Jun 2026 | 18:00 | Round 2 |
| Fri, 5 Jun 2026 | 10:00 | Charity Simul (attendance check 09:30) |
| Fri, 5 Jun 2026 | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| Sat, 6 Jun 2026 | 16:00 | Round 4 |
| Sun, 7 Jun 2026 | 09:30 | Round 5 |
| Sun, 7 Jun 2026 | After the last game | Awards/Closing |
📝 Registration
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Pre-registration deadline | Tue, 2 Jun 2026, 18:00 |
| Final check-in | Wed, 3 Jun 2026, 18:30 (on site) |
| How to enter | Email or phone the tournament director with name, federation, Elo, and chosen section (A/B) |
| Tournament Director | Erwin Lachmair — e.lachmair@atl-lachmair.at • +43 664 366 95 25 |
| Participant cap | Places are limited; early entry recommended |
| Payments | Entry fee due at check-in unless otherwise instructed |
👥 Organizer
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Host Club | SV Almtal |
| Sponsor | SOLPRO GmbH, Bahnhofstraße 36, 4802 Ebensee • Tel. +43 (0) 6133 40183 • office@solpro.at • www.solpro.at |
| Local Support | Regional partners and community sponsors |
🏨 Venue
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Venue | State Music School Scharnstein (Landesmusikschule Scharnstein) |
| Address | Kirchenplatz 6, 4644 Scharnstein, Austria |
| Facilities | Central village location; evening rounds; suitable hall for classical chess |
🛎️ Accommodation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Options | Hotels and camping are available in the Almtal area |
| Tourist Info | Tourismusverband Traunsee-Almtal – Büro Almtal, Im Dorf 17, 4645 Grünau im Almtal |
| Contacts | +43 7616 8268 • almtal@traunsee-almtal.at • www.traunsee-almtal.at |
🚗 How to Get There
| Mode | Notes |
|---|---|
| By car | Navigate to Kirchenplatz 6, 4644 Scharnstein; parking available locally |
| By public transport | Regional buses serve Scharnstein from nearby rail hubs in the Salzkammergut |
| Practical tip | Arrive early for check-in on Wed 18:30; rounds run mostly in the evening |
Enjoy an early-summer classical tournament in the heart of the Almtal—clear schedules, fair prizes, and a welcoming setting at the 2nd Almtal Chess Open 2026.
Organizer
Schachverein Almtal (SV Almtal) is an Austrian chess club and community-focused tournament organizer based in Scharnstein, Upper Austria, Austria. Over the years, the club has supported organized over-the-board chess in the Almtal region through league play and local events. As a result, it serves as a practical hub for competitive and club chess in the Salzkammergut area.
In addition, SV Almtal organizes the Almtal Chess Open series, including the 2nd Almtal Chess Open (June 3–7, 2026). The event is structured as an open chess tournament with separate A and B sections and a Swiss-system schedule. Moreover, the A event is run as a FIDE-rated tournament in classical chess, which makes it appealing for serious rated games and tournament experience.
Furthermore, the club maintains steady grassroots work through a local junior chess program and regular playing activity. For example, it supports player development by combining chess training with practical tournament participation. Consequently, SV Almtal continues to strengthen regional chess while welcoming visiting players to Scharnstein.
