31st Radebeul Chess Open 2026
Players from Saxony and beyond gather for the 31st Radebeul Chess Open 2026 from Thursday 5 to Sunday 8 February 2026 in Radebeul, Germany. You play seven classical rounds in a friendly club atmosphere at the DKSB Ortsverband Radebeul building on Moritzburger Straße, just northwest of Dresden, where BSV Chemie Radebeul e.V. has hosted this long-running winter open for many years. The city mayor serves as patron of the event, which underlines the local support for tournament chess.
You compete in a single Swiss-system open, fight for a guaranteed first prize of €400 plus additional cash and category prizes, and play with a traditional long time control that rewards careful, strategic play. The organizers submit all games for DWZ rating, offer one optional bye up to round six, and provide simple on-site catering so you can stay at the venue between rounds. With seven rounds in four days and a compact daily schedule, the tournament delivers a full-value weekend for ambitious club players who enjoy classical over-the-board chess.
🗓️ Event Details
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Dates | Thursday 5 February 2026 – Sunday 8 February 2026 |
| 📍 Location | DKSB Ortsverband Radebeul e.V., Moritzburger Straße 51, 01445 Radebeul, Germany |
| ♟️ Format | 7-round Swiss-system open tournament |
| ⭐ Rating | All games count for DWZ (German national rating) |
| 📂 Sections | Single Open section for all eligible players |
| ⏱️ Time control | 2 hours for 40 moves, then 30 minutes to finish the game; 60-minute default time at the start of each round |
| 💳 Entry fee | €50 standard; €40 for players under 18 years; cash payment only at on-site registration on Thursday 5 February 2026 |
| 💰 Prize fund | 1st prize €400 (guaranteed with at least 60 players) plus additional cash prizes for places 2–4 and multiple category prizes |
| 👤 Eligibility | Open tournament; players register individually and must appear in person by 8:15 am on Thursday 5 February 2026 |
| 👥 Capacity | Number of participants depends on available space in the playing hall; early registration is recommended |
| 🧩 Organizer notes | Organizer: BSV Chemie Radebeul e.V.; patron: Mayor of the City of Radebeul, Bert Wendsche; the organizers use Buchholz tiebreaks and do not allow double prizes |
🏆 Prize Fund
The 31st Radebeul Chess Open 2026 offers a guaranteed first prize of €400 when at least 60 players take part and awards additional cash prizes for places 2–4. The organizers also provide several special prizes that reward juniors, women, seniors, rating groups, and the best DWZ improvement. Prize winners must attend the closing ceremony to receive their awards, and no player may receive more than one prize. Buchholz tiebreaks decide all prize places when players finish on the same score.
Main prizes:
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | €400 (guaranteed with at least 60 participants) |
| 2nd–4th | Additional cash prizes according to the official prize list |
Category prizes (awarded only if at least 5 players qualify in a category):
| Category | Prize |
|---|---|
| Best junior (U18) | Special prize |
| Best female player | Special prize |
| Best senior (60+) | Special prize |
| Rating prizes | At least two category prizes for players with DWZ under 1800, according to the field |
| Best DWZ improvement | Special recognition for the highest DWZ gain among players with an existing DWZ (announced unofficially at the ceremony) |
⏱️ Time Control & Pairings
The organizers run the event as a seven-round Swiss-system open.
Each player receives 2 hours for the first 40 moves and then 30 additional minutes to finish the game.
The waiting time (default time) at the start of each round is 60 minutes; players who arrive later normally lose by forfeit.
All games go into the DWZ rating system.
Each player may take one half-point bye up to and including round six; you must request this bye no later than the end of the previous round.
The organizers use Buchholz tiebreaks for final standings and for allocating all prizes.
📂 Sections / Groups
| Section | Rating Range / Notes |
|---|---|
| Open | Single open tournament for all registered players; DWZ-rated, 7-round Swiss system |
All players compete together in this one section for both overall and category prizes.
📅 Schedule
| Date | Weekday | Time | Round / Activity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 February 2026 | Thursday | 8:30 am | Pairings and announcements |
| 5 February 2026 | Thursday | 9:00 am | Round 1 |
| 5 February 2026 | Thursday | 3:00 pm | Round 2 |
| 6 February 2026 | Friday | 9:00 am | Round 3 |
| 6 February 2026 | Friday | 3:00 pm | Round 4 |
| 7 February 2026 | Saturday | 9:00 am | Round 5 |
| 7 February 2026 | Saturday | 3:00 pm | Round 6 |
| 8 February 2026 | Sunday | 9:00 am | Round 7 |
| 8 February 2026 | Sunday | After Round 7 | Closing ceremony and prize giving |
📝 Registration
You register for the 31st Radebeul Chess Open 2026 by contacting tournament director Matthias Schneider and providing your full name, date of birth, and club. You may send your entry by post to Bodenweg 27, 01445 Radebeul, Germany, or submit it by email to radebeuler-open@gmx.de. As an alternative contact, you may also write to KarstenWieland@gmx.de. You can clarify questions or confirm details by telephone at +49 172 3648719.
Your entry becomes valid only after the organizer confirms it. On the first day you must appear in person in the playing hall no later than 8:15 am on Thursday 5 February 2026 to confirm your participation. You pay the entry fee in cash during on-site registration: €50 for adults and €40 for players under 18. The organizers recommend that you register early, especially if you need a bye in one of the first six rounds.
👥 Organizer
BSV Chemie Radebeul e.V. organizes the 31st Radebeul Chess Open 2026 and maintains the tradition of a multi-day classical open in the Radebeul area. The club focuses on providing a well-run, friendly tournament in cooperation with the city and the DKSB Ortsverband Radebeul, supported by the patronage of the mayor.
Organizer: BSV Chemie Radebeul e.V.
Tournament director: Matthias Schneider
Postal address: Bodenweg 27, 01445 Radebeul, Germany
Phone (tournament): +49 172 3648719
Club website: https://bsv-schach.org/
🏨 Venue
The tournament takes place at DKSB Ortsverband Radebeul e.V., Moritzburger Straße 51, 01445 Radebeul, Germany. This venue provides a dedicated playing hall and on-site catering options for participants, with enough space for seven rounds of classical chess over four days in a calm club-style environment.
🛎️ Accommodation
(This event announcement does not provide official accommodation offers or hotel partnerships, so you should arrange your own lodging in Radebeul or nearby Dresden according to your needs.)
🚗 How to Get There
You travel to Radebeul in Saxony, just northwest of Dresden, and then head to Moritzburger Straße 51. Drivers reach the venue by following local signs through the town center and can look for parking options near the DKSB Ortsverband Radebeul building. If you arrive by public transport in Dresden, you can continue to Radebeul by regional train or tram and then use local buses or a short walk to reach the playing site on Moritzburger Straße.
You can turn this traditional Saxon open into a compact long weekend of classical DWZ-rated chess, steady improvement, and friendly competition at the 31st Radebeul Chess Open 2026.
🧾 Other
The organizer provides simple catering on site, including lunch from the nearby daycare kitchen and beverages in the playing venue.
By registering for the tournament, adult players and parents of junior players agree that photographs taken during the event may appear in print and electronic media together with the players’ names.
The invitation is dated 16 June 2025 and may change; the organizer reserves the right to adjust details before the tournament starts.