Hurghada Open 2026
Set your board by the Red Sea at the Hurghada Open 2026, a classical international chess festival that invites ambitious players from around the world to combine competition and vacation in Hurghada, Egypt. The organizers schedule the event for January 28-February 5, 2026, with nine classical rounds that follow a Swiss pairing system and a generous prize structure for both overall standings and rating categories. Players enjoy a relaxed resort atmosphere while they fight for prizes across youth, rating, women, and veteran groups, so every participant can target realistic goals. The event suits both titled players who chase the top prizes and club players who want to experience a serious international open in a holiday setting.
During the festival, the organizers run the main classical tournament with a 90-minute time control plus a 30-second increment from move one, and they add separate rapid and blitz tournaments to keep the schedule dynamic. Participants stay in partner hotels Aldau Village Mall and Hotel Le Pacha Resort, where they enjoy pools, beach access, and family-friendly facilities between games. A low flat entry fee and free participation for grandmasters make the Hurghada Open 2026 especially attractive for strong players, while generous category prizes reward improving juniors, unrated players, and veterans. With its mix of seaside leisure and serious chess, the tournament offers a memorable start to the 2026 chess season.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | Wednesday January 28 – Thursday February 5, 2026 |
| 📍 Location | Hurghada, Egypt |
| ♟️ Format | Open Swiss, 9 classical rounds |
| ⏱️ Time control | 90 minutes for the game + 30 seconds increment per move from move one |
| ⭐ Rating | Open to all ratings; special prizes for youth, women, veterans, unrated players, and rating groups |
| 📂 Sections | One main classical open; separate rapid and blitz side events during the festival |
| 💰 Prize fund | USD 5,000 across main prizes and category awards |
| 💳 Entry fee | $50; free entry for grandmasters |
| 👤 Eligibility | Open international tournament; players submit a FIDE ID when they register |
| 🏨 Official hotels | Aldau Village Mall and Hotel Le Pacha Resort (9-night packages) |
| 🧾 Organizer notes | Organizer requires all participants to book accommodation through them and treats all fees, including accommodation, as non-refundable |
🏆 Prize Fund
The organizers offer a total prize fund of USD 5,000, split between the main standings and numerous category awards.
Classic – main prizes (overall standings)
| Place | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1st place | $1000 |
| 2nd place | $700 |
| 3rd place | $600 |
| 4th place | $450 |
| 5th place | $350 |
| 6th place | $300 |
| 7th place | $250 |
| 8th place | $200 |
Category prizes
| Category | Place | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 12 | 1st | $100 |
| Up to 12 | 2nd | $50 |
| Up to 16 | 1st | $100 |
| Up to 16 | 2nd | $50 |
| Up to 18 | 1st | $100 |
| Up to 18 | 2nd | $50 |
| Unrated players | 1st | $100 |
| Unrated players | 2nd | $50 |
| Until 1800 | 1st | $100 |
| Until 1800 | 2nd | $50 |
| Rating 1800–2000 | 1st | $100 |
| Rating 1800–2000 | 2nd | $50 |
| Among women | 1st | $100 |
| Among women | 2nd | $50 |
| Veteran 60+ | 1st | $100 |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The organizers run a 9-round Swiss tournament in a single main section.
Each classical game uses 90 minutes for the whole game plus a 30-second increment per move from move one.
The arbiters pair rounds according to standard Swiss-system principles suitable for international classical events.
The organizers publish pairings and results online via Chess-Results so players and followers can track the standings during the festival.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Description |
|---|---|
| Main Open (classic) | 9-round Swiss classical tournament with 90+30 time control |
| Rapid Tournament | One-day rapid side event on Friday January 30, 2026 |
| Blitz Tournament | One-day blitz side event on Tuesday February 3, 2026 |
📅 Schedule
| Date | Day | Time | Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 28, 2026 | Wednesday | 13:00–16:00 | Registration |
| January 28, 2026 | Wednesday | 18:30 | Opening ceremony |
| January 28, 2026 | Wednesday | 19:00 | Round 1 |
| January 29, 2026 | Thursday | 11:00 | Round 2 |
| January 29, 2026 | Thursday | 18:00 | Round 3 |
| January 30, 2026 | Friday | 14:00 | Rapid tournament (side event) |
| January 31, 2026 | Saturday | 18:00 | Round 4 |
| February 1, 2026 | Sunday | 11:00 | Round 5 |
| February 1, 2026 | Sunday | 18:00 | Round 6 |
| February 2, 2026 | Monday | 18:00 | Round 7 |
| February 3, 2026 | Tuesday | 16:00 | Blitz tournament (side event) |
| February 4, 2026 | Wednesday | 18:00 | Round 8 |
| February 5, 2026 | Thursday | 13:00 | Round 9 |
| February 5, 2026 | Thursday | 19:30 | Closing ceremony |
📝 Registration
Players register through the online form on the official website https://hurghada-open.com/. You enter your name, phone number, email address, and FIDE ID so the organizers can manage pairings and contact you with any updates. The participation fee costs $50 for most players, while grandmasters join the main event without paying an entry fee. When you submit your registration and accommodation choices, you confirm that all tournament and hotel fees are non-refundable, so you should finalize your travel plans before you register.
If you have questions about entry, visas, or accommodation packages, you contact the organizers directly by email or phone for support.
👥 Organizer
Chess school Phoenix runs the Hurghada Open 2026 in cooperation with Ruslan Khuade and the Egyptian Chess Federation, combining local expertise and federation backing to deliver a professionally organized international open on the Red Sea.
Email: hurghadaopen@gmail.com
Phone: +20 155 222 9718
Website: https://hurghada-open.com/
🏨 Venue
The tournament action centers around the Aldau Village Mall complex and nearby Hotel Le Pacha Resort on Sheraton Road in the Sekkala area of Hurghada, Egypt, placing players close to beaches, restaurants, and the city’s main tourist promenade.
🛎️ Accommodation
Players choose between two official accommodation options that sit close to the tournament area and offer resort-style comfort. All participants book their rooms through the organizer as part of the festival packages.
Aldau Village Mall (9-night packages, per person)
| Room type | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Double room | $333 |
| Triple room | $275 |
Le Pacha Resort – all inclusive (9-night packages, per person)
| Room type | Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| Single room | $640 |
| Double room | $490 |
| Triple room | $460 |
Aldau Village Mall offers a modern mixed-use complex with a swimming pool, gym, children’s room, shops, and coffee shops, which gives players and families plenty of ways to relax between rounds. Le Pacha Resort provides an all-inclusive beachfront experience with a gym and aqua park, so guests can enjoy full meals, pool time, and the Red Sea beach without leaving the property.
🚗 How to Get There
Most players fly into Hurghada International Airport, then take a short taxi ride or pre-arranged transfer to the Aldau Village Mall area or to Le Pacha Resort on Sheraton Road in Sekkala. From these hotels, you reach the tournament venue and nearby restaurants, shops, and the seafront on foot or with a brief local taxi ride, which keeps logistics simple for both players and accompanying families.
🧾 Other
The organizers also run separate rapid and blitz tournaments during the festival on Friday January 30 and Tuesday February 3, 2026, so you can add faster events to your classical schedule.
The registration form collects each player’s FIDE ID to support international rating and accurate pairings for the main open.
The organizer treats all payments, including accommodation fees, as non-refundable, so you should confirm travel and vacation plans before you commit.
Combine competitive classical chess with a Red Sea vacation and join the Hurghada Open 2026 for an unforgettable start to your chess year.