9th Festival Week End – Hotel Mediterranee
Returning to the Ligurian coast, the 9th Festival Week End “Hotel Mediterranee”, held from 2-4 January 2026 in Genova, Italy, offers three Elo-based tournaments in a compact weekend classical format. Organized by Gruppo Scacchi Merlino in collaboration with the Liguria Regional Chess Committee, the event combines a seaside venue, convenient transport access, and a friendly but competitive atmosphere.
Players may enter one of three rating sections – A (>1800), B (1550 – 1850), or C (<1600) – and compete across five classical rounds. With comfortable hotel facilities, nearby restaurants, and scenic surroundings, this festival provides an ideal chess start to the new year on the Ligurian Riviera.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 🗓️ Dates | 2-4 January 2026 (Fri-Sun) |
| 📍 Location | Genova, Italy (Hotel Mediterranee, Lungomare di Pegli 69) |
| ♟️ Format | 5-round Swiss (Dutch FIDE pairing) |
| ⭐ Rating | FIDE & FSI regulations apply |
| ⏱️ Time Control | 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment from move 1 |
| 📏 Default Time | 60 minutes |
| 👥 Eligibility | Valid FSI agonistic membership for 2026 (can be issued at the venue) |
| 🧭 Sections | A (>1800) • B (1550–1850) • C (<1600) |
| 🛑 Rules | Decisions of the arbiter are final • Indivisible & non-cumulative prizes |
| 🎫 Wild Cards | Up to 4 total across A and B, at the organizer’s discretion |
| ➕ Byes | 1-point bye if paired “BYE”; ½-point bye for Round 1 (email request by 30/12/2025) |
| 🛃 Tie-Breaks | Buchholz FIDE (REP, Total, Cut 1, ARO) |
🏆 Prize Fund
Total Prize Fund: €1,750 + 10 trophies
Torneo A (Elo > 1800)
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | €300 |
| 2 | €230 |
| 3 | €150 |
| 4 | €120 |
| Best <1900 | €100 |
Torneo B (1550–1850)
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | €150 |
| 2 | €120 |
| 3 | €100 |
| 4 | €80 |
| Best <1750 | €60 |
Torneo C (Elo <1600)
| Position | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1 | €100 |
| 2 | €80 |
| 3 | €60 |
| 4 | €50 |
| Best <1500 | €50 |
Trophies
• Cups to the top 3 players in each tournament
• Cup to best Elo <1400
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
• 90 minutes + 30 seconds increment per move from move 1.
• 5 rounds, Swiss system (Dutch FIDE).
• Arbiter decisions are final.
• FIDE rules and FSI technical regulations apply.
• Players arriving more than 60 minutes late for a round lose the game.
• Maximum of 4 organizer-selected wild cards across tournaments A and B.
• The organizer, with arbiters, may apply changes required for smooth operation of the event.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Torneo A | Elo >1800 |
| Torneo B | Elo 1550–1850 |
| Torneo C | Elo <1600 |
📅 Schedule
Festival Schedule
| Date | Time | Activity / Round |
|---|---|---|
| Fri, Jan 2 | 18:00 | Round 1 |
| Sat, Jan 3 | 09:30 | Round 2 |
| Sat, Jan 3 | 15:30 | Round 3 |
| Sun, Jan 4 | 09:00 | Round 4 |
| Sun, Jan 4 | 15:00 | Round 5 |
📝 Registration
• Entry fee: €50
• GMs & IMs: Free
• Mandatory online pre-registration: https://vesus.org/tournament/gmdnKRDu
• FSI agonistic membership (2026) required—can be obtained on site
• Contact for pre-registrations & information:
• Bruno Vello – +39 348 6723688 – Email: https://mailto:brunovello@libero.it
• Massimiliano Traverso – +39 349 3556483 – Email: https://mailto:masstrav@hotmail.com
👥 Organizer
The event is organized by Gruppo Scacchi Merlino in partnership with the Comitato Regionale Liguria, ensuring an officially recognized and well-structured festival in the heart of Pegli.
Contacts:
• Bruno Vello – +39 348 6723688 – https://mailto:brunovello@libero.it
• Massimiliano Traverso – +39 349 3556483 – https://mailto:masstrav@hotmail.com
🏨 Venue
The tournament is hosted at Hotel Mediterranee*, Lungomare di Pegli 69, Genova. The venue is 300 meters from the Pegli railway station and 6 km from the airport, with bus line 1 stopping directly outside the hotel.
🛎️ Accommodation
Hotel Mediterranee – Special Rates (per night)
| Room Type | Price |
|---|---|
| Single | €84 |
| Double | €113 |
| Triple | €128 |
| Quadruple | €148 |
• Reserved hotel parking available while spots last.
• On-site restaurant options plus nearby Pizzeria Santa Lucia.
• Lunch and dinner available at the hotel.
🚗 How to Get There
Hotel Mediterranee is easily accessible from the Pegli railway station (300 m away) and is connected by frequent buses from central Genova. A coastal promenade and cultural attractions such as Villa Durazzo Pallavicini are located nearby.
Begin the new year with a scenic chess weekend on the Ligurian coast and enjoy competitive classical play in beautiful Genova!